German Interior Minister Dobrindt Bans Reichsbürger Group 'Kingdom of Germany'

In a significant move against extremist factions, German Interior Minister Dobrindt announced the prohibition of the Reichsbürger group known as the 'Kingdom of Germany.' This crackdown comes as part of a broader effort to combat the rise of anti-government sentiments and illegal activities associated with these groups. The 'Kingdom of Germany,' founded in 2012 by Peter Fitzek in Wittenberg, has been under scrutiny for its claims of establishing a 'counter-state' and for engaging in various criminal enterprises.

On the day of the ban, over 800 police officers were deployed across multiple German states, including Baden-Württemberg, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen, and Brandenburg. They executed search warrants at locations utilized by members of the organization, as well as at the residences of key figures involved in its leadership. Notably, operations also extended beyond Germany, with searches conducted in the Canton of Solothurn, Switzerland, targeting a suspect believed to be a German citizen.

The investigations focus on the establishment of a criminal organization, a charge that has garnered the attention of the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Germany, particularly due to the group's prominent leaders. The authorities allege that Fitzek has been involved in unauthorized deposit-taking and insurance transactions, with another individual assisting him in these illicit activities.

According to Dobrindt, the members of this organization have perpetuated a narrative of antisemitic conspiracy theories to justify their claims of sovereignty. He emphasized that such conduct is intolerable in a constitutional state. The Reichsbürger movement fundamentally rejects the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany and its democratic institutions, including legislative bodies, laws, and courts. Members often refuse to pay taxes, social contributions, or fines, asserting that they owe allegiance to their self-proclaimed sovereign entities.

As of 2023, estimates suggest that the Reichsbürger scene encompasses approximately 25,000 adherents, fragmented across numerous smaller groups. Some individuals within this movement consider themselves as heads of their own miniature states, contending that the historical German Empire remains in existence.

The founder of the group, Fitzek, has faced legal issues in the past, including convictions for driving without a license and engaging in illegal banking operations. Most recently, he received an eight-month prison sentence for deliberate bodily harm and defamation, a ruling that was confirmed by the Wittenberg District Court in March.

In light of these developments, the German government aims to disrupt the operations of extremist organizations and reinforce the rule of law. The ban on the 'Kingdom of Germany' serves as a clear message that extremist ideologies and unlawful activities will not be tolerated in society.