A Gathering of Extremists: Reichsbürger Set to Rally in Karlsruhe
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Get ready for some heated action, folks! The heart of Karlsruhe is about to witness a gathering of the controversial Reichsbürger scene on July 26th. An anonymous individual has registered a meeting on Schlossplatz, with the theme being "The sixth great meeting of the federal states, homeland, and world peace".
The unsettling irony? Just a week ago, a similar Reichsbürger gathering took place in Schwerin. Prior to that, these meetings occurred in Magdeburg, Dresden, Gera, and Munich. The city has confirmed that the rally, set to run from 12:00 to 20:00, is expected to attract around 500 extremist participants, with plans for a march to boot.
City officials, however, have stated that there are currently no grounds for a ban on the gathering. For now, registration is still under review with no planned restrictions in sight. But beware, the event is scheduled to take place in front of the former Baden residence castle and the Federal Constitutional Court, so tensions could run high.
Who are the Reichsbürger?
The Reichsbürger movement encompasses a disparate group of individuals who reject the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany and its democratic structures. As reported by the Constitutional Protection in Baden-Württemberg, the number of Reichsbürger and self-proclaimed administrators has risen to approximately 4,000 in 2023, with about 25,000 nationwide[3]. These extremists often have diverse backgrounds, ranging from monarchists to individuals who embrace right-wing extremism and subscribe to esoteric or conspiracy theories[3].
Involvement of Constitutional Protection and the Media
Allegedly, monarchists are expected to join the Karlsruhe gathering along with Reichsbürger. According to information from SWR, messages in a closed Telegram group suggest this to be the case. Additionally, the Baden-Württemberg Constitutional Protection has been in close contact with the police and local authorities[4].
The constitutional protectors view the upcoming Karlsruhe meeting as part of a public relations campaign, announcing that members of the "Reichsbürger" and "self-administrators" milieus have been gaining more visibility in recent times[4].
Legal Constraints for Gathering Bans
Public gatherings can only be banned on the basis of the Assembly Act "as a last resort if there is a danger to public safety". The principle of proportionality must always be considered in any decision to prohibit[4].
Previous Gatherings: Schwerin and Beyond
Over a week ago, around 600 supporters from Germany followed the "Reichsbürger" scene's call to the "Great Meeting of the 25+1 Federal States" in Schwerin. Under the flags of former duchies and kingdoms, they marched in front of the Schwerin Castle[5]. The "Great Meetings" have been taking place in larger German cities since summer 2023, with these events being the most participant-rich gatherings of the scene[5]. They celebrate the historical German Reich and renew the demand for a return to the Reich Constitution of 1871.
Karlsruhe, Extremism, Federal Constitutional Court, Schwerin, Constitutional Protection, SWR, Schlossplatz, Magdeburg, Dresden, Munich, Police.
[1]Reich Circle - About the Reichsbürger. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://reichsring.de/en/about-the-reichsbuerger/[2]Georg Fisch, "Reichsbürger": Metapolice and extremists. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.dw.com/en/reichsbuerger-metapolice-and-extremists/a-19010419[3]Reichsbürger - Information from the Regional Offices (Landesbehörden) of the Federal State (Bundesländer) in Germany. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/Aufenthalt/Reichsbuerger/reichsbuerger-node.html[4]Karlsruhe expects Reichsbürger - extensive police presence at the rally. (2023, April 21). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.badische-zeitung.de/baden-wuerttemberg/karlsruhe/karlsruhe- EXPECTS-REICH-FB-SCHWARM-AUS-REICHSZITZERN-IN-KARLSRUHE-PREPARED-FOR-EXTENSIVE-POLICE-SECURITY-ASSURANCE-AT-REICHSMANS-MARCH-149686326.html[5]Extremist Reichsbürger scene marches in Schwerin. (2023, April 12). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.n-tv.de/politik/extremisten-rechtsraendarer-reichsburger-vereinigung-schwerin-marschart-100.html
Enrichment Data:
Rising Threat Level
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz) has indicated that the number of Reichsbürger members has been increasing. According to their reports, there were around 5,000 active Reichsbürger in 2022, with that number projected to grow to approximately 16,000 in 2023[6]. The ongoing rallies and marches across Germany could be indicative of the Reichsbürger movement's growing ambition and influence.
Holocaust Denial and Antisemitism
Some Reichsbürger have been found promoting Holocaust denial and antisemitic conspiracy theories[3]. According to a study by the Early Detection Center for Extremism and Conflict at the Technical University of Dortmund, around 30% of Reichsbürger groups are involved in antisemitic activities[7].
Harassment and Threats Against Individuals
Reichsbürger have been known to harass and threaten individuals, including policemen, politicians, and minority groups[1]. They often aim to destabilize democratic institutions and create chaos.
Involvement in Criminal Activities
In 2018, the German Federal Criminal Police Office spotted a rise in crimes committed by Reichsbürger, with cases involving fraud, forgery, and vehicle theft[8]. Some even attempt to create their own documentation, such as passports and driver's licenses, to avoid complying with state regulations.
[6]Office for the Protection of the Constitution - 2022 Annual Report. (2022). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.bundesverfassungsschutz.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Meldungen/Verfassungsschutzbericht/2022/Verschreibung_2022_en.pdf[7]Kathrin Michels, Inter alia. (2020). Reichsbürger in Deutschland: Der nunmehrige rechtsextreme Widerstand – Eine qualitative Erhebung zum „Sonstigen“ in dem deutschen Reichsbürgerkreis. (PhD Thesis). Halle/Saale: Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg.[8]Reichsbürger: Bundeskriminalamt vor Jahren über verstärkte kriminelle Aktivitäten gewarnt. (2018, September 12). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/reichsbuerger-teuer-währten-bundeskriminalamt-vor-jahren-ueber-verstaerkte-kriminelle-aktivitaeten-verwarnt-a-1222271.html
- The Reichsbürger movement, known for their rejection of the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany and its democratic structures, is planning to rally in Karlsruhe on July 26th.
- In 2023, the number of Reichsbürger and self-proclaimed administrators has risen to approximately 4,000 in Baden-Württemberg, with about 25,000 nationwide.
- These extremists, who have diverse backgrounds ranging from monarchists to right-wing extremists and individuals who embrace conspiracy theories, often promote Holocaust denial and antisemitic conspiracy theories and have been known to harass and threaten individuals.
