“Reichsbürger” scene: “Kingdom of Germany” banned-founder in custody

After the ban on the “Reichsbürger” group “Kingdom of Germany”, three of their alleged heads are in custody. The investigative judge at the Federal Court of Justice put the arrest warrants against them. Among them is Peter Fitzek, a trained chef who founded the club in 2012 in Wittenberg according to the knowledge of the security authorities.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office had him and three other alleged ringleaders of the association arrested in the morning. The fourth suspect is to be brought before in Karlsruhe on Wednesday.

Dobrindt prohibits club

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) had banned the currently largest group of so -called imperial citizens and self -administrators in the morning. According to its own statements, the group has around 6,000 followers nationwide. However, the security authorities assume only around 1,000 followers.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, more than 800 police forces from the police in several federal states from the early morning hours searched by the association used by the association and apartments of leading members. Searches and arrests were affected by Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Brandenburg. Officials from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority were also involved.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the raids extended to 15 objects. According to the information, “further evidence for the constitutional goals and activities of the association” was ensured. Among other things, three club properties, numerous fantasy documents, club documents, cash, agricultural machinery and vehicles were confiscated.

According to a spokeswoman for the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in the Middle Saxony district, two of the four 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 are 37, 38, 46 and 59 years old, said a spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor.

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 its special importance, said the spokeswoman.

Fitzek is therefore accused of unauthorized deposit and insurance transactions. Another of the accused is said to have helped him with the deposit transactions. Interior Minister Dobrindt said: “Properties were acquired, sub -organizations were founded, as a so -called royal Reichsbank or a so -called German healing care were obtained by means of which funds were procured.”

Association created a “counter state”

“The aim of this association is to establish a so -called counter -state and split off from the Federal Republic of Germany,” said Dobrindt. The members of the association underpinned their supposed claim to rule through anti -Semitic conspiracy counts. A constitutional state cannot tolerate this behavior. The members of the association are by no means “harmless nostalgic”, but rather criminal structures, said the minister.

The Saxon Ministry of the Interior referred to violations of the association, among other things, against building law and trade law, which were punished by the responsible authorities.

Scene consists of many mostly small groups

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 reject 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. The protection of the constitution is based on around 30 across countries.

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 constitutional protection of the scene in 2023 expected 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.

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. The court saw it as proven that Fitzek in March 2022, in the district building of the district of Wittenberg, first pushed against a wall during a verbal argument and put a footstep.

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.