Nine individuals are facing charges of terrorism in connection with an alleged far-right plot to overthrow the German government. This trial, which began in Stuttgart, is the first of three linked cases related to the conspiracy which emerged in late 2022. The focus is on members of the Reich Citizens group who were part of its supposed military arm. A total of 27 people were charged with terrorism in December by federal prosecutors, but one has since passed away. The other cases involving additional suspects, including a self-proclaimed prince and a former far-right lawmaker, will take place in Frankfurt and Munich.
The trial in Stuttgart is just the beginning of legal proceedings that are expected to last well into 2025. The German Interior Minister noted that this trial demonstrates the strength of the country’s rule of law in holding the largest Reich Citizens terrorist network to account for their plans to militantly overthrow the government. Prosecutors have outlined that the accused individuals hold beliefs in various conspiracy theories, including Reich Citizens and QAnon ideologies, and firmly believe in the existence of a deep state controlling Germany. The Reich Citizens movement rejects Germany’s postwar constitution and advocates for the government’s downfall, while QAnon is a global conspiracy theory originating in the United States.
The group of defendants in the Stuttgart trial is accused of being part of a terrorist organization and preparing for a high treasonous act. One defendant is also facing charges of attempted murder. Similarly, the majority of the suspects in the Frankfurt trial are charged with membership in a terrorist group and preparing for treasonous activities. The remaining eight members of the alleged group will be tried separately in Munich. The Frankfurt trial includes notable figures such as Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, whom the group aimed to install as Germany’s provisional leader, and Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, a judge and former far-right politician from the Alternative for Germany party.
Prosecutors have revealed that the group planned to storm into the parliament building in Berlin and detain lawmakers. Their intention was to negotiate a new order after the alleged coup, primarily engaging with Russia as one of the victorious allied powers of World War II. These extremist acts underscore the dangerous nature of the ideologies embraced by the accused individuals and the potential threat they pose to national security. The legal proceedings seek to hold these individuals accountable for their involvement in a terrorist plot that aimed to upend the established government and impose radical changes on German society.
