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The Far-Right Plot to Overthrow Germany’s Government

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.
Duration
26m
Broadcast on
13 Dec 2022
Audio Format
other

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: 

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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This podcast is supported by TikTok. Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the ones you weren't looking for. That happens every day on TikTok. A science experiment can spark a whole new interest. A recipe you stumble upon can become a meal you make for the people you love. And a restaurant you've never heard of might become your new favorite spot. That's the thing about TikTok. Follow your curiosity and see where it leads. Your next discovery is waiting on TikTok. From New York Times, I'm Michael Wobaru. This is The Daily. Today, the story behind a highly organized plot to overthrow Germany's government. My colleague, Berlin Bureau Chief Katrin Benholt, on what it reveals about the depth of right-wing extremism inside the country. (dramatic music) It's Tuesday, December 13th. Katrin, walk us through exactly what happened last week in Germany. So, Michael, we had what was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, counter-terrorist operation that post-war Germany's ever seen. In early morning raids across Germany, thousands of police officers. There was like 3,000 police officers and special forces spanning out across the country. And by the end of the day, they had raided 150 homes, arrested 25 people, and put over 50 under investigation for basically plotting the overthrow of the German government. Well, the armed conspirators planning to take over government ministries and storm the parliament. So, this is sort of crazy news, but it's obvious that the authorities are taking it very seriously. And that has to do with the composition of this group. There was a member of the special forces, Germany's Kaiska, elite commando unit, who was going to be arrested. Two-thirds of the people who were arrested were described as having very serious links to the military. But there was also something that called itself the political wing. And what's worrisome there is that there was, for example,

Transcription truncated.

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.