US thought Nazi salute was stolen from cheerleaders

US wartime intelligence believed the Nazi salute may have been copied from American cheerleaders, rather than Mussolini's fascists.

The claim is one of many observations in a bizarre psychological profile of Adolf Hitler just declassified by the CIA.

It also strays into psychoanalytical speculation about the Nazi leader's sexuality based on his fondness for circuses and whips.

The profile relies mainly on personal views of one of the Fuhrer's best friends in the 1920s, Ernst Hanfstaengl.

In the document, produced by the Office of Strategic Services, he is known by the codename Dr Sedgwick, said reports.

The report claims of the Hitler salute: "In 1923 he adored American football marches and college songs. The 'Sieg Heil' used in all political rallies is a direct copy of the technique used by American football cheerleaders.

It continues: "The American college type of music was used to excite the German masses who had been used to very dry-as-dust political lectures."

On the circus, it says: "During the summer of 1933 he went several times to the circus and on the next day would send flowers and chocolates to the value of several hundred marks to the girls who had performed dangerous feats before him ... He does not care much for wild animal acts, unless there is a woman in danger."

The archive even gives an insight into Hitler's toothbrush moustache.

When Hanfstaengl declared it ugly, Hitler is said to have replied: "Do not worry about my moustache. If it is not the fashion now, it will be later because I wear it."