“Abyss of a terrorist threat” – start of the Reichsbürger trial in Stuttgart

“Deutschland GmbH”, “lateral thinkers”, “lizard people”, “aluminium hats” – since the coronavirus pandemic at the latest, everyone can probably associate something with the term “Reichsbürger”. Given the absurdity of some of this group’s conspiracy myths, it sometimes seems that they cannot really be meant seriously.

At the latest, however, when Reichsbürger activities degenerate to the point of plotting to overthrow the government, the fun is definitely over.

After a lengthy investigation, a major raid against the Reichsbürger milieu took place in December 2022 in various federal states as well as Austria and Italy, during which a large number of so-called Reichsbürger were arrested – including Heinrich XIII Prince Reuß. According to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, the “noble” property entrepreneur was to be installed as a kind of “head of state” according to the plans of the terrorist network.

The aim of the group is said to have been the violent elimination of the basic democratic order. The plan was for a so-called “council” to take over government affairs and a “military arm” to set up a “new German army” and “homeland defence companies”.

According to the federal prosecutor’s office, the second ringleader was Rüdiger v. P., a former paratrooper commander. Other people involved included the former AfD member of parliament Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, former officers from special units of the Bundeswehr and several other active and non-active Bundeswehr soldiers.

In order to negotiate the “new state order” in Germany with the victorious Allied powers of the Second World War, Reuß is said to have already tried to contact the Russian Federation, which was supposed to be the central point of contact in this context.

In this context, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser spoke of an “abyss of terrorist threats”.

A telling piece of information in passing: in 2023, the building regulations office of the Saale-Orla district also began investigating the “Reichsbürger leader”. There is a gilded pavilion in the shape of a pyramid on the grounds of his hunting lodge, which, in the opinion of the regulatory authority, should not be there due to a lack of planning permission.

The pyramid structure, which measures around ten by ten metres at its foundations, is said to have been erected in 2021 – it is alleged that Henry XII Prince Reuss wanted to use it as a way to honour himself. Prince Reuss allegedly wanted to protect himself from radio waves and therefore had the basic structure made of aluminium parts and all cavities filled with quartz sand.

Criminal proceedings against those involved are now being held in parallel at three higher regional courts.

The trial began on Monday at Stuttgart Higher Regional Court, where nine of the 26 defendants are being tried in the highly secure courtroom in Stammheim – the same courtroom where the Red Army Faction (RAF) was tried at the time.

The defendants are charged with membership of a terrorist organisation (§ 129 StGB) and preparation of a treasonable enterprise (§ 83 StGB). One of the defendants is even accused of attempted murder, as he is alleged to have shot at police officers during a search of a flat in March 2023.

Reuß himself, together with other defendants, will not stand trial in Frankfurt until 21 May 2024.

The remaining members of the terrorist network will have to stand trial before the Munich Higher Regional Court from 18 June 2024.