chronology
The group around Prince Reuss is said to have been founded in the summer of 2021, and alleged members are now on trial for the first time. What has happened since then and when will the further processes begin? A chronology of important events.
July 2021: Founding of the group
According to the indictment, the terrorist organization was founded at the end of July 2021 with the aim of violently eliminating the state order in Germany and replacing it with its own form of government. Entrepreneur Henry XIII. Prince Reuss is considered the ringleader of the alleged “Reichsbürger” group.
“Reich Citizens” are not a unified movement. What they all have in common is that they deny the legitimacy of the Federal Republic. According to the indictment, the accused in the “Reuss Group” believe in a “conglomerate of conspiracy myths.” They were aware that there would be deaths in the planned takeover of power.
August 2021: First plans for storming the Reichstag
In August 2021, Prince Reuß’s group began planning to invade the Reichstag building in Berlin with an armed group. The aim was also to arrest members of the German Bundestag in order to achieve a change in the system. The group recruited military personnel, procured equipment and provided shooting training.
September 2022: AfD politician leads through the Bundestag
In September 2022, AfD politician Birgit Malsack-Winkemann led suspected “Reich citizens” through the government district, who are now among the co-accused. This emerges from documents from the Federal Court of Justice (BGH). As a former member of the Bundestag, Malsack-Winkemann still had unhindered access and could take up to six people with her at any time.
One of the participants documented with photos and videos the Paul Löbe House, which contains offices and meeting rooms for parliamentarians, its underground entrances to other buildings, including the Reichstag, and the interior of the Bundestag plenary hall.
December 2022: Arrests in major raid
In one of the largest police operations against extremists in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, a total of 25 people from the group of suspected “Reich citizens” were arrested on December 7, 2022. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, you are suspected of having formed a terrorist organization.
In addition to the alleged ringleader Prince Reuß, those arrested include the judge and AfD politician Malsack-Winkemann and a soldier from the Bundeswehr’s Special Forces Command (KSK).
May 2023: There are now 63 accused
The number of suspects in the major raid on the “Reichsbürger” scene rose to 63 people in May 2023. 26 of the men and women from Prince Reuss’ group were in custody at the time.
December 2023: Charges against 27 suspects
On December 11, 2023, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office brought charges against 18 people before the Frankfurt am Main and Munich Higher Regional Courts, including for membership in or support of a terrorist organization and preparation of a treasonous enterprise. In addition, charges were brought against nine other people before the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court for attempted murder.
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the association had “access to a massive arsenal of weapons” with around 380 firearms, 350 cutting and stabbing weapons, almost 500 other weapons and 148,000 pieces of ammunition.
March 2024: Defendant succumbs to illness
One defendant from the group did not live to see the trial begin: Norbert G. died in the clinic, a spokeswoman for the Frankfurt am Main Higher Regional Court announced in March 2024. The person was arrested on December 7, 2022, but has been spared from custody since the beginning of January 2024, it is said. According to media reports, the reason is that the man is seriously ill.
April 2024: First trial begins in Stuttgart
The first trial against alleged conspirators around Prince Reuss began in Stuttgart on April 29, 2024. It is the first of three mammoth trials in which members of the group will gradually come before the judge. This is one of the largest terror trials in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Nine men have to answer in Stuttgart. Most of them are said to have belonged to the military wing; several are said to have taken part in setting up the homeland security companies and tried to recruit additional members.
May 2024: Trial against alleged ringleader
The trial against the alleged ringleaders of the terrorist group around Prince Reuss is scheduled to begin on May 21, 2024 at the Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt am Main. A total of nine people have to answer for the crime – including Malsack-Winkemann. The former Berlin judge should have been responsible for the “Justice Department” after a coup.
June 2024: Planned start of the third process
The eight other alleged members are scheduled to stand trial in Munich from June 18, 2024. The case has also been split into three trials due to the sheer number of suspects.
Based on material from the dpa news agency