What's happened
Nine men accused of being part of a far-right group plotting a coup in Germany are on trial for high treason and attempted murder. The group aimed to overthrow the government, impose martial law, and install an aristocrat as the national leader.
Why it matters
The trial of the nine men accused of planning a violent coup in Germany sheds light on the growing threat of far-right extremism in the country. The case highlights the danger posed by groups like the Reichsbuerger movement and the potential impact of their actions on the stability of the German state.
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the plotters were well advanced in their plans to establish a nationwide military structure to crush opposition. The Guardian reports that the accused believed in a conglomerate of conspiracy myths and were driven by hatred for democracy. Sky News highlights that the Reichsbuerger movement rejects the legitimacy of the modern German state and believes in the existence of a 'Deep State'.
How we got here
The Reichsbuerger movement, also known as Citizens of the Reich, rejects the legitimacy of the modern German state and believes in conspiracy theories about a shadowy 'Deep State'. The group sought to install an aristocrat as Germany's ruler and establish a new government based on their beliefs.
Common question
More on these topics
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Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.
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Reichsbürgerbewegung or Reichsbürger is a label for several groups and individuals in Germany and elsewhere who reject the legitimacy of the modern German state, the Federal Republic of Germany.