Germany bans far-right "Kingdom of Germany" group for forming a counter-state; leader arrested amid nationwide raids.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has officially banned the far-right group “Königreich Deutschland” (“Kingdom of Germany”), a faction within the so-called “Reichsbürger” (“Reich Citizens”) movement, citing the group's attempt to establish a “counter-state” within Germany.

The announcement of the ban coincided with a series of police raids conducted on Tuesday across seven German states, targeting the properties of key members of the group. The operation resulted in four arrests, including that of Peter Fitzek, the self-proclaimed monarch of the “Kingdom of Germany.”

Security agencies believe that Fitzek founded the group in 2012. According to Dobrindt, the group's members have not only constructed a parallel state structure but also developed illegal economic systems.

“The members of this association have created a ‘counter-state’ in our country and built up criminal economic structures,” Dobrindt stated. “In this way, they undermine the rule of law and the Federal Republic's monopoly on the legitimate use of force. At the same time, they use antisemitic conspiracy narratives to back up their supposed claim to authority.”

The ban extends to various splinter groups affiliated with the “Kingdom of Germany.”

Dobrindt noted that the group is believed to have approximately 6,000 members, making it the largest organization within the Reichsbürger movement. Supporters of this ideology reject the legitimacy of Germany’s post-World War II federal republic.

As a result, many members refuse to comply with state obligations such as paying taxes or fines and have even gone so far as to issue their own identification documents, including passports and driver’s licenses.

In recent years, German security agencies have ramped up their surveillance of the Reichsbürger movement due to concerns about its potential for violence.

One of the most alarming developments occurred in late 2022 when authorities uncovered a plot to overthrow the German government. The conspirators allegedly planned to storm the federal parliament, detain top political leaders, and install an interim regime.

Twenty-seven individuals have since been charged in connection with the plot, and authorities recovered 380 firearms. In late April 2024, three major trials began, focusing on terrorism and conspiracy charges related to the coup attempt.

Tuesday’s coordinated raids were carried out in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.