Early morning police raids across seven states saw four suspects arrested—including Peter Fitzek, the self-appointed ‘King’ Peter I of Germany—on Tuesday, May 13th.
The new government’s initiative lets it appear tough against the eccentric Kingdom of Germany (KRD) faction of the Reichsbürger (Citizens of the Reich). A handcuffed Fitzek called the raids “illegal and unlawful” on Spiegel TV, although he in turn was accused of challenging the rule of law and the justice system.
New interior minister Alexander Dobrindt berated the 6,000-strong KRD for its “counter-state” and “criminal economic structures.” He was backed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who posted on X:
We are stepping up security in our country … That includes taking action against those who try to fight internally against our constitution.
The group, with its rejection of the federal state and similarities to the U.S.-based QAnon movement, gained attention when members were arrested in 2022. It remains marginal and attracts little support in Germany—unlike the democratic political party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which the domestic intelligence agencies are attempting to designate as “extremist,” despite it now regularly topping opinion polls.
