The raids on Reich citizens who are believed to have planned a violent coup in Germany have caused dismay. They also attract international attention. This is how newspapers from Germany and the world comment on the case.
After the major raid on a “Reich Citizens” group, the German security authorities are expecting further suspects and searches due to plans for a coup. In interviews on Wednesday evening, the Presidents of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) as well as the Federal Public Prosecutor were convinced of the seriousness of the coup plans.
On Wednesday, the federal prosecutor had arrested a total of 25 people in eleven federal states as well as in Italy and Austria. She accuses 22 of them of being a member of a terrorist organization that wanted to overthrow the political system in Germany. The arrest warrants for 19 suspects were executed by the evening, so they are in custody. If there are more, this could happen on Thursday.
“The trivialization of Reich citizens has always been wrong”
This is how the media in Germany and abroad comment on the raids:
“Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung”: “Although it is encouraging that the police officers were able to arrest dozens of ‘Reichsbürger’ in a raid who had sought to overthrow the system, it is worrying that the group was able to form months ago without being disturbed. The agencies involved, from the police to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, have to be better equipped so that they can work faster and more efficiently. Despite the raid, ‘Reichsbürger’ will not stop up to mischief.”
“New Osnabrück Newspaper”: “Although the Reichsbürger scene is strange and small, it is dangerous. Anyone who rejects the state order is prepared to use violence to instigate a coup. In addition, the scene is growing and militant actions are increasing. Because since the corona pandemic, the Reichsbürger have had the Closed ranks with lateral thinkers and corona deniers, who also reject the state.It is worrying that in the past year alone, the spectrum of Reich citizens grew nationwide by 1,000 people to 21,000 members.Some act like terrorists: Only a few months ago, a group of Reich citizens called ‘United Patriots’ who wanted to kidnap Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach and start a civil war.”
“Augsburg General”: “The trivialization of the so-called Reich citizens has always been wrong. Over the past few years, they have proven several times that they follow their crude fantasies with deeds. Let’s just remember the man from Bavaria who shot a police officer during an operation in 2016. The Citizens of the Reich are not just crackpots who reject the state, make imaginary ID cards and annoy the authorities. The current case shows this very clearly. The terrorist organization that has now been exposed is the largest and most dangerous group of its kind to date.”
“Stuttgarter News”: “It is a specter that the Federal Public Prosecutor is painting on the wall: alleged ‘Reich citizens’ would have armed themselves, planned an attack on Parliament, even the overthrow, a civil war in Germany. A worn-out prince, lonely representative of a gender that never had supra-regional importance, should become the new German head of state. This all sounds more like a robber’s pistol than a coup. Caution is advised after the gigantic operation with more than 3000 police officers: Because it would not be the first time that investigations against the ‘Reich citizens ‘ conspirators are sloppily run and collect too little evidence, and then they go to great lengths to chase after a few pathetic crackpots with crude ideas.”
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“people’s voice”: “Anyone who previously dismissed the so-called Reichsbürger as obscure muddleheads, but actually rather harmless troops, is now being taught the wrong thing. The large-scale operation by the authorities has uncovered a suspected right-wing extremist terrorist network, driven by fantasies of violent coup and conspiracy ideologies. This is extremely threatening. The state has proved to be defensive, as evidenced by the successful police raid. But now the brown swamp must be completely drained. This includes a detailed review of what happened. How far had the plans for the seizure of power progressed? How could the terrorist network, apparently unobserved, be built? That A former AfD member of the Bundestag apparently belongs to the terrorist group is further evidence of anti-constitutional and anti-democratic tendencies in the party. Absolutely correct that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has the AfD in their sights.”
“Cologne City Gazette”: “It is encouraging that the police raided dozens of extremists who wanted to overthrow the system. But the fact that the group was able to form unmolested is worrying. ‘Reichsbürger’ will not stop up to mischief despite the raid. They reject the legitimate state as we know it. Their twisted worldview means they have to fight for a new order. It is frightening that ex-AfD member of parliament Birgit Malsack-Winkemann is among those arrested, who worked as a judge. People with such a worldview should not be allowed to work in the public sector or in the military. The firewall against the right must be raised.”
“Reutlinger General-Anzeiger”: “In an increasingly confusing world with its complex network of dependencies and interests, many people long for simple structures. A world where you know again who is good and who is bad. With the freedom of thought and action that a democracy offers, many are simply overwhelmed. A mixed situation that anti-democratic elements are only too happy to use to sow the seeds of doubt in people’s hearts. So it is hardly surprising that the self-proclaimed interim government under Henry XIII. Prince Reuss recognizes the Russian Federation as the sole negotiating partner for a new state order. Putin’s trolls will be laughing up their sleeves.”
“NZZ”, Switzerland: “Even if the excitement about the alleged Reichsbürger conspiracy that the security authorities have uncovered is great: a coup or civil war is certainly not imminent in Germany. The overwhelming majority of Germans cannot understand the delusions of some sectarian diehards in any way count around 21,000 people in the entire Reichsbürger scene, which is 0.025 percent of the population.
However, there are points to worry about and questions to ask. Point one concerns the danger posed by radicalized members of extremist movements: terror is always possible. An open society, a democratically accessible government district, the transport and energy infrastructure for 83 million people cannot be permanently protected.”
“La Vanguardia”, Spain: “3,000 police officers were deployed to break up a right-wing extremist conspiracy against the federal government. It is still too early to assess the goals of those involved and their chances of success. But it is already becoming apparent that we are facing a dangerous conspiracy. A conspiracy , which comes as no surprise because she is part of the growing far-right movements in Europe and networks spreading conspiracy theories from the US and Russia-based poisoning networks. There are clues. Giorgia Meloni, admirer of Mussolini, governs in Italy. The far-right Sweden Democrats became the second largest force in parliament Hungary and Poland have illiberal governments Marine Le Pen won the presidential election with 41 percent.
The followers of conspiracy theories have also lived among us for years. Some chew the nonsense of QAnon again, others are opponents of vaccination or deniers of the climate crisis. Germany and the EU must respond without hesitation to those who attack its founding principles and prevent young, rather uninformed people from turning to anti-democratic forces.”
“Bloomberg”UNITED STATES: “With this raid, the Germans apparently thwarted plans for a full-fledged coup. (…) The Weimar Republic survived several coup attempts before collapsing in 1933. The USA used to believe that they were immune to such incitement, until they, too, on January 6th had to survive an attack on their Capitol in 2021. (…) Yes, the danger is real. The lesson from Germany this week, as well as from the USA since January 6th, is that the crazies are becoming more and more radical and over each other cross borders with their conspiracy theories and fantasies of violence.”
“Dagen’s Nyheter”Sweden: “In the past, Russia has repeatedly interfered in the governance of other countries and tried to overthrow governments. It is not known whether they would go so far as to participate in plans for a coup in Germany. What is certain is that The Kremlin has an interest in a weakened and pliable Germany at a time when the government in Berlin is turning away from previous conciliatory policies towards Russia and is beginning to reduce its dependence on Russian gas.The Russian Embassy in Berlin has issued a statement denying any contact with German terrorist groups.”
“Independent”, Great Britain: “The Federal Republic will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2024 – the longest uninterrupted period of liberal-democratic government in German history. But genocide, revolutions, wars and occupations were also part of German history – and are still vividly remembered. The Democracy, which was extended to the East after the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification in 1990, is not a matter of course in the new Germany either.
The would-be revolutionaries may have been encouraged, if not inspired, by what they saw in Washington on January 6, 2021. The idea that the seat of power and key organs of the state can be seized by a few armed activists must be both alluring and intoxicating to them. It may also have reminded them of the way the Nazis in the 1920s also used direct action to attract attention, create martyrs, and destabilize the state.”