Stuttgart court conducts massive Reichsbürger treason trial

The Higher Regional Court in Stuttgart is conducting a massive trial against nine alleged members of the military wing of the Reichsbürger group, led by Heinrich XIII. Prinz Reuß. The proceedings, which began in April 2024, are part of a larger judicial effort split across three locations—Stuttgart, Frankfurt, and Munich—to manage the 26 total defendants and avoid overwhelming the justice system.

The defendants face charges of high treason and the formation of a terrorist organization, with allegations that they planned to overthrow the republic using armed force. The scale of the case is described as an exceptional logistical challenge for the judiciary, involving approximately 400,000 pages of investigative files, over 130 witnesses, and thousands of pages of chat logs and intercepted communications.

One specific focus of the Stuttgart proceedings involved an incident in Reutlingen in March 2023, where a defendant allegedly opened fire on police officers with a semi-automatic weapon, injuring two special forces officers. The trial is expected to continue through January 2028.