The first trial in a sprawling case in Germany, where a plot to overthrow the government and replace the chancellor was uncovered, is set to begin in Stuttgart. The group behind the plot, which included individuals with diverse backgrounds such as a dentist, clairvoyant, amateur pilot, and a far-right lawmaker, was led by Heinrich XIII Prince of Reuss. Despite their seemingly eccentric beliefs in conspiracy theories, the group was well-organized and dangerous, with military-trained members and significant weapons and funds at their disposal. The trial comes at a time when Germany faces ongoing concerns about rising far-right extremism and recent arrests of individuals accused of spying for Russia and China.
The defendants in the upcoming trials are part of the Reichsbürger movement, a group that rejects the modern German state and believes in conspiracy theories about a “Deep State” running the government. While they were once seen as harmless eccentrics, the movement gained attention in 2016 when a follower killed a police officer. The authorities estimate there are around 23,000 active members of the movement, but experts suggest the actual number is much higher. Nearly 5 percent of Germans are believed to hold some form of the conspiracy-based ideology, according to a study conducted last year.
The coup plot was expected to unfold with an attack on Germany’s Parliament, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his ministers would be captured and presented on national television to showcase the regime change. The accused plotters were planning to deploy homeland protection brigades to control dissent and recruit soldiers loyal to their cause. The first trial in Stuttgart will focus on the “military arm” of the plot, with defendants facing charges of planning treason and joining a terrorist organization. The trial is expected to be lengthy, as German trials of this complexity can take years to prosecute.
Verdicts in the trials are not expected to be delivered quickly, given the complexity of the case and the number of defendants involved. The trial in Stuttgart will be followed by trials in Frankfurt and Munich, involving additional defendants accused of being part of the plot’s leadership council. The scale of the trials, with multiple judges, defense lawyers, and court officials involved, highlights the gravity of the charges against those accused of attempting to overthrow the German government. The trials shed light on the ongoing threat of far-right extremism in Germany and the challenges faced by authorities in addressing such plots.
