The previously little-known fringe Reichsbürger movement has made headlines worldwide for plotting to overthrow the German government. On December 7, the German state met the insurrectionists with the overwhelming force of 3,000 police officers. As a result, 25 people were arrested. But it is becoming clear that no police raid or court order will put an end to the extremist plot—because the German state itself is infested with plotters.

Reichsbürger, or “citizens of the Reich,” believe the German state has been hijacked by democracy. They claim the true German Reich continues to exist in its pre-World War ii borders. Thus they seek to depose those illegally holding the reins. After raiding 130 properties, investigators found lists of politicians the group intended to murder, with the goal of overthrowing the government, reestablishing the monarchy, and reviving relations with Russia.

Many, of course, doubt that the group of 25, which included many pensioners, would have been capable of such an act. The shared pictures of the Reichsbürger even caused some to laugh. But history shows that Germans’ desire for dictatorial rule should not be underestimated. The fact that the Reichsbürger movement is growing is concerning.

Even more concerning, some of Germany’s elite fight alongside them. The recent raids have proved this once more.

We would be well advised to heed these warning signs, lest we become guilty of the same mistakes of pre-World War ii society.

Overthrowing Democracy

Members of the German parliament were informed on December 12 that investigators seized about 90 weapons, including pistols, rifles, crossbows, knives and machetes. Der Spiegel reported that the raid found a three-digit number of “declarations of confidentiality” signed by apparent fellow Reichsbürger. They also discovered a six-figure sum of cash and a reference to a safe deposit box in Switzerland that is said to hold 120 gold bars worth around $6.4 million.

In recent years, the number of extremists who have radicalized and pursued weapon ownership has drastically increased. But the real danger of the movement lies not in its firepower but its connections.

Among the 25 arrested were Army reservists and a serving member of the elite special forces, the ksk. What used to be seen as the crème de la crème of the German Army has fallen in disgrace as it has proved to be a “hotbed of the far right.” The authorities fear that the ksk will not be able to fulfill its duties in the future.

Germany’s judicial system is also infested. Among the arrested was Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, former member of parliament for the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). She infamously called refugees “disease-importing migrants.” After her time in parliament, she returned in 2021 to her job as a civil judge; despite her far-right ideology, the upper administrative court saw no reason to declare her unfit for office. Correspondent requests were rejected.

Germany’s military establishment and judiciary have been infiltrated by the far right from the very beginning of their postwar founding. The Justice Ministry published an investigation in 2016 that concluded that around three quarters of Justice officials in West Germany after World War ii were former Nazis. The Financial Times called it a “surprisingly high figure, much bigger than the researchers had expected.” Thirty-four of the ministry’s leading judges and lawyers were stormtroopers for Adolf Hitler. The Local wrote, “The fascist old-boys network closed ranks, enabling its members to shield each other from justice, the study found—helping to explain why so few Nazi war criminals ever went to prison” (Oct. 10, 2016). (To learn more, read “The Nazi Underground—Revealed!”)

This may also explain why journalists and others were informed about the raids—which heightened the risk of warnings reaching the extremists.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV) estimated that there are 23,000 Reichsbürger in Germany, only 5 percent of which are far-right extremists. This means the Reichsbürger make up only a small percentage of right-wing extremists in Germany, of which BfV counted 33,900 in 2021, 13,500 of whom are violence-oriented.

Related to the Reichsbürger movement are the “Day X preppers.” Members of this group believe German society will soon collapse; they are preparing to use the expected chaos to kill political opponents and rid Germany of migrants. Officials admit that the movement does not consist of isolated individuals but a large underground network. “Today, Day X preppers are drawing serious people with serious skills and ambition,” New York Times Berlin bureau chief Katrin Bennhold warned in 2020. “Germany has belatedly begun dealing with far-right networks that officials now say are far more extensive than they ever understood.”

There are extensive far-right networks with connections to the highest elite in the German Army. In a moment of crisis, their plots could suddenly become an existential danger to Germany. If they managed to create civil war-like havoc, many in the armed forces would be faced with the dilemma of supporting their fellow soldiers or democracy.

Dissatisfied With Democracy

Right-wing extremists are not the only people dissatisfied in Germany. A survey conducted by the insa polling institute for the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, published in August, found that 62 percent of Germans had an unfavorable view of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. A September survey by the Bertelsmann Stiftung found that 53 percent of Germans have no confidence in the government’s ability to address today’s most pressing problems. This is why the far right in Germany is growing stronger and more extreme.

It started with the refugee crisis, when millions of regular citizens suddenly had more in common with the far right on some issues than with the elected government. Suddenly, everyday citizens were mixed with extremists. During the coronavirus lockdowns, more and more joined the protest movement.

Today the far right is making headlines for opposing sanctions against Russia. This is also the standpoint of many Germans who fear economic trouble. Dissatisfaction has blurred the line between the “extreme” and the normal. Surveys show that the far-right AfD, which includes sympathizers of Germany’s Nazi past, polls at around 15 percent.

Extremist ideas on the left are also gaining more support. The number of left-wing extremists rose to 34,700 in 2021. The number of violence-oriented left-wing extremists increased by an astonishing 7.3 percent to 10,300 persons in 2021.

One outspoken far-left politician, Sahra Wagenknecht, puts a good portion of the blame for Russia’s war against Ukraine on the United States and Britain. Like many on the right, she is against sanctioning Russia. The online survey company Civey found that 49 percent of Eastern Germans and 24 percent in the West could imagine voting for Wagenknecht if she would form her own party.

Just the Beginning

Germans are facing economic trouble and societal fear, and they are willing to join the extremists because they feel ignored or even betrayed. The German government seems unable to convince the right, left or the center that it has solutions. No wonder more and more are taking radical action to force radical change.

A similar toxic mixture of far-right and far-left ideologies was prevalent during the days of Adolf Hitler, who seized power by uniting those on the left and right spectrum behind common goals. This is the real danger that Germany now faces. What if another leader rises in Germany who is able to appeal to both sides of the extremes?

The Bible warns us not to dismiss this possibility. Bible prophecy accurately predicted Hitler’s rise and warns of yet one more dictator to rise.

A strong leader is prophesied to unite modern Germany and channel its diverse ideologies toward a single purpose. Numerous Bible prophecies (e.g. Isaiah 10 and Revelation 17) indicate that this strongman will rule in the tradition of Germany’s warlike past (read Germany and the Holy Roman Empire). But this future leader will be more cunning and persuasive than Hitler. He will rise at a time of great turmoil, but the Bible reveals that he will obtain rule “peaceably” and through “flatteries” (Daniel 11:21).

While the Bible doesn’t reveal all the details of what will precede this man’s rise, the current turmoil, economic trouble and potential violent attempts to overthrow the government could aid in his imminent rise.

Request a free copy of A Strong German Leader Is Imminent to learn who will be leading in the tumultuous times ahead. The Bible reveals that this leader will bring temporary unity to Europe (Daniel 2:41-43), while causing war and bloodshed (Daniel 8:23-24). Yet in this same booklet, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry also explains the great hope in these prophecies (Daniel 2:44). Germany is prophesied to rise one last time before God intervenes to bring the German people and the whole world peace.