A group of alleged “Reichsbürger” have been charged with planning a violent overthrow of the government and the arrest of several politicians. The main suspect, Heinrich XIII. Prince Reuß, is said to have been the mastermind behind the group. The suspects allegedly planned to forcibly enter the Reichstag building in Berlin with an armed group to arrest politicians, leading to a system change. The group is accused of being a terrorist organization that was willing to accept casualties. Eight suspects, including former elite soldier Peter Wörner, are set to stand trial in Stuttgart. Among the individuals targeted by the group were politicians such as Olaf Scholz, Friedrich Merz, and Annalena Baerbock, as well as TV presenters Markus Lanz and Sandra Maischberger.
The suspects are facing charges of forming a terrorist organization, with the group allegedly having access to a large arsenal of weapons, cash, and valuable metals. They were also reportedly in possession of a list of individuals in the public eye who were to be targeted. The group’s ultimate goal was to replace the existing state order with their own system, with Heinrich XIII. Prince Reuß as the head of state. The group had already divided potential government roles amongst themselves. The central body of the group was a “council,” and they planned to negotiate with the Allied powers of World War II to establish a new state order in Germany. “Reichsbürger” and “self-administrators” deny the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany, claiming that the German Reich still exists and therefore rejecting the current state and its laws.
The group’s plans were disrupted by a massive police raid in December 2022, which led to the arrest of 27 suspects. The first trial is set to begin on April 29 in Stuttgart, with Prince Reuß at the center of the investigation. According to the charges, the group had a significant number of weapons, including firearms, knives, and ammunition, as well as a substantial amount of cash and precious metals. Among the group members is Berlin-based judge and former AfD member Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, who planned to establish a new state system after the overthrow, with Prince Reuß as the head of state. The accused individuals were also allegedly in communication with each other regarding the recruitment of more individuals to participate in their planned actions.
The group’s activities included seeking support from others to carry out their plans, including the arrest of politicians after the storming of the Reichstag. The accused attempted to recruit 30 men to assist in this endeavor. The group had evidently made significant progress in preparing a detailed plan for seizing power and establishing a new order. The accused individuals have been charged with forming a terrorist organization and were in possession of an extensive armory and financial resources. The political figures and media personalities listed as potential targets were among those who could have been affected by the group’s planned actions.
The case has attracted attention due to the involvement of high-profile individuals such as Markus Lanz and Sandra Maischberger, who were reportedly on the group’s list of targets. The trial is expected to shed further light on the activities and intentions of the alleged “Reichsbürger” group, as well as the potential ramifications of their actions. The trial will be closely monitored as a significant legal proceeding that could have far-reaching implications for the individuals involved and the broader implications of extremist ideologies in society.
