"Military arm"

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One of the nine accused Reichsbürger shortly before the start of the trial at Stuttgart Higher Regional Court

(Bild: APA/AFP/Pool/Bernd Weißbrod)

The first trial against the alleged Reichsbürger group around Heinrich XIII Prince Reuß began in Stuttgart on Monday morning. Due to the large crowd in front of the Higher Regional Court, the trial only began more than an hour late.

The nine defendants are accused of membership of a terrorist organization and the so-called "preparation of a highly treasonous enterprise". One of the defendants is also on trial for attempted murder. Reuß himself will be tried later in another trial.

The trial in Stuttgart is the first of three mammoth trials against the group around Prince Reuß and one of the largest state security proceedings in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. The total of 27 suspects are alleged to have planned a violent overthrow of the German government.

One of the nine accused Reich citizens shortly before the start of the trial at Stuttgart Higher Regional Court

(Bild: APA/AFP/Pool/Bernd Weißbrod)

Wanted to seize power by force of arms
In Stuttgart, the main focus is on the military arm of the group, which was supposed to enforce the seizure of power by force of arms. In Frankfurt, the alleged leaders, including Reuß, are on trial from May 21. In Munich, the other alleged members will stand trial from June 18.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said on ZDF's "Morgenmagazin": "In any case, it shows the strength of our constitutional state that the largest terrorist network of 'Reich citizens' to date is now on trial and has to answer for its (...) militant plans to overthrow the state."