On December 7, the German police arrested 25 members of a German far-right terrorist movement who allegedly were conspiring to overthrow the current social-democratic government. Among those arrested is Prince Reuss Heinrich XIII, an insignificant prince whose family only has claims on two medium-sized towns, Gera and Greiz. He is most famous for his speech at the World Wide Web Forum in Zürich in 2019. He expressed his anti-Semitic views and shared dangerous misinformation and conspiracy theories that left the audience “horrified,” with people booing and leaving the conference after his speech.

Raid on the German prince’s residence:

The German police carried out the raid on the prince’s residence as part of an investigation into potential ties to the Reichsburger movement, a far-right extremist group. Prince Heinrich XIII was apprehended early in the morning and is currently being held in detention on charges of conspiring to overthrow the government. Many consider the group a danger to Germany’s democratic systems and believe it has members throughout the country. The movement called for a return to the German Empire and traditional values. The prince was found aiding the Reichsburger movement with financial aid and using his residences as meeting spots for planning a coup against the German government. The police raided the prince’s residence in the town of Baden-Württemberg after receiving information from an informant. During the raid, the police seized laptops, phones, and other electronic equipment. The prince was also discovered to have weapons, which were seized, according to a police spokesperson. The police have stated that they are continuing their investigation and are looking into the potential that the prince may have been preparing a coup, even though the prince has not yet been legally charged with any crime.

German far-right politics now:

The event has brought attention to Germany’s problem with far-right extremism. Although far-right politics have a long history in the nation, the problem has recently become more urgent as the number of far-right organizations has increased. Other extreme groups in Germany include the Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party, which has grown to be one of the most well-liked parties in Germany, and the Identitarian Movement, whose members have been known to hold demonstrations against immigration. The AfD has been criticized for racism and xenophobia, and some of its party members have admitted to supporting far-right ideologies. Despite formally separating itself from the far-right, the party has been linked to several extremist groups. In recent months, there has been much discussion about the problem of far-right extremism in Germany, with some urging the government to take a harsher position against the organizations.

Not limited to Germany:

Far-right extremism is a problem that is not just in Germany. Far-right organizations have grown in influence across Europe in recent years. While the British National Party has evolved as a significant political force in the UK, the National Front has become a significant political force in France. Other countries of the world have also seen an increase in the visibility of far-right organizations.

So what?

The event that took place on December 7 is proof that the Far-Right extremist problem in the modern age is a real and prevalent issue. Even a developed country that is in the heart of Europe still has this issue, which is a threat to democracy and freedom within Europe. This was not a problem limited to Germany but a warning sign to all that far-right extremism didn’t die in 1945, but it just got pushed back and it’s crawling back out into the open. It’s an ideology based on hatred and violence and needs to be dealt with before the problem can grow any further.