Latest news with #ReichCitizens
DW
4 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Fearless Against the Right – DW – 06/02/2025
Right-wing radicals are becoming increasingly vocal in Germany. But many people oppose them and are fighting to defend democracy. Where do they find the courage to stand up to this sometimes-violent milieu? Right-wing extremists are stronger than ever. In cities, the counter movement is strong and highly visible. But in more rural areas, anyone openly opposing the far right often has to reckon with threats and attempts at intimidation. A film team accompanied just some of the individuals whose resistance puts them at great personal risk. Image: WDR Ocean Hale campaigns against the right in rural Saxony. In contrast to the demonstrations that take place in large cities such as Dresden and Leipzig, demonstrations in favor of a tolerant and diverse Germany are relatively small here. Most people either march openly on the opposite side or keep their political views to themselves. But Ocean isn't afraid to show his face. He's already organized two Christopher Street Days in the small town of Waldheim, and isn't deterred by death threats and acid attacks. Image: WDR Magdalena has launched the #ReclaimTikTok initiative. Together with others, she produces as much content as possible, all under the label: tolerant and anti-fascist. The campaign has already caught the attention of far-right activist Martin Sellner. Since her real name has been shared on various right-wing social media channels, Magdalena is also having to take greater care as she goes about her everyday life. Image: WDR Jacob is an independent blogger and photographer in Gera, Thuringia. Whenever members of theReichsbürger(Reich Citizens) movement gather from all over Germany for demonstrations in his hometown, he reports from crowd. Jacob thinks many people are irritated by these regular far-right rallies in Gera, but that they're afraid to speak out. His aim: to document and inform, in order to increase public awareness. Ocean, Magdalena, Jacob - they're all taking personal risks and sacrificing their free time and anonymity to stand up for an open-minded society. What drives them? Where do they find their courage, when things get risky? Broadcasting Hours: DW English SUN 15.06.2025 – 00:02 UTC SUN 15.06.2025 – 03:30 UTC SUN 15.06.2025 – 14:30 UTC MON 16.06.2025 – 01:16 UTC MON 16.06.2025 – 05:02 UTC MON 16.06.2025 – 22:30 UTC TUE 17.06.2025 – 07:30 UTC WED 18.06.2025 – 18:30 UTC Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8 London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3 San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Germany bans far-right 'Kingdom of Germany' group
AP file photo A spokeswoman for Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office said the founder of the " Reich Citizens " subgroup " Kingdom of Germany ," Peter Fitzek, had been taken into custody on Thursday. Fitzek and three other suspected ringleaders of the group, part of a conspiracy theorist movement that rejects the legitimacy of the modern German republic, were arrested. What do we know about the 'Kingdom of Germany' arrests? Police on Tuesday conducted raids on the properties of key members of the group in seven German states, making four arrests. The swoop came after Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt banned what is currently the largest group of so-called Reich Citizens. He accused the "Kingdom of Germany" of trying to establish a "counter-state" within Germany. Security authorities believe Fitzek to have founded the group in 2012, ruling as the self-declared monarch of the "Kingdom." Justifying the ban on the group, Dobrindt said, "The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up criminal economic structures." "In this way, they undermine the rule of law and the Federal Republic's monopoly on the legitimate use of force," he added. "At the same time, they use antisemitic conspiracy narratives to back up their supposed claim to authority." The ban also includes associated splinter groups. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo What is the 'Kingdom of Germany' group? According to Dobrindt, the "Kingdom of Germany" group, which reportedly has around 6,000 members, is the biggest association within the Reichsbürger scene, whose supporters deny the legitimacy of Germany's post-World War II Federal Republic. This attitude leads some members to refuse demands made by legal authorities, such as fines and taxes. They have also been known to print their own passports and driver's licenses. Security authorities in Germany have paid increased attention to the movement in recent years amid fears of its violent potential. Most notably, a plot to overthrow the German government was uncovered in late 2022. Its planners are said to have intended to raid the German parliament and arrest key politicians before installing an interim government. Some 27 people were charged in connection with the plot, and 380 firearms were found. Three major trials on terrorism and conspiracy charges began in late April 2024. The Tuesday raids took place in Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.
Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Self-styled ‘King of Germany' arrested as far-right group banned
A former karate teacher and chef who proclaimed himself King of Germany has been arrested and his group, the 'Kingdom of Germany', outlawed for trying to set up a separate state with its own bank, health insurance service, police force, court system and currency. Peter Fitzek, 59, ran the largest group within Germany's far-right Reich Citizens scene which refuses to recognise the postwar republic and strives to restore the nation to its prewar borders. Video footage of his 'coronation' shows him dressed in a red cloak lined with white fur declaring the aim to give Germany 'a homeland in true freedom'. He and three other men were arrested on Tuesday when 800 police raided properties linked to the Kingdom of Germany in seven states from
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany bans far-right group linked to Reich Citizens movement
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has banned the far-right group "Kingdom of Germany," a prominent faction of the country's Reich Citizens movement, with four of its alleged ringleaders detained during raids across several German states. The organization, which reportedly has around 6,000 followers, has been accused of establishing a "counter-state" and building "criminal economic structures." Four German men, aged between 37 and 59, were taken into custody, including the group's founder, Peter Fitzek, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office said. Later on Tuesday, an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe ruled that one of the four suspects will be remanded in custody, with the other three - including Fitzek - yet to appear before the judge, according to a spokeswoman. Who are the Reich Citizens? Reich Citizens is an umbrella term used to describe a diffuse group of German residents who do not recognize the authority of the current system of government. The movement has no official structure and consists of several groupings, with "Kingdom of Germany" currently the most prominent. Reich Citizens - or Reichsbürger - are generally considered to belong to the extreme right, though the movements do not align completely. Many of the group's followers maintain that the German Reich proclaimed in 1871 still exists. They do not recognize modern-day democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines. Reich Citizens groups have engaged in violent and criminal activities and are being monitored by Germany's domestic intelligence agency as extremist organizations. In 2023, the agency estimated some 25,000 people were part of the movement. Most prominently, the alleged ringleaders of a group surrounding Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss - a descendant of a noble German family whose title carries no formal weight - were arrested in December 2022 over an alleged planned coup attempt. Crackdown on 'Kingdom of Germany' The "Kingdom of Germany" group was founded in 2012 by Fitzek, who was born in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. Announcing the ban, Interior Minister Dobrindt said that the group's members used anti-Semitic conspiracy theories to support their claimed sovereignty, adding that such behaviour cannot be tolerated in a state governed by the rule of law. According to the Interior Ministry, police have been conducting raids since early Tuesday on properties owned by key members, including in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. It also said the group has for years operated illegal banking and insurance businesses through affiliated entities. "The 'Kingdom of Germany' is characterized by a decidedly profit-oriented focus," the ministry said, adding that members have carried out unauthorized banking and insurance transactions for years via sub-organizations. Alleged ringleader Fitzek has been convicted several times including for driving without a licence and conducting illegal banking transactions. He was also sentenced by a district court to a total of eight months' imprisonment for intentional assault and insult. According to prosecutors, as the "supreme sovereign" Fitzek was responsible for determining the ideological orientation of the group and issued his own "laws." Two of the detained men served as his deputies while the fourth man was responsible for the group's finances. As part of the ban, authorities have confiscated the group's assets and shut down its online presence.
South Wales Argus
13-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Germany bans the largest ‘Reich citizen' group and arrests four leaders
Since early Tuesday morning, 800 police officers in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. Interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said: 'The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures.' He added that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives — a behaviour that the country cannot tolerate. 'We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order,' Mr Dobrindt said. The so-called 'Reich citizen', or Reichsburger' movement, does not recognise Germany as a state. Many of them claim that the historical German Reich still exists and ignore the country's democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines. The so-called 'Kingdom of Germany' was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, the interior ministry said in a statement. It claims to be a 'counter-state' that seceded from the German federal government. 'This is not about harmless nostalgics, as the title of the association might suggest, but about criminal structures, criminal networks,' the minister told reporters later in Berlin. 'That's why it's being banned today.' The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes. It is not the first time that Germany has acted against the 'Reichsburger' movement. In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States. Last year, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germany's government went on trial on Tuesday, opening proceedings in a case that shocked the country in late 2022.
