Extremist Plot to Overthrow German Government Unravels in Court
BERLIN — The trial of alleged leaders of an extremist plot to overthrow Germany’s government kicked off on Tuesday, drawing massive media and political interest.
The Shocking Case
The case, which rocked the country in late 2022, involves over two dozen suspects and 260 witnesses and is expected to drag on until 2025.
The Accused
Standing before judges at the Frankfurt court are the self-proclaimed Prince Heinrich XIII, an aristocratic estate agent whom the group allegedly planned to install as Germany’s new leader, and his Russian girlfriend.
The Movement
The rest of the suspects are part of the Reichsbürger, or “Reich Citizens”, movement, aiming to restore the German Empire before World War I and remove the existing state order with Heinrich XIII as the new emperor.
The Allegations
Prosecutors claim the group planned to storm the Reichstag in Berlin with armed support, detain lawmakers, and showcase a captive Chancellor Olaf Scholz on German television in a bid to win public backing for their coup.
The Arsenal
Plotters allegedly possessed around €500,000, 380 firearms, nearly 350 stabbing weapons, bulletproof vests, and handcuffs. They also compiled “lists of enemies” to target once they seized control of regional and local authorities.
The Arrest
Heavily armed police forces apprehended the group in December 2022, raiding houses, officers, and a remote hunting lodge after monitoring them for months.
The Warning
German officials have cautioned that far-right extremists pose the greatest threat to the country’s security, citing incidents like the killing of a regional politician and an attempted attack on a synagogue in 2019.
Public Outrage
A report revealing extremists discussing the mass deportation of immigrants, including some with German citizenship, sparked widespread protests against the rise of the far-right in January.
The Trial Begins
A special temporary courthouse has been erected to accommodate the large number of defendants, lawyers, and media involved in the case, with 26 suspects set to stand trial after one man passed away before the proceedings.
— Euronews
