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'Reichsbürger' bear the German imperial flag
Image: Fabian Sommer/dpa/picture allianceImage: Fabian Sommer/dpa/picture alliance

Germany's 'Reichsbürger' movement

Reichsbürger denotes a loosely connected group of Germans who believe that the 1871 German empire borders are still in effect. Members reject the modern German state and its structure. Many lean towards the far-right.

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All Content on this topic

Heinrich XIII. Prinz Reuss in court

Germany: Prince Reuss denies guilt at 'Reichsbürger' trial

Alleged "Reichsbürger" coup-plot ringleader Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss distanced himself from the accusations.
PoliticsJune 28, 2024
Criminal proceedings against Christian W. on suspicion of membership of a terrorist organization starts in Munich

Germany: Trial against 'Reichsbürger' group begins in Munich

A third trial against the "Reichsbürger" group, which allegedly planned a violent coup in Germany, has begun in Munich.
CrimeJune 18, 2024
Several police officers stationed near the doorways of a property in Althengstett in Baden-Württemberg during raids on June 4, 2024.

Germany: Police raid 'Reichsbürger' sites amid coup trial

Police searched 10 properties, investigating two potential supporters of the far-right "Reichsbürger" movement
CrimeJune 4, 2024
Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss being arrested in December 2022

Germany: Far-right coup plotters go on trial

The ringleaders of a far-right network of "Reichsbürger" have been accused of planning to topple the government.
Law and JusticeMay 20, 2024
Reichsbürger Joachim Widera holding his 'passport' into the camera

What is Germany's 'Reichsbürger' movement?

Reichsbürger are radical, violent and don't recognize Germany's democracy. Who are they, and do they pose a threat?
PoliticsApril 29, 2024
Symbolbild Reichsbürger mit Waffe

What is Germany's 'Reichsbürger' movement?

The trial of a network of so called ‘Reichsbürger’ is beginning in Germany. Here’s what you need to know.
Law and JusticeApril 29, 202400:57 min
Reporters set up their equipment in front of the Stuttgart court where members of the "Reichsbürger" group are going on trial.

Germany: Suspects in alleged far-right coup plot go on trial

Nine members of the far-right "Reichsbürger" movement accused of plotting a coup are going on trial in Germany.
TerrorismApril 29, 202401:43 min
During a raid against so-called "Reichsbürger", masked police officers lead Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss to a police vehicle.

Germany: Suspected 'Reichsbürger' network on trial

The trial of the far-right extremist network around Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss is set to begin.
CrimeApril 29, 202401:45 min
Deutschland I Demonstration von Rechtsextremisten und «Reichsbürgern» in Berlin

Germany's 'Reichsbürger' movement

Reichsbürger denotes a loosely connected group of Germans who reject the modern German state and its structure.
PoliticsApril 28, 2024
German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach

German minister kidnap plot: Sixth suspect charged

German prosecutors have said they have charged a 61-year-old man over a far-right plot to kidnap the health minister.
CrimeApril 17, 2024
Demonstrators wave the flag of the Kingdom of Prussia

Germany: Suspect charged with planning 'coup' attempt

Prosecutors in Hamburg have said a man was prepared to ask Russia for help in an attempt to overthrow the German state.
ConflictsApril 8, 2024
Confiscated firearms, some wrapped in plastic, and ammunition lie on tables

Germany: Many far-right extremists licensed to own arms

The German government says more than 1,000 members of far-right groups still have permission to own firearms.
SocietyApril 5, 2024
A handfull of far-right "Reichsbürger" by the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

Germany: 'Reichsbürger' plot trial date set

Legal proceedings against a network of so-called "Reichsbürger" will begin in Frankfurt on May 21.
PoliticsApril 2, 2024
Police escorts a person after 25 suspected members and supporters of a far-right group were detained

Germany charges 27 suspects over Reichsbürger coup plot

German prosecutors charge 27 suspects after carrying out raids against the far-right Reichsbürger movement last year.
PoliticsDecember 12, 2023
A photo of the 'Reichsbürger' passport and a handgun

German police target far-right 'Reichsbürger' in raids

Members of the far-right Reichsbürger movement have been accused of plotting to overthrow the German state.
PoliticsNovember 23, 2023
Polizei is written the back of a police officer's jacket

German police swoop on far-right Reichsbürger group

Police in Germany carry out nationwide raids on homes of members of the right-wing extremist Reichsbürger movement.
CrimeOctober 10, 2023
A man wearing a yarmulke - seen from above

German media report on fake Jewish organizations

According to a public media report, people connected to the Reichsbürger movement have founded fake Jewish nonprofits.
SocietySeptember 23, 2023
Protesters against COVID restrictions on the steps to the Reichstag in Berlin waving Reichsbürger flags on 29 08 2020 in Berlin

Germany: Right-wing hostility toward democracy growing

What makes mainstream German society tick? The latest findings from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation have raised alarm.
SocietySeptember 21, 2023
German federal court emblem

Germany: More 'Reichsbürger' suspects arrested

Members of the "Reichsbürger" believe the current German state is no more than a construct occupied by Western powers.
TerrorismMay 23, 2023
Reichsbürger symbols

The Reichsbürger movement in Germany

They reject the legitimacy of Germany's government. Some are prepared to use violence. Who are the Reichsbürger?
Law and JusticeMay 21, 20239 images
A 75-year-old woman, part of the so-called "United Patriots" terror group, appears in court accompanied by armed police in the Germany city of Koblenz.

German far-right group on trial over coup plans

They are accused of planning to overthrow the government — now, five suspected terrorists are facing trial.
CrimeMay 17, 2023
German police with one individual arrested in a raid on the Reichsbürger scene

Germany sees record number of politically motivated crimes

Offenses connected with the pandemic and the Ukraine war were cited as the main reason, but not the only ones.
CrimeMay 9, 2023
A man's arms in handcuffs

Reichsbürger extremist sentenced to 10 years in prison

The suspected member of the German far-right movement was convicted of attempted murder.
PoliticsMarch 24, 2023
German police officers wearing balaclavas

Germany: Shots fired at police in Reichsbürger raids

One police officer was injured after shots were fired in raids linked to the extreme-right Reichsbürger scene.
CrimeMarch 22, 2023
A police officer at a Reichsbürger protest in Munich

'Weapons arsenal' found at home of Reichsbürger extremist

The suspect has been charged with violating several firearms laws.
CrimeMarch 3, 2023
Shoes, an axe, magnifying glasses, tin food, a torch, a gas mask - stock photo for the prepper scene

German police raid far-right prepper scene over coup plot

The suspects allegedly have connections to the 'Reichsbürger' movement. Police said investigations were underway.
CrimeFebruary 22, 2023
A police officer holds another man's hands as he removes his handcuffs

Germany looks to tackle extremism in the civil service

The German government wants to make it easier to fire civil servants accused of threatening democracy and rule of law.
Rule of LawFebruary 19, 2023
A masked police officer stands watch during raids carried out on far-right militants in Frankfurt

Germany: 5 charged with treason in suspected terror plot

Public prosecutors said the suspects had planned to create "civil war-like conditions" in the country.
PoliticsJanuary 23, 2023
Qanon, Reichsbürger and COVID protesters on the Reichstag steps in August 2020

Germany's far-right AfD and the 'Reichsbürger' movement

A raid on right-wing radicals set on violently overthrowing the German state raises questions about ties to the AfD.
PoliticsDecember 13, 2022
KSK soldier

KSK: German army elite force and its links to the far-right

DW takes a closer look at the KSK's tainted record.
SocietyDecember 13, 2022
Police secures the area in Berlin after 25 suspected members and supporters of a far-right group were detained during raids across Germany

Reichsbürger conspirators planned new army for coup

Germany's Bundestag held sessions to debate investigation into a coup, planned by far-right extremists.
TerrorismDecember 13, 2022
Weapons confiscated from Reichsbürger members

Germany to weigh stricter gun laws after suspected coup plot

Germany's interior minister said the state must "exert maximum pressure" to remove weapons from far-right extremists.
CrimeDecember 11, 2022
An person taken into police custody durin a raid against the Reichsbürger in Karlsruhe. December 7,2022

Is a far-right coup possible in Germany?

A militant group of far-right extremists planned to overthrow the German government. Could such a coup succeed?
PoliticsDecember 9, 2022
A man led by police

More suspects wanted in foiled German coup plot

Police are searching for more people connected to the far-right Reichsbürger movement after Germany-wide raids revealed
Rule of LawDecember 8, 2022
Policemen leading th handcuffed prince to the police car

Heinrich XIII: Germany's far-right prince who planned a coup

How did a minor member of a noble family go from real estate to the center of an extremist plot?
PoliticsDecember 8, 2022
Police officers in uniform seen from the chest down.

What's behind Germany's far-right raids?

German police arrested 25 people suspected of belonging to a far-right "terrorist cell."
PoliticsDecember 7, 202201:34 min
Reichsbürger protest in front of the Brandenburg Gate

How dangerous are Germany's Reichsbürger?

Dozens of far-right Reichsbürger are suspected of planning a coup. What kind of movement is this?
PoliticsDecember 7, 2022
German special police forces patrol and search the area in Bad Lobenstein, Thuringia, eastern Germany

German police arrest 25 suspects in plot to overthrow state

German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said the network was part of the wider "Reichsbürger scene."
TerrorismDecember 7, 2022
German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach

Germany arrests suspect in health minister 'kidnap plot'

German federal prosecutors say the 75-year-old woman was involved in a plot to kidnap Lauterbach earlier this year.
CrimeOctober 13, 2022
Deutschland Berlin Protest gegen Corona-Maßnahmen

German leaders slam extremists who rushed Reichstag steps

Far-right protesters tried to infiltrate Germany's parliament building as part of a protest against coronavirus curbs.
SocietyAugust 30, 2020
A close-up photo of a Reichsbürger counterfeit passport, for the long-defunct state once known as the Deutsches Reich, or German Empire.

German police raid homes of far-right Reichsbürger suspects

Police raid more than two dozen addresses linked to the far-right movement, seizing weapons and fake documents.
CrimeMay 28, 2020
A man carrying a small child on his back, with an anti-vaccine sign

Vaccine fears spark conspiracy theories

Lockdown protests are increasingly attracting anti-vaccine activists — even though a COVID-19 vaccine is still far away.
HealthMay 12, 2020
Seehofer verbietet Reichsbürger-Gruppe

Germany bans far-right 'Reichsbürger' group

Police operations have been carried out around Germany against a branch of the far-right "Reichsbürger' movement.
PoliticsMarch 19, 2020
Soldier with weapon

Bundeswehr rejects dozens for extremist links

The German army has turned down 63 applicants over the past two years after they failed security checks.
CrimeJuly 21, 2019
Andreas Stitzl

Biathlon ex-coach fights to get guns back

Andreas Stitzl had his gun license revoked after German authorities suspected he was part of the Reichsbürger movement.
Law and JusticeJuly 10, 2019
14 members of the 'Staatenbunds' seated before the Austrian regional court in Gra

Jail terms Austrian far-right group trying to incite coup

An Austrian court has jailed for up to 14 years far-right advocates of a fantasy state that sought an army overthrow.
PoliticsJanuary 25, 2019
March for tolerance in Neuwied

Standing up to nationalism, religious fundamentalism

In the face of rising nationalism and fundamentalism, activists have launched the "Secular Week of Human Rights."
SocietyNovember 12, 2018
Reichsbürger passports

Far-right Reichsbürger membership totals 19,000

The size of a radical movement that rejects the legitimacy of the modern German state has grown to 19,000.
CrimeOctober 27, 2018
A German Reich passport with a handgun

Hundreds of far-right Reichsbürger still armed

Hundreds of German Reichsbürger still own firearms despite police efforts to disarm the movement.
CrimeOctober 10, 2018
A cache of weapons confiscated from members of the Reichsbürger scene

Germany cracking down on armed far-right Reichsbürger

Germany's government has said it confiscated firearms from hundreds of members of the far-right Reichsbürger scene.
CrimeAugust 11, 2018