star investigative
The Reich Citizen File
Secret meetings, coup plans, scout teams: This is how the suspected terrorist group was formed
© Boris Roessler / Picture Alliance / dpa
This timeline shows the radicalization of the Reuss group according to the Federal Prosecutor General’s indictment as well as key events for the Reich citizen scene.
October 31, 2020
The ex-paratrooper Peter Wörner writes to his former superior Rüdiger von Pescatore: “We will recreate our empire.”
January 6, 2021
Hundreds violently storm the US Congress. German Reich citizens celebrate the attack on the Capitol.
May 12, 2021
Wörner announces on YouTube that the “council” and “military” will take power by force.
May 14, 2021:
Markus L. and Matthias H. stand out with Bundeswehr berets at a Corona demo.
May 24, 2021
Maximilian Eder, retired colonel. D., demands at a demo that the KSK should be sent to Berlin and that it should “clean up properly”.
Mid-July 2021
Flood disaster in the Ahr Valley, Eder and Wörner pose in uniform as official operations managers in a relief center. Eventually the center was closed.
July 29, 2021
The group is said to have formed in Buch am Wald, Franconia, and planned to storm the Bundestag. Six are considered founders, including Eder and Wörner. Pescatore is there via video from Brazil.
August 1, 2021
The AfD MP Birgit Malsack-Winkemann leads Eder, Wörner and Harald P. through the Bundestag buildings on a Sunday evening, 17 days later Wörner comes again.
October 31, 2021
Rüdiger von Pescatore returns to Germany from Brazil.
November 24th and 25th, 2021
The group rents two chalets in Helmbrechts, the military representatives and Prince Reuss move closer together.
December 2, 2021
Prince Reuss provides 50,000 euros for two Swiss citizens. The group commissioned them to buy weapons.
January 6, 2022
Prince Reuss expresses concern to Wörner that Eder could cause chaos by storming the Bundestag. Wörner reassured him, Pescatore and he sorted it out.
January 12, 2022
Eder writes a statement to be published after the seizure of power.
February 5, 2022
Eder and Pescatore meet several men at the Swiss border, possibly to order weapons.
February 7, 2022
Near Lörrach, a Reich citizen runs over a police officer and seriously injures him. Verdict: ten years in prison.
February 11, 2022
Prince Reuß hosts the first of at least six “council meetings” at Waidmannsheil Castle.
February 22, 2022
Prince Reuss and Pescatore fly to Bratislava to meet representatives of Russia.
March 3, 2022
Wörner meets another group of Reich citizens who are said to have planned to kidnap Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. The police become aware of him.
March 6, 2022
Prince Reuss sends Malsack-Winkemann a chat message: The corrupt figures in the government must be eliminated.
April 13, 2022
Raid at Wörner: The police find, among other things, ammunition, an illegal weapon and various Nazi memorabilia.
The Reich Citizen File
The suspected Reichsbürger terrorists around Prince Reuss were hoarding these weapons
April 20, 2022
During a raid, Reich citizen Ingo K. shoots at police officers, verdict in the first instance: 14 years in prison.
June 13, 2022
Prince Reuss has a personal conversation with the Russian Consul General in Leipzig.
June 24, 2022
At a “council meeting” the participants sign a confidentiality agreement, according to which Prince Reuss’ violations would result in the death penalty.
June 29, 2022
Reuss is overheard saying on the phone that the group should not take their foot off the gas. And: You should now kill them one by one.
July 2, 2022
Early of many recruiting meetings: Pescatore drives through the country looking for soldiers and police officers for his army.
October 2022
The military group led by Pescatore spies on various Bundeswehr barracks.
November 23, 2022
Wörner goes hiking with an undercover agent, but he doesn’t know that.
Beginning of December 2022
Prince Reuss tries to hand over a document to the Russian government. He wants to negotiate with Russia on behalf of the German Empire.
December 7, 2022
Raids in eleven federal states: Reuß, Pescatore and 23 other people are arrested.
March 22, 2023
The SEK wants to search Markus L.’s apartment, L. shoots at the police officers.
November 30, 2023
Verdict in the trial against the Reichsbürger “Group S.”: six years in prison for the ringleader.
December 12, 2023
The Federal Prosecutor General is bringing charges against 27 alleged members and supporters of the association.