Enlarge image
Defendant Susanne G. in court (archive): In custody since September 2020
Photo: Sven Hoppe / picture alliance / dpa
Klaus Armstroff makes the court wait.
He was stuck in a traffic jam, he told the State Security Senate of the Munich Higher Regional Court on Friday morning, so he was about an hour late.
At around 11.15 a.m., the 64-year-old entered the high-security room on the grounds of the Munich-Stadelheim correctional facility.
Armstroff is retired.
And he is federal chairman of the party »Der III.
Path".
In the dock sits Susanne G., 55, a former member of his party.
The party chairman and the defendant communicate with each other through the eyes.
Both wear masks.
He raises his eyebrows in amusement and laugh lines form around her eyes.
The fact that Armstroff asked the defendant to resign from his party last year does not seem to have harmed their personal relationship.
Susanne G. is accused, among other things, of sending threatening cards with ammunition to a Muslim community, two local politicians and a refugee aid association.
She is also said to have planned an attack on Muslims, police officers or politicians.
The alternative practitioner has been in custody since September 2020, and has been responsible in court since April 2021.
In spring 2020, the first allegations against Susanne G. became known.
The party leader responded in April 2020 with a letter in which he suggested that she quit the party.
What »The III.
Way «is for a party, Armstroff does not have to explain in court.
An employee of the Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution had already done this the day before.
»Neo-Nazi micro-party«
It is a "neo-Nazi micro-party" with around 600 members, said the constitutional protector in court.
In its goals, it leans "very strongly" on the program of the NSDAP.
“The III.
Weg "represents a" völkisch, racist approach ".
As an example, he cited the view: "You are only German if you are of German blood."
Since 2015, Susanne G. has been a regular participant of the »III.
Weges «noticed.
The party chairman also confirmed that the defendant was a member of the party from 2015, first a sponsor and then a full member a year later.
That their membership
2020 ended, was also noticed by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
»The› III.
Weg is not so enthusiastic about being associated with acts of terrorism, ”said the intelligence agency on Thursday.
The party chairman Armstroff formulates it more succinctly.
He said he didn't want any "negative press".
That is why he suggested that she quit.
more on the subject
Alternative practitioner accused as right-wing terrorist: Wine bottles with Hitler label by Wiebke Ramm, Munich
Trial in Munich: What connects the alternative practitioner and the NSU helper by Wiebke Ramm, Munich
The presiding judge Michael Höhne asked whether he had spoken to her about the allegations.
Armstroff answers as evasively as it is verbose.
He reports that Susanne G. complained about the treatment by the police.
Her home was searched in March 2020.
G. was brought to a police station for identification.
There she supposedly had to get "naked" because her tattoos were supposed to be photographed, says Armstroff.
A police officer who was there at the time denied the allegations on an earlier day of the trial.
How did the cartridge get into your home?
Armstroff also suggests that the defendant alleged that the police had placed a cartridge in her bedroom.
In fact, ammunition was found on her, as it is mainly used by the authorities.
Susanne G's defense also suggests that the special task force lost the cartridge during the deployment in her client's house.
"But that doesn't suggest leaving the party?" Says the chairman of the Senate.
He hasn't forgotten his question.
What did Susanne G. say about the accusation that she should have sent threatening letters?
Armstroff again does not answer the question.
Now he says that following his letter, she left the party.
The judge asks a third time.
This time he not only mentions the threats, but also the allegation of preparing for an attack.
"Have you ever asked her specifically: 'Is that true?'" Armstroff is silent.
He is silent for a long time.
"Well, we met and talked about this matter," he says: "But that was after you left."
The judge remains patient.
He asks again.
Did the defendant say anything about sending out threat cards?
Now he gets a meager answer.
"The tickets were bought to help prisoners," she told him.
Prisoner Aid is a right-wing extremist organization that takes care of prisoners from the right-wing scene.
Use as a steward
The court asked him to characterize Susanne G.
She is "very reliable", a "friendly person" with a calm demeanor. When asked by the psychiatric experts, he describes her as "self-confident".
Armstroff confirms that Susanne G. was often used as a steward at party events and marches.
The court asks what prerequisites are necessary for this function.
"You have to be able to assert yourself," says the witness, "also towards the other side." Only when asked does he give an example.
"When the left is bullying, the stewards are there to tell our people to stay calm." He emphasizes that it is not about "violent action against the left."
The court asks him about his trips to the Czech Republic with the defendant. He confirms that he and Susanne G. were there for shooting training in November 2019 and August 2020. "Why?" Asks the associate judge. "Why do you go to the shooting gallery at the Volksfest?" Asks Armstroff. His answer: "For fun."
