What were the accused Reichsbürger planning?
They are said to have planned the violent overthrow of German democracy - now the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office has brought the first charges against suspected members of the Reich Citizens' Network around Heinrich XIII Prince Reuß. According to the accusations, they lost themselves in conspiracy myths and even accepted possible deaths for their goal. Questions and answers:
What are the defendants accused of?
According to the federal prosecutor's office, the organization, which was founded at the end of July 2021, is said to have had the goal of overcoming the state order in Germany and replacing it with its own roughly devised form of government with Reuß as the provisional head.
The alleged members allegedly did not shy away from violence. For example, the network is said to have planned to send armed men into the Bundestag to arrest politicians. According to the federal prosecutor's office, they were aware that the planned takeover would result in deaths.
The federal prosecutor's office brought charges against a total of 27 people. Most of them are accused of being members of a terrorist organization, some of them of founding one. They were also charged with preparing a highly treasonous enterprise.
Reuß and the former German army officer Rüdiger von P. are considered the ringleaders. The federal prosecutor's office also accuses some of the accused of weapons offenses or the preparation of a serious act of violence endangering the state.
One man, Markus L., was also charged with attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm. He is said to have deliberately shot at police officers during a search of his apartment in Reutlingen. The Russian Vitalia B. - the only non-German among the accused - is said to have put Reuß in touch with the Russian Consulate General in Leipzig. She is accused of support and aiding and abetting.
What is the ideology of the group?
The accused are said to believe in conspiracy myths of the Reichsbürger and QAnon movements and reject the free democratic basic order. According to the allegations, they are convinced that Germany is secretly governed by a so-called Deep State.
Apparently, they expected an attack on Germany's highest institutions by a secret society consisting of foreign governments, armed forces and secret services on "Day X". Their own organization was then supposed to eliminate institutions and officials at the federal state, district and municipal levels.
How was the network structured?
It is said to have had a central committee, the so-called council. According to the federal prosecutor's office, this was made up of various departments, similar to a government cabinet. The group is said to have planned the council as a transitional government. There was also allegedly a military arm that was to enforce the planned takeover by force of arms.
What were the alleged plans for the period after the coup?
According to the allegations, the Council was to negotiate the new state order in Germany with the victorious Allied powers of the Second World War. From the group's point of view, however, the only central point of contact was Russia.
How far along were the preparations?
According to the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, a Germany-wide system of 286 so-called homeland security companies, militarily organized units, was being set up. At several recruitment events, attempts were allegedly made to recruit active or former members of the police or Bundeswehr for the group. So-called enemy lists were also drawn up.
Members of the group had explored Bundestag properties and former MP Malsack-Winkemann had provided information about parliamentary operations. The alleged ringleaders Reuß and von P. are said to have tried to meet representatives of Russia in Slovakia. Reuß had also made representations to the Consulate General in Leipzig. According to the federal prosecutor's office, it is still unclear how Russia reacted.
The network is said to have had around half a million euros at its disposal and access to a "massive arsenal" of around 380 firearms, almost 350 cutting and stabbing weapons and almost 500 other weapons. Shooting training sessions are said to have taken place.
What happens now?
The higher regional courts in Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart and Munich will decide on the charges. The courts in Frankfurt and Munich have already announced that it usually takes several months to decide whether the so-called main proceedings will be opened.
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The rich citizen, Heinrich XIII Prince Reuß, was reportedly involved in the alleged plans and is considered one of the ringleaders by the federal prosecutor's office. The network is also accused of planning a razzia, or raid, on the German federal parliament to arrest politicians. The public prosecutor's office has charged several individuals for weapons offenses in relation to these plans.
Source: www.ntv.de
