Criminal Court in Mosbach grants probation to "Reichsbürger" supporters
Family Tied to German Anti-State Movement Sentenced for Weapons and Drug Offenses
A family in Mosbach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, associated with the "Reichsbürger" movement, a group that rejects the legitimacy of the current German state, has been sentenced for illegal weapons possession and cannabis cultivation. The trial, which began in late July 2022, concluded in early August 2025, with the family members receiving probation sentences despite their possession of illegal firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
The family, consisting of a father, mother, two sons, and a daughter-in-law, were taken into custody before the trial in late July 2022. The trial was linked to a police operation on a property in Boxberg, Baden-Württemberg, in April 2022. The court proceedings were delayed twice, once in May 2022 when the defendants failed to appear.
The father was sentenced to one year in prison for possessing a semi-automatic pistol, a nunchaku, and ammunition. One son was sentenced to nine months in prison for possessing a semi-automatic pistol. The other son and daughter-in-law were each sentenced to six months in prison for cultivating and producing cannabis. The mother of the family was previously acquitted in the trial.
The court did not provide specific details about the defendants' involvement in the "Reichsbürger" scene. However, it is known that the defendants were friends with the property owner, who was later convicted of attempted murder in 2023.
The "Reichsbürger" movement, with around 26,000 members nationwide in 2024, has been a source of concern for law enforcement agencies. In Baden-Württemberg alone, the movement had approximately 4,200 members in 2024. The defendants were accused of possessing nine firearms, including an automatic rifle, between April and May 2022. Two of the defendants were allegedly cultivating a total of 38 cannabis plants.
Despite the sentences, the verdict against the defendants is not yet final, as appeals may still be possible. The family's current legal status is probationary sentencing following trial and conviction in mid-2025.
The family's involvement in the "Reichsbürger" movement, a group that denies the legitimacy of the current German state, was not detailed in the court proceedings, but it is known that they were friends with a convicted attempted murderer. This case, involving weapons and drug offenses such as illegal firearms possession, cannabis cultivation, and drug production, is a prime example of general-news stories that intersect with crime-and-justice topics. Other families associated with this anti-state movement might face similar legal consequences in other general-news ongoing trials.
