German authorities announced Tuesday they have arrested and banned an extremist organization that self-proclaimed itself as the “King of Germany”, as part of their nationwide crackdown against anti-democratic movements. This arrest marks a key step in Germany’s battle against sovereign citizen groups which reject state authority.
Peter Fitzek was arrested during a coordinated police operation across multiple states. Fitzek had long been recognized by local media as the leader of an independence-minded group who declared independence from Germany’s Federal Republic and instituted their own currency, then claimed to govern a “Kingdom of Germany” from their compound located in Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany.
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser issued a press release detailing how Fitzek’s group represented an unacceptable threat to constitutional order and engaged in activities which undermining state power, such as illegal document sales and unapproved financial services.
Faeser noted, “this group’s actions were far from harmless eccentricity.” Instead, Faeser indicated, they were spreading dangerous ideologies, opposing democratic institutions and leading people into an anti-state fantasy realm. We will not tolerate any attempts to build alternative structures outside the democratic legal framework.
Authorities conducted raids at over a dozen properties linked to the group and seized evidence such as documents, weapons and digital devices linked to it. All assets tied to it have been frozen while its facilities will be shut down immediately.
Fitzek first gained widespread attention over a decade ago for founding his self-declared kingdom and drawing hundreds of followers to it. Fitzek and his group, part of the wider Reichsburger (Citizens of the Reich) movement, deny legitimacy of modern German statehood while maintaining that pre-World War II versions of German Reich still exist today.
German intelligence services have increasingly warned about the radicalization of certain movements. Recently, several members have been linked to violent plots including plans for overthrowing the government or attacks against law enforcement officers.
Legal experts cite Germany’s constitutional provisions as grounds for banning Fitzek’s organization, as this allows the state to outlaw groups deemed dangerous to democratic order.
Germany is sending a message that it is taking an aggressive stance against extremist threats from far-right, anti-government, or conspiratorial movements with its arrest and dissolution of this group.
“Today marks a triumph for democracy and rule of law,” Minister Faeser declared.