Authorities in Germany prohibit the extremist "Königreich Deutschland" (Kingdom of Germany) group, apprehending key figures
Radical Right-Wing "Kingdom of Germany" Banned, Four Leading Members Arrested
On a turbulent Tuesday, German authorities shut down the extremist faction known as the "Kingdom of Germany" and arrested four of its prominent members. This group is aligned with the "Citizens of the Reich" (Reichsbuerger) movement, a far-right conspiracy theorist collective that denies the validity of modern Germany's democratic system.
At the helm of the dissolved group was its self-proclaimed "king" Peter Fitzek, a 59-year-old former chef and karate instructor. Fitzek, who established the organization, is known for having around 6,000 followers. For long, the Reichsbuerger have been dismissed as misfits, but their radicalization has grown to a point where German authorities now deem them a serious security concern[1].
In a nationwide crackdown, approximately 800 security personnel searched properties linked to the Kingdom of Germany in seven states. The Interior Ministry accused the group of establishing "pseudo-state structures," even issuing their own currency, identity papers, and an insurance scheme for members. They deemed the group's dissolution necessary as the association allegedly threatened Germany's liberal democratic order[1].
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the arrested members had built "a 'counter-state'" within Germany and financed their criminal activities through elaborate banking and insurance transactions for their followers, as well as various donations[1].
The Federal Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe classified Fitzek and three other suspected leaders of the Kingdom of Germany as a criminal organization. According to the Prosecutor's Office, Fitzek held control and decision-making power in every critical aspect[1].
The group's claim to sovereignty mirrors international law's definition of a state and stretches their national territory to the borders of the German Empire of 1871[1]. Fitzek, who previously ran unsuccessfully for parliament, self-anointed as "king" in a ceremonious coronation in 2012[1]. In an interview with AFP in 2023, Fitzek justified founding the organization as a response to the corrupting influences he perceived in German society[1].
The radicalized members of the Reichsbuerger movement, numbering around 23,000 in 2022, with roughly 2,000 identified as potentially violent, represent a growing threat to public order and the democratic principles upon which Germany is founded[1][2]. These right-wing extremists pose a challenge to mainstream institutions by disregarding them and attempting to create their own alternative systems[1][2].
Despite the arrests and the dissolution of the Kingdom of Germany, authorities are vigilant in their efforts to combat the escalating radicalism and subversive activities associated with the Reichsbuerger movement[1][2].
(Sources: [1] France 24, [2] BBC)
Behind the Scenes:- The Reichsbuerger movement, comprising groups like the Kingdom of Germany, is a far-right ideology that denies the legitimacy of the German Republic's democratic order, instead claiming authority over the historic German Reich.- Over the years, these radical groups have established pseudo-state frameworks, including creating their own currencies, identity papers, insurance schemes, and even running their version of government.- German authorities view the Reichsbuerger movement as a significant security threat due to their escalating radicalization, destabilizing actions, and deliberate attacks on the democratic order of the Federal Republic of Germany[1]. [1] Germany's domestic intelligence agency identified roughly 23,000 Reichsbuerger members in 2022, with more than 2,000 considered potentially violent.
- The arrest of four prominent members of the dissolved "Kingdom of Germany" raises concerns about the growing threat posed by far-right extremists to Germany's liberal democratic order.
- The Reichsbuerger movement, which includes groups like the Kingdom of Germany, is known for denying the legitimacy of modern Germany's democratic system and creating their own pseudo-state structures, such as their own currency, identity papers, and insurance schemes.
- The radicalization of the Reichsbuerger movement has led to them being classified as a serious security concern by German authorities, with a significant number of members potentially involved in violent crimes.
- The arrest of the leaders of the "Kingdom of Germany" highlights the ongoing efforts by German authorities to combat the subversive activities associated with the Reichsbuerger movement and safeguard the country's democratic principles.
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