Germany’s ‘Reichsbuerger’ coup suspects go on trial
- The suspects, members of Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich), allegedly aimed to impose martial law on Germany and install an aristocrat as leader
- Prosecutors say that the suspects’ meticulous planning and stocks of firearms and cash show they were a real danger
Nine men go on trial in Germany on Monday charged with high treason, attempted murder and plotting a violent coup d’etat aimed at installing an aristocrat as national leader and imposing martial law.
The hearing in a maximum security courtroom in Stuttgart marks the start of three marathon trials of 27 people in total accused of conspiring in a plot foiled by authorities at the end of 2022. Together they amount to one of the largest legal proceedings in German history.
Monday’s trial focuses on nine suspects, members of the Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich) group, who allegedly aimed to impose harsh military law on Germany after carrying out a coup.
The country’s domestic intelligence service Verfassungsschutz put the Reichsbuergers, who it says number some 21,000 people and who do not recognise modern-day Germany as a legitimate state, under observation in 2016.
Prosecutors say that the suspects’ meticulous planning and stocks of firearms and cash show they were a real danger.
“They planned to infiltrate an armed group into the parliament building in Berlin, detain legislators and bring down the system,” they wrote. “They understood that seizing power would involve killing people.”
Reuters was unable to reach the suspects, who are expected to contest the charges, or their lawyers for comment on Sunday.