The Facts
In one of the largest trials in German history, the first members of a right-wing extremist group alleged to have planned an attack on the German parliament and the overthrow of the government will be tried on Monday.
Nine men of the so-called "Reichsbuerger" (Citizens of the Reich) group are accused of high treason, attempted murder and conspiracy to establish an aristocracy in Germany and are standing trial in a high-security courtroom in Stuttgart.
The Spin
The start of the trial is a reminder that Germany's security is also threatened from within. While many of the group's ideologies may seem bizarre and eccentric, they pose a significant threat, as evidenced by their plans for a violent state coup. Unlike the repressive monarchy they seek, the defendants enjoy a fair trial, and due to its complexity, one should not expect a quick verdict. Yet, that the Reichsbürger are now on trial proves Germany's post-World War II democratic resilience.
The German judiciary is taking a significant risk with this mammoth trial. Should only one of the courts involved decide that the movement does not constitute a terrorist organization, this would affect the entire proceedings - with the whole prosecution standing or falling on this accusation. It remains to be seen whether the Reichsbuerger are indeed one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in Federal Republic of Germany's history, or rather an overambitious gang of seniors.