Reichsbürger? In Switzerland?
At the end of 2022, the public became aware of the Reichsbürger movement, after several of its members were arrested in Germany. There were indications of possible contacts with similar groups in Switzerland. Even though no criminal proceedings relating to the movement had yet been brought, it was important that the Swiss authorities react early.
In the summer of 2022, fedpol received a request from Germany for support in a police investigation into ‘Reichsbürger’ (citizens of the Reich), people living in Germany who do not recognise the state and its laws. Reichsbürger believe in the continued existence of the historical German Reich and reject the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Are there supporters of the movement in Switzerland? Who in Switzerland is in contact with which groups of the Reichsbürger movement, and to what extent? fedpol investigated the matter. After detailed discussions with various specialist organisations, threat managers and other partner authorities at federal and cantonal levels, it responded to its colleagues in Germany: Switzerland would provide support by following up on leads involving contact between members of the Reichsbürger movement in Germany and like-minded people in Switzerland.
Anti-authoritarian movements and their supporters have become bolder and more vocal since the Corona pandemic. But are they also dangerous? Can we assume that they have plans to overthrow the state, as the Reichsbürger movement in Germany has been accused of?
Why in Switzerland do we talk about more generic ‘anti-authoritarian movements’ and not about the Reichsbürger movement?
Both the Reichsbürger movement in Germany and anti-authoritarian movements in Switzerland reject the modern state and its laws. Both movements claim that the state is illegitimate and that they are oppressed by it. They share similar ideologies and often believe in conspiracy theories.
However, there are differences. For example, members of the Reichsbürger movement in Germany are often strongly nationalistic; for them, the German Reich continues to exist. They do not recognise the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany. In contrast, anti-authoritarians in Switzerland reject the state for political or personal reasons. As a result, there are several different movements in Switzerland that reject the legitimacy of the state for a variety of reasons, some of which overlap.
Based on current intelligence, anti-authoritarian movements in Switzerland are heterogeneous, in contrast to the more uniformly motivated and hierarchically structured Reichsbürger movement in Germany.
It is difficult to judge whether individual groups in Switzerland have increased in size. The most vocal groups do not necessarily cause the most concern. However, certain individuals at risk of radicalisation to violence have attracted particular attention and are the focus of efforts by threat management units and specialist agencies in the cantons.
Underestimating ideologies can have far-reaching consequences and can pose a risk to Switzerland's security and its political stability. To ensure that this does not happen, federal and cantonal authorities will continue to work closely together. fedpol is carefully monitoring developments in the scene. The existing threat management and violence protection instruments depend on a constant flow of information to thwart violent extremism in time.
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