The trial of nine men accused of audaciously planning to violently overthrow the German government began in the city of Stuttgart. The suspects are part of what is known as Reichsbuerger - the Reich Citizens group - including former soldiers. The nine suspects are accused of plotting a violent coup to install minor aristocrat Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss as Germany’s leader.

Stuttgart

In Stuttgart, Germany, the trial of nine men has commenced, facing charges for allegedly planning to violently overthrow the German government. These individuals are reportedly associated with the Reich Citizens group, also known as Reichsbuerger, a far-right conspiracy group that includes former soldiers among its members. The accused are charged with high treason and are believed to be part of the military wing of Reichsbuerger, intending to replace the current government with Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss as the new leader.

The Reich Citizens, according to authorities, aimed to carry out a coup by storming the parliament, arresting members of parliament, and enforcing their rule through military means across regions. This plan allegedly involved the elimination of representatives of the current state, potentially through lethal means. It is reported that these individuals sought to bolster their ranks by recruiting police officers, soldiers, and veterans to partake in this coup.

Prosecutors have presented evidence indicating the group's possession of an extensive arsenal, including over 300 guns and more than 800 other weapons. This case has been highlighted as one of the most significant in terms of state security criminal cases, given the substantial volume of evidence collected, amounting to approximately 700 large folders and 400,000 pages of documentation.

Furthermore, additional trials are anticipated, including that of a former member of parliament from the far-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party, alongside 16 others. This broader network is part of the estimated 20,000 Germans associated with the Reich Citizens movement. This movement fundamentally rejects the legitimacy of the current German state, levying baseless allegations against its leaders. Those standing trial are accused of being willing to resort to violence to achieve their objectives.



Germany launches trial of far-right coup plotters

Charged with high treason for plotting to overthrow the German government, the nine men on trial are allegedly part of the military wing of a far-right conspiracy group called the Reich Citizens. These armed units were tasked with enforcing the coup regionally by military means. To this end, local representatives of the existing state order in particular were to be eliminated as part of the so-called purges. This included killing them. The court will hear they tried to recruit police officers, soldiers and veterans to orchestrate the coup. They planned to topple the German government by storming the parliament and arresting MPs and installing instead a German prince, Heinrich XIII of Reuss, as leader. He too now faces trial. Prosecutors say police found over 300 guns and over 800 other weapons belonging to the group. This state security criminal case is probably one of the biggest in history. It is extraordinarily extensive. The files add up to around 700 large folders and 400,000 pages. A former member of parliament with Germany's far-right AfD party will also go on trial in the coming months, along with 16 others. Some 20,000 Germans belong to the Reich Citizens conspiracy movement, which does not recognise the legitimacy of the German state and believes its leaders to be paedophiles. The people on trial are accused of being ready to use violence to achieve their aims. Camille Nedelec, Al Jazeera.

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