Episode
The Far-Right Plot to Overthrow Germany’s Government
23:03
Published: Tue Dec 13 2022
Description
Three thousand security officers fanned out across Germany this past week, raiding 150 homes, arresting 25 people and putting more than 50 others under investigation for plotting to overthrow the national government in Berlin.The target of the counterterrorism operation, one of the biggest that postwar Germany has seen, was a movement known as the Reichsbürger, or citizens of the Reich.What does the Reichsbürger plot reveal about the depth of right-wing extremism in the country?Guest: Katrin Bennhold, the Berlin bureau chief for The New York Times.Background reading: Among those arrested was a German aristocrat called Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss. Nostalgic for an imperial past, the prince embraced far-right conspiracy theories.The Reichsbürger movement picked up momentum from conspiracy theories that grew during the pandemic and gained strength from QAnon.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Chapters
The sovereign citizen movement in Germany involves individuals who declare their own sovereign territory, demand a yellow slip identifying them as members of the German nation, and reject local authority.
00:00 - 06:40 (06:40)
Summary
The sovereign citizen movement in Germany involves individuals who declare their own sovereign territory, demand a yellow slip identifying them as members of the German nation, and reject local authority. This movement has resulted in arrests and investigations for plotting to overthrow the government, and has caused some individuals to live in rural areas and lead their own independent lives.
EpisodeThe Far-Right Plot to Overthrow Germany’s Government
PodcastThe Daily
A group of conspiracy theorists who believe governments are not real and run people are highlighted by their desire to lead a revolution and build a society that protects the citizens' interests in the context of the pandemic.
06:40 - 16:49 (10:09)
Summary
A group of conspiracy theorists who believe governments are not real and run people are highlighted by their desire to lead a revolution and build a society that protects the citizens' interests in the context of the pandemic.
EpisodeThe Far-Right Plot to Overthrow Germany’s Government
PodcastThe Daily
Terrorist attacks may not immediately threaten the stability of a state, but they can gradually harm democracy by eroding trust in institutions, spreading fear, and fueling extremist ideologies.
16:49 - 22:54 (06:05)
Summary
Terrorist attacks may not immediately threaten the stability of a state, but they can gradually harm democracy by eroding trust in institutions, spreading fear, and fueling extremist ideologies. Even failed attacks can still contribute to a sense of crisis and have a long-lasting impact on society.