Police raid in Reutlingen: Harmless eccentrics or potential terrorists?
In the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg, a region known for its long-standing protest culture and hub for COVID-19 protests, a chilling plot unfolded. At the centre of this intrigue is Rüdiger von Pescatore, a former German paratrooper commander, born in Munich on July 25, 1953.
Pescatore, who later became known as the alleged leader of a "new German army" in connection with extremist and coup-plot accusations linked to the "Reichsbürger" movement, left Germany for Brazil after being convicted. His suspected plans for a coup were rooted in Neustetten-Nellingsheim near Rottenburg in the district of Tübingen.
Martin Kaul, a WDR investigative journalist, has been delving into Pescatore's life for his podcast "Deep State" for two years. Kaul believes that Pescatore contributed to an atmosphere of tradition in Baden-Württemberg, with some identifying with the paratroopers of the Wehrmacht.
Pescatore commanded the parachute hunter battalion 251, from which the KSK (Kommando Spezialkräfte) emerged in 1996, but he was not part of it. He lived in Sommenhardt at some point and was stationed in Nagold and Calw in the early 1990s.
The "Reichsbürger" movement, a hotspot in Baden-Württemberg, is open to conspiracy theories like QAnon. In March 2023, a raid took place in Reutlingen, where a suspected member of the Reuß group barricaded himself in and shot at the police, hitting one of them in the arm. Audio recordings from the raid, showing the radicalization of "Reichsbürger", were heard for the first time in Kaul's podcast.
The Reuß group had irrational ideas, waiting for a "day X" when an "alliance" would give the signal to strike. An active KSK soldier is suspected of collaborating with Pescatore in planning the coup. Maximilian E, a long-time member of the KSK, appeared at numerous "Querdenken" demos during the pandemic and spread conspiracy theories. Kaul interviewed E for his podcast while he was in investigative custody.
In his podcast "Deep State", Kaul suggests that the KSK's sensitivity to right-wing extremism may be related to the region. The podcast consists of six episodes and is available in the ARD Audiothek (free). Listeners are drawn into a complex web of intrigue, exploring the deep-rooted traditions, conspiracy theories, and the suspected coup plot that threatens the peace of Baden-Württemberg.
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