After prohibition
What is the “Kingdom of Germany”?
The “Kingdom of Germany” is considered the nationwide largest Reich citizen group. But who and what is behind it?
They reject the German state, have their own currency, ID documents and laws: The “Kingdom of Germany” is considered the largest group of so -called imperial citizens and self -managers. A few days after his inauguration, Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) banned the association. The federal prosecutor has four alleged heads of the group arrested, and buildings are searched in several federal states. The most important questions and answers about the association and the investigation:
What is the “Kingdom of Germany”?
The “Kingdom of Germany” is currently the largest association of so -called imperial citizens and self -managers. “It is aggressively claiming its own statehood – underpinning its own constitutional and legislation – and is questioned by the Federal Republic’s monopoly of violence,” says the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister of the Interior Tamara Zieschang describes the “Kingdom of Germany” as “a particularly dangerous group of the Reich Citizens’ scene”, which has pursued its democratic and anti-Semitic agenda extremely aggressive and with great criminal energy. Your goal is to build a “monarchical fantasy state” outside the German legal system.
Which system is behind it?
The aim of the group is to replace the system of the Federal Republic of Germany with its own, the federal prosecutor said. Members should therefore be exempt from tax and social levies. For this purpose, the group created its own currency, its own banking and insurance system and a registration office with fictitious ID documents.
According to the federal prosecutor, the group was financed primarily through prohibited banking and insurance transactions as well as donations and income from seminars. There was “system exit seminars” for new supporters. In addition, funds were taken by recruiting companies that were promised in return to be able to sell their goods and services free of charge through the association.
Peter Fitzek, born in Halle in Saxony-Anhalt, founded the “Kingdom of Germany” in Wittenberg in 2012 and led it as a so-called “top sovereign”. According to the federal prosecutor, he as such “had” control and decision -making in all essential areas “. For example, he determined the ideological orientation and issued his own “laws”.
Who are the other accused?
In addition to Fitzek, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office also had three other alleged ringleaders of the “Kingdom of Germany” arrested. Two of them should also be one of the founding members of the association and act as Fitzek’s deputies. The third man joined the group in 2013 and was responsible for the finances. The highest German indictment is charged to him to have helped Fitzek in unauthorized deposit transactions.
Does the time of the ban have to do with the change of government?
No. Only the respective Federal Minister of the Interior can issue an extremist association. According to security circles, however, the decisive factor for the time was investigative reasons. The ban and the preparation of the associated measures have been working for months.
How did the searches and arrests go?
Police powers of the countries appeared in various locations in several federal states in the early morning. Searches and arrests took place in Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Brandenburg. According to Federal Interior Minister Dobrindt, a total of 800 civil servants were involved. One focus was in the Saxon neck bridge. Here is the headquarters of the self -proclaimed “kingdom” and the place of residence of Fitzek.
How dangerous is the group?
Many “Reichsbürger” are arms affin. This does not apply to the now banned group, which also promoted supporters in social networks. So far “no relevant weapons” have been found, Dobrindt reported after the searches.
Are there connections to other “Reichsbürger” associations?
Nothing is known about close contacts to other “Reichsbürger” groups. This is not unusual among extremists, which the constitutional protection is part of the spectrum of “Reichsbürger and self -managers”. After all, these groups, some of whom are spreading right-wing extremist ideas, are often about creating their own counter-authority. According to the Federal Minister of the Interior, there are currently around 40 other “king and imperial empires” in addition to the now banned association.
The ban on the association is good, but is not sufficient, says the parliamentary managing director of the Greens parliamentary group, Irene Mihalic. It is reminiscent of the “Reichsbürger” group around Heinrich XIII. Prince Reuss, who is said to have planned a coup. “In the planned storm on the Reichstag, in which the former AfD member of the Bundestag, Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, was also involved, it has also become clear that there is the best contacts between the Reich Citizens’ Milieu and the AfD,” says the domestic politician. Therefore, it is also important in the current case to clarify any references to the AfD.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
