The far-right agitates German authorities

Far-right extremists in Germany belonging to the extremist Reichsbürger [Citizens of the Reich] movement are reported to have plotted a coup to overthrow the government.

The German authorities detained 22 suspected members and three alleged supporters of the far-right terrorist group for preparing to topple the government. German prosecutors have reported that among the alleged members of the conspiracy are a descendant of German nobility and a former far-right member of the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, according to CNN.

Armed coup

According to the prosecutors, the suspects intended to establish 280 armed units around Germany with the purpose of “arresting and executing” citizens following a coup. Additionally, prosecutors informed lawmakers about the discovery of numerous “non-disclosure agreements” signed by suspects the plotters allegedly tried to enlist, DW reported. 

According to a statement from the German federal prosecutor's office, approximately 50 people are suspected of being a part of this movement. The Reichsbürger movement, which was founded no later than November 2021, is believed to have been plotting to overthrow the current government and replace it with their own, CNN reported. 

“The accused are united by a deep rejection of state institutions and the free democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany, which over time has led to their decision to participate in their violent elimination and to engage in concrete preparatory actions for this purpose,” the statement said.

Far-right rise

Members of the movement reject the legitimacy of the German government and question the existence of Germany's post-World War II Federal Republic. They think the boundaries of the German empire from 1937 are still in place. Prosecutors claim that the group communicated with Russian authorities who were looking to impose a new order in Germany after the fall of the Berlin government. They started gathering firearms as well, according to DW. 

In recent years, Germany has battled to contain far-right extremism. After it was discovered that the KSK, an elite German military force, had a concentration of right-wing radicals, it was partially disbanded in June 2020. The KSK engaged in operations like anti-terror campaigns and hostage situations, according to AFP. 

Experts connected the emergence of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which in 2017 became the first far-right party to win seats in Germany's parliament in nearly 60 years, with the country's rising number of violent right-wing attacks. On suspicion of attempting to undermine the nation's democratic constitution, the AfD was formally placed under surveillance by Germany's BfV domestic intelligence department in March 2021, CNN reported. 

According to the federal prosecutor's office, the central “Rat” (council) of the gang has been gathering regularly since November 2021 in order to organize a violent takeover. The prosecution claimed that they had already created plans to rule Germany through departments for health, justice, and foreign policy. Members were aware that using military tactics and violence against state leaders, including killing people, was the only way to achieve their objectives. Investigators are believed to have learned about the group when they discovered a kidnapping scheme involving a gang going by the name of United Patriots in April of last year, the BBC reported.