25 arrested in Germany accused of plotting coup

25 people have been arrested across Germany, accused of plotting a coup to overthrow the government.

According to reports, a group of far-right and ex-military people had planned to seize power by storming the Reichstag.

A German man who has been referred to as a prince called Heinrich XIII is allegedly one of two ringleaders of a group that planned to overthrow the Republic and replace it with a new state based on the Second Reich from 1871.

Prince Heinrich XIII, 71, is a minor aristocrat from an old noble family, known as the House of Reuss. The family ruled over parts of the modern eastern state of Thuringia until 1918. The family still own a few castles, though other members have distanced themselves from Prince Heinrich.

It is believed that around 50 people were part of the group. Members were arrested in 11 German states, and in Austria and Italy. 3000 officers took part in 130 raids across the country.

Members of the Reichsbürger [Citizens of the Reich] movement are said to be involved in the plot. The group refuses to recognise the German state and is known to German police due to violent attacks and racist conspiracy theories. Other plotters are believed to belong to the QAnon movement and believe their country is in the hands of a "deep state".

According to the federal prosecutor, the group had been planning a coup since November 2021 and plans were already in place to rule Germany with departments for health, justice and foreign affairs.

The plotters believed they could only achieve their aims by "military means and violence against state representatives".

It is believed that investigators uncovered the group when they discovered a kidnap plot in April by a gang calling themselves United Patriots. The gang allegedly planned to abduct Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and create "civil war conditions" to bring about an end to Germany's democracy.

It has also been reported by public broadcaster ZDF, that a former far-right member of the Bundestag (the lower House of Parliament) Birgit Malsack-Winkemann was involved and was planned to become the justice minister. Malsack-Winkemann was among the 25 people arrested.

A prominent lawyer was also lined up to handle foreign affairs and Prince Heinrich was to be leader.

There were also allegedly plans for a military arm run by a second ringleader who has been identified as Rüdiger von P. This branch was made up of active and former members of the military, including ex-elite soldiers from special units. The military arm's aim was to eliminate democratic bodies at local level.

Rüdiger von P is accused of trying to recruit police officers in northern Germany and of looking at army barracks too. Bases across the country were inspected for possible use in the states of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.

A Russian woman, known as Vitalia B, was asked to approach Moscow on Heinrich's behalf.

Image by Peter Dargatz from Pixabay