In December 2022, news of an impending coup against the German state shocked the public. Thousands of police officers carried out one of the biggest anti-terror operations in post-war German history, targeting members of the ultra-reactionary Reichsbürger movement. Last week, 17 months later, the first trial of these alleged coup-plotters finally got underway at Stuttgart’s High Court.
Of the 27 total Reichsbürger suspects, nine will stand trial in Stuttgart for membership of a terrorist organisation and preparation of high treason. The rest will be tried in Frankfurt and Munich in the coming months.
