Germany Clamps Down on Far-Right Group Amid Rising Tensions

Germany takes decisive action against a far-right group aiming to undermine the state.

Germany has recently taken a bold step against a far-right organization known as the Kingdom of Germany, which asserts that the German state is nonexistent and is attempting to establish its own parallel government. On Tuesday morning, a major operation involving around 800 police officers across seven states led to the arrest of four key leaders of the group, including its self-proclaimed leader, Peter Fitzek. The police conducted thorough searches of various properties linked to the organization.

Fitzek, age 59, has previously been accused of leading a criminal organization and engaging in the illegal sale of insurance and investments. The Kingdom of Germany, which is regarded as a significant faction within the Reichsbürger movement, has around 1,000 active members. Its followers claim that the German government is controlled by "deep-state operatives" and often resort to antisemitic and anti-democratic conspiracy theories to legitimize their resistance.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the organization's goal is to implement a "parallel state" and separate itself from the Federal Republic of Germany. The authorities’ crackdown reflects growing concerns over political extremism and the challenges posed by groups denying the legitimacy of the state.