Federal Prosecutor Charges Leaders of Banned 'Königreich Deutschland' Group Over Illegal Financial Activities and Tax Evasion

The German Federal Prosecutor's Office has formally charged four alleged leaders of the banned Reichsbürger group "Königreich Deutschland" (KRD), including its founder Peter Fitzek. The charges, filed in Düsseldorf, accuse the group’s leadership of forming a criminal organization that operated illegal banking and insurance activities, as well as evading taxes totaling around two million euros.

Fitzek, who styled himself the "supreme sovereign" of the KRD, faces additional accusations of unauthorized insurance operations and tax evasion. Alongside co-defendants Mathias B. and Benjamin M., Fitzek reportedly managed unauthorized deposit and insurance businesses. The KRD amassed approximately ten million euros between 2020 and 2025 through these illicit activities as well as through donations, gifts, and paid seminars.

The group, founded in 2012 in Wittenberg, Saxony-Anhalt, declared itself a sovereign entity with its own constitution, currency called the "E-Mark" or "New German Mark," and identity documents. It aimed to replace the legal framework of the Federal Republic of Germany by offering businesses tax-free operations and encouraging a system exit from German law.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt banned the KRD on May 13, 2025, citing national security concerns. Authorities estimated the group’s active membership at roughly 1,000, though the KRD claimed 6,000 supporters. Following the ban, police launched nationwide raids, seizing documents and digital data, and placed the four alleged leaders in pre-trial detention.

Fitzek was also known to conduct public recruitment walks in Osnabrück, involving new members including children, while the group’s attempt to acquire a spa hotel in Bad Lauterberg was denied by local authorities.

The charges must still be approved by the State Protection Senate of the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court. The court will decide whether to open a trial and determine the timeline for the proceedings.