Raid in seven federal states: Dobrindt forbids “Kingdom of Germany” – arrests

A few days after taking office, Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) banned the currently largest grouping of so -called imperial citizens and self -administrators. The association is called “Kingdom of Germany” and is said to have around 6,000 followers nationwide.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the police forces searched by the police from the early hours of the morning by the association and apartments of leading members in Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.

According to the Federal Attorney General, four men were arrested. Among them is Peter Fitzek, who founded the union in Wittenberg in 2012 according to the knowledge of the security authorities. According to a spokeswoman for the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in the Middle Saxony district, two of the arrests were carried out in the districts of Oder-Spree in Brandenburg and Bad Dürkheim in Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition, there were searches in a suspect in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. He should also be German citizens.

The four arrested Germans are 37, 38, 46 and 59 years old, said the spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor. They should be brought before an investigative judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe today and tomorrow. This must then decide whether the suspects are in custody.

Particular importance of the case

According to the information, the investigation is due to a criminal association. In such cases, the federal prosecutor is not automatically responsible. With a view to the alleged ringleader, the highest indictment in Germany had drawn the investigation because of the special importance, the spokeswoman said.

Fitzek is therefore accused of unauthorized deposit and insurance transactions. Another of the accused is said to have helped him with the deposit transactions.

Association created a “counter state”

“The members of this association created a” counter state “in our country and built up economic criminal structures,” said Dobrindt, according to a message from his ministry. The members of the association underpinned their supposed claim to rule through anti -Semitic conspiracy counts. A constitutional state cannot tolerate this behavior.

The Federal Republic of Germany does not recognize “imperial citizens” as a state. Many of them claim that the historical German Empire continues to this day. So -called Reich citizens do not recognize democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They do not want to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines. The scene consists of many, mostly smaller groups. Some “imperial citizens” see themselves as head of state of their own little empire.

Largest “imperial citizen” association

The “Kingdom of Germany” is currently considered the largest membership association from the spectrum of so -called Reich citizens and self -managers. The protection of the constitution agreed to the scene in 2023 around 25,000 followers. In the past few months, the “Reichsbürger” association led by Heinrich XIII has made headlines. Prince Reuss, who planned a violent overthrow of the federal government and is supposed to have consciously accepted deaths. At the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court, negotiations are made against the group. At the same time, procedures run in Munich and Stuttgart.

“It is a key to the” Kingdom of Germany “is a dedicated profit -oriented orientation,” said the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Unauthorized banking and insurance transactions have been operated for years through partial organizations. Peter Fitzek, born in Halle in Saxony-Anhalt, had declared himself to be head of state. He was already on trial several times and was convicted. Among other things, he was accused of having driven without a driver’s license or had made illegal banking business. In March, a judgment of the Wittenberg District Court became final, which Fitzek had sentenced to an overall imprisonment of eight months for intentional assault and insult.

According to the Federal Attorney General, Fitzek, as a “top confidently”, determined the ideological orientation of the group and issued his own “laws”. Two other arrested people formed the top management level as his deputies. The fourth man was responsible for the finances.

According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the ban is accompanied by the confiscation of the assets and the blocking of the association’s online platforms.

Constitutional protection involved

The Federal Ministry of the Interior announced that the now pronounced association ban was the result of close cooperation with the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, other federal authorities and the federal states.