The trial of Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss and eight individuals accused of plotting to violently overthrow the German government is set to begin in Frankfurt on Tuesday. This bizarre and far-right plan, which involved a group calling themselves the “United Patriots,” was foiled by a nationwide raid involving 3,000 police officers at 150 locations nearly a year and a half ago.
The accused, who are part of the Reichsbürger movement that believes the modern German state is illegitimate, are facing charges of terrorism and conspiracy. The group believed in a secret alliance with foreign intelligence services, including those of the United States and Russia, to help them overthrow the government once a signal was given.
The trial in Frankfurt is just one of three proceedings arising from the plot, with a total of 27 people indicted by federal prosecutors. The accused include retired elite soldiers, a police officer, and a former far-right lawmaker. The trial is expected to be one of the most complex court cases since the trials of Auschwitz concentration camp commanders in the 1960s.
The accused allegedly planned to enter the Parliament, arrest top politicians, and broadcast a video showing Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a captive to the country. They also planned to establish “homeland security brigades” to control the population, even if it meant killing or imprisoning those who rebelled against the new leadership.
Prosecutors have gathered evidence including firearms, weapons, ammunition, explosives, and financial support for the coup attempt. The accused adhered to a worldview consisting of QAnon-type mythology and far-right historical revisionism.
The trial is expected to provide insights into the state of preparations for the coup attempt and the alleged terrorist group’s links to Russia. The accused face charges of founding the terrorist group, planning the coup, and seeking support from foreign entities.
The prince, although not the founder of the movement, played an important leadership role early on due to his family’s pretensions to the German line of Kaisers. The trial is expected to shed light on the extensive organization and bureaucratic care behind the coup attempt, as well as the dangerous beliefs held by the accused.
