"Reichsbürger" trial - Alleged ringleader Reuß speaks out further
In the process concerning the "Reichsbürger" Group around Prince Heinrich XIII. Prinz Reuß, the defendant Prince gave further insights into his family life during an interrogation at the Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt. Born in 1951 in Buedingen, the defendant was the fifth of six siblings. "Basically, the family has always stayed together, up until today," he said during the interrogation about his personal relationships. However, there had been a conflict with his eldest brother, as he had not been assigned, against expectations, to deal with the restitutions of the old family estate owners.
Concretely, it was about regaining possession of land, real estate, or even art objects in the new federal states after reunification. Instead, the defendant was supposed to take care of it himself. Reuß found it hard to refuse this task from his father.
Reuß becomes emotional again
The Prince took his place in the witness stand dressed in a green jacket and a handkerchief. Before that, he had greeted his daughter and his ex-wife through a glass partition in the audience. During the description of his family situation, the voice of the Prince broke and he struggled with tears.
His motivation for the efforts to restore the family inheritance stems from a promise to his father, he explained. From childhood on, the lost family property was simply a part of family life. "For us children, it was emotionally always there." Economically, the decades-long endeavor with the help of large law firms did not pay off, he said, likening it to a "horror story."
In the interrogations, it has not gone as far as the charges yet. The defendants are currently expected to first express themselves about their personal relationships, their life course, and their financial and family situation.
In Frankfurt, nine defendants are accused of being members of a terrorist organization or of having supported it. It is alleged that a armed coup was planned. The defendants are aware of the presumption of innocence until judgment. In addition to two other proceedings in Munich and Stuttgart, a total of 26 alleged accomplices in this complex must answer for themselves.
According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, the group had access to a massive arsenal of weapons. Military personnel were reportedly recruited repeatedly.
A co-defendant speaks out
On the twelfth day of the trial, the co-defendant Johanna F.-J. also gives insights into her life. The 53-year-old paints a picture of a happy childhood by the Bodensee. Like Prinz Reuß on the previous trial day, she also states that she rejects violence, "that's really a sign of weakness for me." She is creative and lively and has – also due to various spiritual experiences – a non-denominational faith.
Spoken about her attitude towards the Corona measures of the Federal Government, she answers, "we'll still be here tomorrow", as she needs to go into detail. However, about herself she said, "I am not a conspiracy theorist." The divorced mother of three children worked among other things in the coaching sector. She got involved in it during the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley and since 2015 in refugee aid. During this time, she reportedly met her new partner from West Africa, whom she is now engaged to. Furthermore, she was allegedly active in the Basic Democratic Party Germany, which, according to observers, has overlaps with the Querdenker Movement.
- During the interrogation, the defendant Prince mentioned his eldest brother, who was involved in a conflict over the restitution of the old family estate owners.
- The trial in Frankfurt involves nine defendants, accused of being members of a terrorist organization or supporting it, involving plans for an armed coup.
- Reuss, one of the defendants, explained his motivation for restoring the family inheritance, stemming from a promise to his father and being a part of their family life since childhood.
- Johanna F.-J., another co-defendant, shared her childhood memories by the Bodensee, emphasizing her rejection of violence and being creative and lively with a non-denominational faith.
- In the ongoing process concerning the "Reichsbürger" Group around Prince Heinrich XIII. Prinz Reuß, the Higher Regional Court Frankfurt is gathering personal insights, life courses, and financial and family situations from the defendants.
- Hesse, the state where Frankfurt am Main is located, has been involved in several proceedings related to alleged extremist groups and their supporters.
- Extremism and terrorism continue to be challenges in modern society, affecting both individuals and communities, with a significant impact on children and families.
