“Reich citizens” found “Jewish communities” | tagesschau.de

Supporters from the “Reichsbürger” milieu have founded several supposedly Jewish associations across the country. Apparently they want to disguise themselves this way – and receive government money.

People from the “Reich Citizens” spectrum have founded several supposedly Jewish associations. These include alleged “Jewish communities” in various regions of Germany. The ARD-Politics magazine panorama came across at least ten such foundations.

The associations have names like “Jewish Community of Ahrensbök” or “Jewish Community of Zeitz”. In the meantime, several of the clubs have been officially entered in the association register. According to the statutes, these “Jewish communities” pursue “exclusively and directly charitable goals.” The alleged community in Ahrensbök near Lübeck in Schleswig-Holstein was supposed to be a “collective community of all conservative-liberal, liberal and reformed Jews in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein.”

In the meantime, this “community” has given up its status as a registered association due to a lack of members. However, at least four “Jewish” associations with connections to the “Reichsbürger” scene can currently still be found in the association register.

“Reich citizens” are enemies of the constitution who do not recognize the Federal Republic and believe in the continued existence of the “German Empire”. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution counts around 23,000 people nationwide as part of this scene. For years they have attracted attention with anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, anti-Jewish statements and Holocaust denials. How does it fit that “Reich citizens” of all people are founding “Jewish communities”?

Alleged Chief Rabbi in court several times

A trail leads to an alleged “chief rabbi” who is said to be responsible for several of these “communities”: Iwan Götz from near Parchim in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The 75-year-old has been in the “Reichsbürger” milieu for a long time and is best known for his right-wing extremist statements. He has already had to answer in court several times, including for sedition.

In an interview with panorama Götz explains that he has appointed himself chief rabbi. He sees himself as a representative of “true Judaism”; otherwise there would only be Zionists in Germany. And they supported National Socialism: “Germans themselves did a small part of it, Hitler was financed by Jews,” claims the “Reichsbürger”. An anti-Semitic historical falsification.

Goals: camouflage and funding?

A few years ago, “Reich citizens” also founded alleged “Jewish communities” in Saxony, in Radeburg and Bautzen. “They actually used the name of the historic Bautzen community. They used letterhead and the community’s logo,” reports Nora Goldenbogen, chairwoman of the Saxony State Association of Jewish Communities.

In their opinion, the “Reich Citizens” would be pursuing a perfidious strategy with such establishments: “They use Judaism as a protective shield, but they think and act anti-Semitic,” says Goldenbogen in an interview panorama. She suspects that they could be interested in a kind of camouflage, and also in obtaining state funds.

In fact, for example, the alleged “Ahrensbök Jewish Community” tried to obtain funding, as the mayor of Ahrensbök pointed out panorama-Inquiry communicated. However, the application was rejected.

Such activities by “Reich citizens” are observed by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in several federal states. According to the Saxon Office for the Protection of the Constitution, such establishments can serve as camouflage for “Reich citizens”. “However, the activities typical of “Reich Citizens” are always aimed at hindering or delaying the actions of authorities and at denying sovereignty to the Federal Republic of Germany,” says a spokeswoman. The Federal Ministry of the Interior sees it as a “regional phenomenon”.

Central Council of Jews: “Society as a whole dangerous”

The Central Council of Jews in Germany has already become aware of several cases. “We are aware of the problems faced by these groups and people,” says a spokesman panorama. “The concealment of the true intentions” of these groups from the “Reichsbürger” milieu is “dangerous for society as a whole.” In some cases, the Central Council has “already taken legal action against some protagonists”.

In principle, however, the term “Jewish community” is not legally protected. Even in the association registers, there is usually no check as to whether there are actual Jewish institutions behind the associations.

Panorama reports on this and other topics today at 9:45 p.m. on First.