Reichsburgers - Judgment in the Hamburg 'Reichsbürger' process expected
In the process of a man accused of being part of so-called Reichsbürger upheaval plans is expected to receive a verdict at the State Protection Senate of the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg on Friday. A 66-year-old man from the area around Bad Bramstedt in Schleswig-Holstein is on trial. He is charged with supporting a terrorist organization and assisting in the preparation of a high treason act, as well as weapons law violations.
According to the prosecution, the man joined the so-called Kaiserreichsgruppe at the beginning of 2022. This group aimed to establish an authoritarian government system in Germany based on the constitution of the German Empire of 1871.
The defendant was allegedly tasked with procuring weapons. A pistol and over 100 rounds of ammunition were found in his motorhome. During his arrest at the end of November last year, weapons ammunition was also discovered in the basement of his apartment.
The defendant has admitted the charges
At the beginning of May, the 66-year-old admitted the charges in court. However, he distanced himself from the plans later on and also tried to inform the Constitutional Protection about it, he said.
The prosecution requested a sentence of two years and ten months in prison, while the defense pleaded for a sentence not exceeding two years.
- The overthrow plan by the Kaiserreichsgruppe, a group aiming to establish an authoritarian government system in Germany based on the German Empire of 1871, was partly facilitated by the actions of the defendant, as alleged by the State Security Senate during the court process in Hamburg.
- The Public Prosecutor's Office in Hamburg has been closely monitoring cases of extremism in Germany, including the trial of the 66-year-old man from Schleswig-Holstein, who is accused of supporting terrorism and violating weapons laws due to his involvement in the Kaiserreichsgruppe.
- Following his arrest in November last year, the defendant was brought before the State Protection Senate of the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg, where he was charged with multiple offenses related to the Revolution plans of the Kaiserreichsgruppe and the hoarding of weapons.
- The verdict in this high-profile trial, which will involve discussions about judging the severity of the defendant's actions being part of the Schleswig-Holstein-based Kaiserreichsgruppe and its attempt to overthrow the current German government, is expected this Friday in Hanseatic Higher Regional Court, Hamburg.
- The State Security Senate in Hamburg is considering the defendant's cooperation with the authorities and the repudiation of the overthrow plan laid out by the Kaiserreichsgruppe, which could potentially impact the sentencing in relation to terrorism support, weapons law violations, and high treason acts charges.
