Number of Reich citizens in the district of Starnberg constant: soon more gun controls?

Created: 12/16/2022, 1:00 p.m

By: Tobias Gmach

“German Reich Passport”: Booklets with this inscription are popular in the Reich citizen scene because their relatives dispute the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany.

© Patrick Seeger/dpa

38 people are classified as Reich citizens in the district - just like a year ago.

The anti-state movement keeps the authorities busy.

Bavaria's interior minister would like more gun controls, but the district administrator would also like the staff to do so.

District – You are planning homeland security companies and local paramilitary units: The nationwide raid last week brought new information about the Reich citizen scene.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution counts 23,000 Reich citizens and so-called self-administrators, 2,000 more than in the previous year.

In the district of Starnberg, the number has remained exactly the same as in the previous year.

As of the end of October, 38 people were classified as Reich citizens, as district office spokesman Stefan Diebl reported on request.

The weapons authority did not initiate any revocation procedures this year, i.e. no one was deprived of weapons.

There are also no open procedures.

The criminal police are currently checking one person.

If you are classified as a Reich citizen or extremist, you must surrender your weapons immediately.

Despite the comparatively relaxed situation, Reich citizens are also busy with the authorities in the Fünfseenland.

"There are always reports from various departments of the house regarding letters received with suspicion of Reich citizenship - about ten this year," reports Diebl.

And what happens to such letters?

"They will be sent to the police headquarters for examination in accordance with the Interior Ministry's reporting scheme." Just as strict corona rules were in effect and he was promoting vaccination, District Administrator Stefan Frey also received messages that suggested the suspicion of Reich citizenship.

The Zweckverband Kommunale Diensten Oberland (ZVKD) in Bad Tölz is increasingly involved in the anti-state movement.

Since Reich citizens deny the existence of the Federal Republic and reject its legal system and laws, they refuse to pay taxes or fines.

ZVKD Managing Director Michael Braun then always receives the same letters of objection.

A legitimation or a "founding certificate of the state" is required for which the special-purpose association performs sovereign tasks.

The whole thing is linked to a high demand for money from the association, so that, for example, one is prepared to communicate at all.

"The demands on me are 700,000, those on the association up to seven million,"

says Brown.

Incidentally, the required currency is not euros, “but troy ounces of silver”.

Member of the Bundestag wants more staff for the weapons authority

Letters like this arrive at the ZVKD every week.

They are mostly identical in wording, there are templates on the Internet.

Each is forwarded to the police.

There have been 125 cases since the beginning of the year, behind which around 100 people are hiding, says ZVKD back office manager Sebastian John.

"And the cases are followed up consistently," adds Managing Director Braun.

As a result, he is being called more and more frequently as a witness to court hearings.

The defendants are facing charges of attempted extortion.

Carmen Wegge, SPD member of the Bundestag from the constituency, took part in the special sessions of the legal and interior committee on Monday on the occasion of the raid.

She demands that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution monitor the Q-Anon group, which has been known for right-wing conspiracy theories since 2017, in addition to the citizens of the Reich.

When asked about the district, Wegge praises the work of the Starnberg Weapons Authority, but also says: "It is understaffed, I would like to see an increase."

In 2021, the district authority had 38 controls, this year there were only about ten, "which is sometimes due to the pandemic situation and the refugee situation," explains spokesman Diebl.

Controls are "as-needed" - i.e. if there are indications that weapons are being used or stored improperly.

"Or when weapons are found on the deceased that raise questions."

Bavaria's Minister of the Interior, Joachim Herrmann, would like more gun controls and will soon make a new recommendation to district administrators, he announced at the beginning of the week.

She hasn't arrived yet.

District Administrator Frey's reaction: "Of course we would be grateful for state personnel if the Free State would like to further increase the number of controls." The weapons authority currently employs three people, and the controls are just one of their many tasks, according to Diebl.