The trial of the alleged masterminds behind a suspected far-right conspiracy to overthrow the German government is set to commence in Frankfurt on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a highly significant legal process that has captured the attention of the nation since late 2022.
Nine defendants are set to appear before judges at a specially constructed temporary courthouse, designed to accommodate the significant number of defendants, lawyers, and media involved in the case. The Frankfurt state court anticipates a trial that will last well into 2025, with approximately 260 witnesses expected to testify. This trial is one of three interconnected trials, involving over two dozen suspects in total.
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- 1 A PRINCE, AN EX-LAWMAKER AND FORMER SOLDIERS
- 2 STORMING PARLIAMENT AND NEGOTIATING WITH RUSSIA
- 3 ONE ALLEGED PLOT, THREE TRIALS
- 4 WIDER FAR-RIGHT WORRIES
- 5 ___
A PRINCE, AN EX-LAWMAKER AND FORMER SOLDIERS
The alleged plot involves several high-profile suspects, including Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, who was allegedly planned to be installed as Germany’s provisional new leader. Other defendants include Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, a judge and former lawmaker affiliated with the far-right Alternative for Germany party, as well as former German military officers.
Most of the individuals are facing charges of being associated with a terrorist organization that was established in July 2021. Their objective was to forcibly overthrow the current state order in Germany and engage in activities related to high treason. The group’s leaders, including Reuss and another suspect who is a former paratrooper, are accused of orchestrating these actions.
The prosecutors have stated that the accused had a strong belief in a collection of conspiracy myths, which included Reich Citizens and QAnon ideology, leading them to be firmly convinced that Germany is under the control of a so-called “deep state.” The Reich Citizens movement followers reject Germany’s postwar constitution and advocate for the overthrow of the government. On the other hand, QAnon is a worldwide conspiracy theory that originated in the United States.
STORMING PARLIAMENT AND NEGOTIATING WITH RUSSIA
According to prosecutors, the group had planned to forcefully enter the parliament building in Berlin and detain lawmakers. Their alleged intention was to negotiate a new order after the coup, with a particular focus on Russia, one of the victorious nations in World War II.
ONE ALLEGED PLOT, THREE TRIALS
The Frankfurt trial, although being the most notable, is the second trial among three that concentrate on the plot to open. In total, there are 26 suspects involved in these trials. Initially, there were 27, but unfortunately, one of the men charged in Frankfurt passed away before the trial.
The trial in Stuttgart, which started at the end of April, is currently centered on the “military arm” of the plot. According to prosecutors, this group was responsible for executing the plans devised by the alleged leaders.
The remaining eight suspects will face trial in Munich on June 18th as the third trial begins.
WIDER FAR-RIGHT WORRIES
German officials had been repeatedly cautioning about the significant threat posed by far-right extremists to the country’s domestic security, even prior to the uncovering of the alleged coup plot in December 2022. This plot was brought to light through a series of arrests.
In 2019, the threat became evident when a regional politician was killed and there was an attempted attack on a synagogue. A year later, during a protest against pandemic restrictions, far-right extremists made an unsuccessful attempt to enter the parliament building in Berlin.
A year ago, a separate case emerged in Koblenz, where five individuals faced trial. They were accused of being part of a group known as United Patriots, which is believed to have connections to the Reich Citizens milieu. The group allegedly planned a far-right coup and intended to kidnap Germany’s health minister.
Mass protests erupted in January following a report revealing that extremists had convened a meeting to discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, including those with German citizenship. The alarming rise of the far-right movement prompted widespread public outrage.
Some members of Alternative for Germany allegedly attended the meeting. The party, which has garnered significant support in recent times, attempted to distance itself from the event while also criticizing the way it was reported.
___
The report was filed by Moulson from Berlin.
