The men were spotted by police officers patrolling the historic landmark as they snapped images of each other raising their arms in the straight-armed gesture that has been outlawed in Germany shortly after World War II.
Two Chinese tourists have been arrested for doing the Hitler salute while posing for photographs in front of Berlin’s Reichstag parliament building.
The men were spotted by police officers patrolling the historic landmark as they snapped images of each other raising their arms in the straight-armed gesture that has been outlawed in Germany shortly after World War II.
They were questioned by police and later released after paying 500 euros (US$590) bail each.
"A probe on suspicion of using the symbols of anti-constitutional organisations was opened against the two Chinese men, aged 36 and 49," said a police spokeswoman to AFP who added that they could leave Germany during investigations into the incident and that if a fine was meted out, the paid-up bail money would likely cover it.
Germany has strict laws against hate speech and symbols linked to Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. This includes the Hitler salute, which is also illegal in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and restricted in many other countries.
These men weren't the first tourists to try pulling off the Hitler salute in Germany.
In 2011, a Canadian tourist was arrested after he was photographed giving the offensive salute, also outside the Reichstag. He was fined and spent several hours in police.