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Civil Marys, anti-Semitic views and a dream of a monarchical regime: who are the "citizens of the Reich" who are troubling Germany? | Israel today

2022-12-07T10:21:41.127Z


There are about 20,000 activists in the far-right movement, which until a decade ago was considered marginal • Economic, social and political crises, as well as the war in Ukraine led the group to try and expand the number of supporters • This morning 25 activists were arrested who threatened to attack the Bundestag building in Berlin


Who are the "citizens of the Reich", dozens of whom were arrested throughout Germany on suspicion of being involved in an attempt to carry out a coup and establish a new regime?

The "Citizens of the Reich" movement, which began its activity in the 80s of the 20th century and in the last decade has become more widespread and visible in the German political arena.

The movement, whose 25 members were arrested this morning (Wednesday) in an initiated and organized police operation in which 3,000 policemen took part, is associated with the extreme right and advocates an ideology that denies the existence of the German Federal Republic and the democratic order and sees today's Germany as an artificial political entity, the handiwork of the allies, who won in the second MLA, which must be fought and made to disappear.

Arrest of an activist in a far-right organization during a demonstration,

"Citizens of the Reich" are interested in the revival of the great German Reich - the Nazi Reich and the United German Reich established in 1871, under the leadership of a Prussian emperor.

The term "Citizens of the Reich" is based on the "Citizens of the Reich Law", which the Nazis passed in 1935, which separated the Armenian Germans from the German Jews.

Holocaust deniers

A significant part of the "citizens of the Reich" are interested in the restoration of the monarchical regime to Germany and the existence of a centralized monarchy, which will be a substitute for democracy.

Also, the "Citizens of the Reich" are advocating the return of territories that were part of the great German Reich, and are today under Polish and Czech sovereignty, to Germany.

Among the movement's activists there are also many who hold anti-Semitic views and are Holocaust deniers.

According to the assessment of the German interior authorities, there are about 20,000 active in the movement, of which 1,000 are known far-right activists.

As seen in the arrest operation carried out this morning across Germany, the movement has connections with military and police officials, who have retired from active service or are still in it, and women also hold the most senior positions in the ranks of the movement.

Arrest of a suspect belonging to a far-right movement, Frankfurt, this morning, photo: AP

The authorities in Germany used to treat the "Citizens of the Reich" as a marginal and esoteric movement in the sphere of activity of the extreme right.

However, a series of violent actions against police officers carried out in 2016 by the activists of the movement, including the murder of a member of an elite police unit, focused the attention of the internal security branches on this movement.

Some traffic operators engage in daily civil disobedience against the federal German authorities, by refusing to pay taxes or fines.

There are also those who issue themselves personal documents on behalf of the "Reich".

In the last decade, the "Citizens of the Reich" took advantage of economic, social and political crises to try and expand the number of supporters.

They showed great activity during the euro crisis, the corona crisis and most recently the crisis of the war in Ukraine.

The arrest operation in Germany, photo: AP

As mentioned, the German police today arrested 25 far-right activists, associated with the organization "Citizens of the Reich" who planned to attack the Bundestag building in Berlin and carry out an anti-democratic coup attempt.

The members of the group carried out weapons training in preparation for the planned coup attempt.

Among other things, the members of the group planned to carry out attacks against essential infrastructures throughout Germany, including electricity supply, in order to create an atmosphere of general anarchy that would allow the planned coup to take place.

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Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2022-12-07

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