German authorities have arrested four senior members of a far-right group seeking to dismantle the modern German state and replace it with a self-declared monarchy, officials announced on Tuesday.
The arrests followed a nationwide ban on the group — known as Koenigreich Deutschland or “Kingdom of Germany” — by the interior ministry. Prosecutors said the group had created shadow institutions and declared its own sovereignty, mimicking state structures in defiance of Germany’s democratic system.
Among those detained was the group’s leader, referred to as Peter F., who prosecutors said had proclaimed himself the “supreme sovereign” with full decision-making authority over the group’s activities. The other suspects, identified as Mathias B., Benjamin M., and Martin S., were also considered central figures within the organisation. In line with German privacy laws, full surnames were not disclosed.
The arrests are the latest in a series of actions targeting the so-called Reichsbürger — or “Citizens of the Reich” — movement, which challenges the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany and claims the German Empire, abolished after World War I, still legally exists. The group has been under increased surveillance since 2016, when one of its adherents fatally shot a police officer during a raid.
Speaking to reporters, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the group is far from harmless. “We are not talking about nostalgic fantasists,” he said. “These are criminal structures operating as part of a network with economic activities that have long drawn the attention of law enforcement.”
Authorities said the “Kingdom of Germany” movement has around 6,000 followers. The organisation had attempted to set up a parallel society, complete with its own banking system, currency, insurance services, and institutions issuing counterfeit documents. While no weapons were seized during the latest raids, the group’s growing infrastructure and ideological reach have raised significant concerns.
The arrests and accompanying ban come as German officials continue efforts to dismantle extremist networks across the country. In late 2022, authorities disrupted what they described as an advanced plot by Reichsbürger adherents to carry out an armed coup.
The Verfassungsschutz (domestic intelligence agency) has warned that such groups pose a serious threat to the democratic order, particularly as they become more organised and exploit legal and financial loopholes.
Investigations into the group’s broader financial activities and possible additional members are ongoing.
