Germany: Third Trial Begins for 'Reichsbürger' Coup Plotters

Facts

• Eight alleged members of the Reichsbürger began their trial on Tuesday over charges of membership in a right-wing terrorist organization and preparing for an act of treason. This is Germany's third trial of Reichsbürger members.¹
• Reichsbürger, German for 'citizens of the Reich,' is a movement that claims that the modern German state is illegitimate, with an estimated 23K people adhering to its beliefs. Authorities allege the group has 'antisemitic attitudes' and a 'high affinity' for weapons.²
• A group of Reichsbürger members allegedly plotted to overthrow the German government in 2022 under the auspices of aristocrat Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss. They allegedly had €500K ($542K) in cash and gold, as well as hundreds of firearms.³
• Prosecutors claim that 26 suspects are involved in the plot, with the eight on trial in Munich allegedly belonging to the group's command wing, while Stuttgart is trying the 'military' wing and Frankfurt is trying Reuss's inner circle.⁴
• Prosecutors claim that the Munich defendants formed the future cabinet after the coup, and one of them allegedly donated €47K ($50K) of her own money to the group, most of which went toward arms training.¹
• All three trials are scheduled to conclude by January but could take years to complete due to the logistical challenges, which include defendants testifying at multiple trials. The defense has denied that the accused had any violent intentions.¹

Sources: ¹Guardian, ²BBC News, ³Verity and ⁴Dw.Com.

Narratives

• Right narrative, as provided by Spiked. The German government is more worried about prosecuting a group of elderly conspiracy theorists than defending the country from real threats. While the Reichsbürger movement may have objectionable and fringe views, it's not a crime in itself to hold a political belief. Given the remote possibility of this group ever committing violence, we have every reason to question the motives of the government in making an example of these accused.
• Left narrative, as provided by New York Times. The far-right in Germany has expanded in influence, and the threat of violence grows by the day. Armed with a cache of weapons and a poisonous ideology, the Reichsbürger members had everything they needed to commit real-world violence. The group's connections to political parties in the country make matters worse — necessitating immediate action to combat hatred before this movement inflicts real-world damage.

Predictions