Germany: Dozens charged over far-right 'treason' plot

German federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they have charged 27 people who were allegedly part of a far-right “terror group” and detained last year with organising an attempt to overthrow the government and attack parliament.

Adherents of the Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich) do not acknowledge the legitimacy of modern-day Germany. While some support the German empire under monarchy, others are supporters of Nazi ideologies and think the German people are occupying the country militarily.

The Vereinte Patrioten had intended to abduct German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and impose a government based on the German Reich’s 1871 constitution.

Prosecutors claim that the group, which was founded in the middle of January 2022, set out to “trigger civil war-like conditions in Germany by means of violence” with the intention of toppling the nation’s government and parliamentary democracy.

Prosecutors claim that the organisation also planned targeted explosive strikes with the intention of causing a multi-week nationwide blackout of power to isolate the populace from media and TV coverage.

Prosecutors have charged five alleged members who were detained in 2017 with high treason, and they have been on trial since May.

The idea was to storm the German Capitol, seize legislators, and have the chancellor put to death. A former far-right member of Parliament would lead a national purge, while a prince descending from German nobility would assume power as the new head of state.

The electricity network would be compromised in order to support the coup. There were already satellite phones purchased for off-grid communication.

“The accused are strongly suspected of membership of a terrorist organisation as well as preparation of a treasonous undertaking,” prosecutors said in a statement on the so-called Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich).

(With agency inputs)