Pensioners from Winnenden: Reich Citizens' Process, new investigations!

Pensioners from Winnenden: Reich Citizens' Process, new investigations!

A pensioner from Winnenden is again the focus of the dishes after a procedure for "disparaging the state and its symbols" has been hired against him. This reports ZVW . The man operated the “Unlaw State FRG” website and was convicted of his controversial statements in January 2024. The penalty of 5,200 euros led to an appeal, but the proceedings were recently discontinued at the Stuttgart District Court. The Stuttgart public prosecutor said that new investigations were decisive for this decision.

The Reich Citizens' Movement, which also includes the pensioner, is a heterogeneous accumulation of anticonal institutionalists and revisionists who reject the legitimacy of the modern Federal Republic of Germany. This movement is classified as extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and has an estimated approximately 21,000 members in Germany, such as Wikipedia

ideology and goals of the movement

The followers of the Reich Citizens' Movement believe that the German Reich has not been replaced by the Federal Republic of Germany and continues to exist in its historical limits. The movement also propagates dangerous conspiracy theories, anti-Semitism and racism, which sometimes makes it a neo-Nazi group. A central aspect of its ideology is the rejection of democracy, whereby many members consider the Basic Law as a "continuation of the war against the German Reich". In addition, imperial citizens refuse to pay taxes and do not recognize German legislation, which often leads to legal conflicts.

An example of the radicality of this movement are reports on violent incidents, including shootings with the police. In 2022, arrests were reported by people who were accused of having planned a coup against the German government. The Federal Ministry of the Interior estimates that there are several hundred members nationwide, many of them men between the ages of 40 and 60, who are often socially disadvantaged.

development and surveillance

The Reich Citizens' Movement has increased in influence and membership in recent years. Between 2016 and 2018 there was an increase of 80%. The movement is also intensively monitored by the German security authorities, especially because of their connections to former members of the Bundeswehr and the police. The Federal Center for Political Education emphasizes that the group is also controversial and consists of various, often independent partial organizations.

The right -wing extremist and democratic attitude of many supporters and the numerous legal disputes, such as those of the pensioner from Winnenden, show that the Reich Citizens' Movement is a serious problem for German society. The future developments will show whether the pensioner has to expect legal consequences again and whether the security authorities can still adequately react to the threats through this movement.