Nine men are set to go on trial in Germany for charges of high treason, attempted murder, and plotting a violent coup d’etat to overthrow the government and install an aristocrat as the national leader. The group, known as the Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich), allegedly planned to impose martial law on Germany after carrying out a coup.
The trial, taking place in a maximum security courtroom in Stuttgart, is the first of three marathon trials involving a total of 27 people accused of conspiring in the foiled plot. This legal proceeding is one of the largest in German history.
The suspects, led by real estate investor Heinrich XIII Prinz Reuss, a descendant of a throneless dynasty, are accused of meticulously planning the coup, amassing firearms, cash, and weapons. Prosecutors claim the group intended to infiltrate the parliament building in Berlin, detain legislators, and seize power by force, even if it meant killing people.
Reichsbuerger members, who do not recognize modern-day Germany as a legitimate state, believe in a conspiracy theory involving a “Deep State” and foreign alliances ready to help them overthrow the government.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the group, stating, “These militant Reichsbuerger are driven by hatred for our democracy.” The trial is expected to last until January 2025, with experts predicting it could extend for several years due to the complexity of the case and the number of witnesses and suspects involved.