Significance
The 'Reichsbuerger' ('citizens of the Reich') are Germans who reject the legitimacy of the current state and are often associated with the far-right, anti-Semitic scene. They have grown increasingly violent in recent years, prompting domestic intelligence agencies to monitor the movement more closely.
Impacts
A serious terrorist incident could damage Chancellor Angela Merkel’s credibility and authority.
The movement is creating business opportunities for individuals selling ‘Reich passports’ and offering consulting services.
Concerns about the possession of firearms by Reichsbuerger could prompt stricter gun laws.
Reichsbuerger disarmed by authorities may obtain weapons illegally.
Late last year, Americans woke, dressed, read the newspaper, and learned that the Federal Government had been spying on them for over three years. The White House had asked theNew York Times not to publish an article detailing President Bush’s authorization of National Security Agency (NSA) wiretapping of American citizens.1 The paper consequently delayed publication of the story for a year.2 When the news finally broke, it ignited a firestorm of public controversy.
The National Counterterrorism Center: Foreign and Domestic Intelligence Fusion and the Potential Threat to Privacy
