"Shocking News: The Alleged Leaders of a Suspected German Far-Right Coup Plot Go on Trial!"

The Alleged Leaders of a Suspected German Far-Right Coup Plot Trial: Uncovering the Truth!

The suspected leaders of a German far-right coup attempt are going on trial in Frankfurt on Tuesday. This high-profile case has shocked the nation since late 2022.

The alleged leaders of a suspected German far-right coup plot are going on trial

Nine defendants will face judges at a special temporary courthouse designed for the large number of defendants, lawyers, and media involved in the case. Around 260 witnesses are expected, and the trial is likely to extend into 2025. This is one of three related trials involving over two dozen suspects.

A PRINCE, AN EX-LAWMAKER AND FORMER SOLDIERS

The defendants include notable figures like Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, whom the group planned to make Germany’s new leader; Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, a judge and former lawmaker with the far-right Alternative for Germany party; and former German military officers.

Most are charged with belonging to a terrorist organization, formed in July 2021, aiming to overthrow the German government by force. Reuss and a former paratrooper are believed to be the group's leaders.

Conspiracy Theories and Ideologies

Prosecutors say the accused believed in various conspiracy theories, including Reich Citizens and QAnon ideologies, and thought Germany is controlled by a "deep state." Reich Citizens reject Germany’s postwar constitution and call for overthrowing the government, while QAnon is a global conspiracy theory from the U.S.

Storming Parliament and Negotiating with Russia

The group planned to storm the Berlin parliament building and arrest lawmakers. They aimed to negotiate a new order with Russia, one of World War II’s allied victors.

The plotters had around 500,000 euros in funding and access to a large arsenal, including 380 firearms and nearly 350 stabbing weapons, along with bulletproof vests and handcuffs. They also had “enemy lists” for taking over regional and local authorities, knowing this might involve killing people.

Reuss allegedly contacted Russian officials in 2022 for support, but it’s unclear if Russia responded.

One Alleged Plot, Three Trials

The Frankfurt trial is the second of three trials about the plot, involving 26 suspects. Originally there were 27, but one man charged in Frankfurt died before the trial.

A trial in Stuttgart that began at the end of April focuses on the plot’s “military arm,” tasked with implementing the leaders’ plans. A third trial in Munich on June 18 will involve the other eight suspects.

Wider Far-Right Concerns

The coup plot was revealed with multiple arrests in December 2022. Officials had already warned that far-right extremists pose the biggest threat to Germany’s domestic security.

This threat was evident in the killing of a regional politician and an attempted synagogue attack in 2019. In 2020, far-right protesters against pandemic restrictions tried to enter the Berlin parliament building.

Separately, five people went on trial in Koblenz a year ago over an alleged plot by the United Patriots, linked to the Reich Citizens, to launch a far-right coup and kidnap Germany’s health minister.

In January, a report that extremists met to discuss deporting millions of immigrants, including some Germans, led to mass protests against the far-right's rise.

Some members of Alternative for Germany reportedly attended the meeting. The party, which has gained strong support recently, distanced itself from the event while criticizing its reporting.