It is a special day for the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court. On Monday (April 29, 2024) one of the largest took place here Terror trials began in the history of the Federal Republic. At the center is the Conspiracy group around Henry XIII. Prince Reuss. The suspects should one violent overthrow of the federal government planned an attack on the heart of democracy. Also procedures in Frankfurt and München are coming up soon.
Are they crazy? Conspiracy theorists? Harmless State critic? Dangerous Coup plotters? It is impossible to look into the heads of the men who are sitting behind thick bulletproof glass this Monday in the strictly secured hall of the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court. One thing is clear: they seem anything but intimidated.
Putsch plans and terrorism: Nine defendants around Prince Reuss in the trial
With their chests broad, they allow themselves to be led into the hall in handcuffs. She whispering together in the dock, smiling, wave into the audience, only a few of them hiding their faces from the photographers. When the charges are read out, they keep shaking their heads – as if they were the ones Don’t take allegations seriously could. It’s about Terrorism and high treason, about “Reich citizens”, coup plans and conspiracy myths.
The men in the dock don’t look like terrorists, some of them look more like one Insurance agent. But the picture that the Federal Prosecutor General’s Office paints of the group is bleak: there is something deep there Rejection the liberal basic order the talk about the fact that you Order the Federal Republic of Germany remove by force wanted.
The defendants are said to have undertaken to “Reactivation of Germany”have signed a confidentiality agreement – under threat of the death penalty. An armed group should enter the Reichstag penetration. “Cleansing” and “clean-up work” were said to have been planned. From Enemy lists is the talk, with the names of district administrators, medical officers and bailiffs.
Abuse of children in tunnels: QAnon cult also an issue
But also the narratives of QAnon-Cults play an important role in the indictment, the firm conviction that conspiratorial elites control the fate of the world ritual abuse of children practice in underground tunnels and obtain “rejuvenation cures” from children’s bodies. According to the prosecution, the defendants wanted to expose these crimes and trusted that the population would then wake up and support their seizure of power.
How dangerous are these men really? This question hangs over the proceedings, which are likely to take a very long time. In Stuttgart it’s all about that military arm of the groupwho took over power with armed force should have enforced. In total nine men, although not Reuss himselfhave to answer in Stammheim – where the RAF leadership once stood trial.
Men between 40 and 60 years old are given the Membership in a terrorist organization accused and the so-called “preparation of a treasonous company“. One of the defendants is also facing charges attempted murder in court – it is about the man who was shot several times during the search of his apartment in Reutlingen in March 2023 Gun at police officers of a special operations team is said to have shot and injured officers.
building of Homeland security companies far advanced
The process promises excitement: Two of the men already said on Monday that they would join the express accusations want. It is still unclear when they will testify. A another defendant announced, at least Personal Information to want to do. The remaining six defendants want at first do not provide any information.
The group around Henry XIII. Prince Reuss was after a large-scale Anti-terror raids in several federal states and abroad shortly after St. Nicholas Day 2022 known. As the head of a new one form of government Reuss should have acted. The former AfD member of the Bundestag and former Berlin judge Birgit Malsack-Winkemann should have been responsible for the justice department. Also Ex-soldiers are among the accused. According to the indictment, a Germany-wide system of more than 280 militarily organized ones has already begun Homeland security companies be started.
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the establishment of these associations was already partial far advanced. In two cases, the so-called homeland security companies could have taken action themselves, said a representative of the authority when the charges were read out. Within the “Company 221”which was supposed to be responsible for the Tübingen and Freudenstadt areas in Baden-Württemberg, has already been named responsible for recruiting additional staff.
Dates beyond 2025?
In the “Reichsbürger” scene the prevailing view is that… 1871 with an emperor at the helm The historic German Empire that was founded still exists today. The Prince Reuss case is in three procedures split up – for practical reasons and due to the sheer number of suspects. In Frankfurt are the suspected as of May 21st Ringleader, including Reuss, indicted. In München The rest will be available from June 18th alleged members in court.
Some of the total 22 defenders in the Stuttgart proceedings on Monday criticized the splitting of the case between the three higher regional courts. They applied for it Attitude or suspension of the Stuttgart process and a merger of the three processes. Effective criminal defense is not possible because the findings in one trial are difficult to incorporate into the others.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office is always present in all three proceedings, but this is logistically impossible for the defense lawyers, so the argument goes – that violates the law “Principle of equality of arms”. The presiding judge Joachim Holzhausen rejected the request to suspend the proceedings. The demand for a merger of the three processes will be postponed. Otherwise, at the start of the trial, the details were quite detailed – for example, there was a long discussion about the seating arrangement in the hall and the question of how information such as audio recordings could be made available to the defendants in custody. The process is scheduled to continue next week. The court has Dates until 2025 – from the point of view of observers, that might not be enough.