Latest news with #Reichsburger
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany bans extremist 'Kingdom of Germany' group
May 13 (UPI) -- The leader of a secessionist group known as the "Kingdom of Germany" was arrested Tuesday morning with supporters for allegedly running a counter-German state, which government officials have now banned. Peter Fitzek, 59, along with three others, were arrested in raids across seven German states aided by roughly 800 law enforcement personnel as leaders of the so-called "Reichsburger" -- also known as "citizens of the Reich" -- which seek to establish the Konigreich Deutschland, or a "Kingdom of Germany." "These extremists created a counter-state in Germany and ran criminal financial operations," German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Tuesday in a statement, accusing the group of trying to "undermine the rule of law." Meanwhile, a fifth property was searched in Switzerland. Founded in 2012 to the east in Wittenberg in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, the so-called "Kingdom of Germany" allegedly ran unlicensed banking operations, promoted its own set of laws, had currency, a flag and ID cards with Fitzek as "King Peter I," who in turn appointed two deputies and a finance chief in the scheme. The German Empire under the Hohenzollern dynasty ended with the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1918 at the end of World War One which then saw to several years of instability and ultimately the rise of facism lead by Nazi party leader Adolf Hitler, who became German chancellor in 1933. "This is not about harmless nostalgia," Dobrindt said Tuesday. According to officials, Fitzek was previously convicted of running an illegal banking operation. Dobrindt said no weapons had been seized in the raids. "However, that was not to be expected," he pointed out, adding how the group did not appear to be particularly interested in weaponry, but others "are known to have a fundamental affinity for" them. There are roughly 25,000 "Reichsburger" members nationwide in groups who seek to overthrow Germany's government, according to its domestic intelligence agency. They're known to be largely right-wing or anti-Semitic extremists in numbers that have grown over the years. "I have no interest in being part of this fascist and satanic system," Fitzek told the BBC in 2022, calling the German state "destructive and sick." The arrests arrived on top of calls to ban the far-right "Alternative for Germany" party, backed by White House adviser Elon Musk, which is now the largest opposition party in the German parliament. "They reinforce their bogus claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy theories," Dobrindt added. In March, five people tied to the "Citizens of the Reich" were jailed in an alleged plot to overthrow Germany's federal government in a far-right coup. "A constitutional democracy cannot tolerate this," the Germany interior minister stated Tuesday.
Western Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
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.' More Stories 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.
Toronto Sun
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Germany bans the largest 'Reich citizen' group, arrests 4 leaders
Published May 13, 2025 • 2 minute read In this file photo taken on October 23, 2023, Peter Fitzek, self-proclaimed head of the so-called 'Kingdom of Germany' (Koenigreich Deutschland), poses for a photo with the kingdom's constitution, in Wittenberg, eastern Germany. Photo by JENS SCHLUETER / AFP BERLIN — The German government has banned the largest 'Reich citizen' group, an extremist far-right organization that calls itself the 'Kingdom of Germany' and seeks to undermine the country's democratic order, and arrested four of its leaders. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Since early Tuesday, 800 police officers in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. 'The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures,' Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said, adding that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives — a behavior that the country can't tolerate. 'We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order,' Dobrindt added. The so-called Reich citizen, or Reichsburger, movement doesn't recognize 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The 'Kingdom of Germany' was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek — who was among those arrested on Tuesday — in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, though the interior ministry said that the group has about 1,000 members. 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's 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.
Powys County Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Germany bans the largest ‘Reich citizen' group and arrests four leaders
The German government has banned the largest 'Reich citizen' group, an extremist far-right organisation that calls itself the 'Kingdom of Germany' and seeks to undermine the country's democratic order, and arrested four of its 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.
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.
