Self-Proclaimed “King” Peter Fitzek and Reichsbürger Group Arrested for Attempting to Overthrow German Government
Fitzek and three other group leaders arrested in a coordinated operation.
Peter Fitzek, a self-declared “king” of Germany, and three of his senior followers were arrested on Tuesday in a large-scale police operation. The arrests, which took place in early morning raids across seven German states, involved approximately 800 security personnel. Fitzek, 59, and his group, the Reichsbürger (Citizens of the Reich), aim to establish a self-proclaimed “Kingdom of Germany,” or Königreich Deutschland, and are accused of attempting to undermine the state.
Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, condemned the group’s actions, stating they were trying to “undermine the rule of law” by creating an alternative state. Dobrindt also criticized the group for spreading “antisemitic conspiracy narratives” in support of their claim to authority, further stating that the group financed itself through “economic criminal structures.”
Fitzek, a former chef and karate instructor, has been making waves with his bizarre claims since 2012 when he crowned himself as “King Peter the First” while wearing ermine robes and holding a medieval sword. Over the years, Fitzek has bought land and properties across Germany, establishing what he describes as his kingdom. The Reichsbürger group also issues its own currency, flags, and ID cards and seeks to create independent banking and healthcare systems outside of the German government’s control.
Although Fitzek has denied violent intentions, his ideology is rooted in a rejection of the current German state, which he has referred to as a “destructive and sick” system. He has repeatedly clashed with authorities, including refusing to follow laws and even driving without a license as an act of protest. Fitzek has a following of thousands of individuals who view him as their sovereign leader.
Fitzek’s group is part of the broader Reichsbürger movement, which consists of around 25,000 members, including many who hold extremist, far-right views and often espouse racist and antisemitic conspiracy theories. Some members of the group have been involved in violent clashes with law enforcement, with several possessing illegal firearms.
The arrest of Fitzek and his co-conspirators is part of ongoing efforts by German authorities to combat the growing threat posed by Reichsbürger groups, especially after several arrests in 2022 linked to a plot to overthrow the government and trigger civil unrest.
The federal prosecutor’s office in Karlsruhe described Fitzek’s Reichsbürger group as a “criminal organization,” with Fitzek serving as the “supreme sovereign,” holding ultimate decision-making power. The group’s stated aim is to create a “sovereign state” based on the borders of the 1871 German Empire.
As the far-right continues to grow in influence in Germany, officials now regard Reichsbürger groups as a serious national security threat.
