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When the soldier Philipp Sch.
When he entered the high-security zone on a May morning in the shadow of the Black Forest, he did not know that his career at KSK would soon come to an abrupt end.
The elite soldier passed the lock, where visitors to the Special Forces Command (KSK) have to leave their passports.
Only a few have ever seen the inside of the Graf Zeppelin barracks.
On May 13, 2020, there were men at the gate who didn't really fit here: a team of investigators who had come to find Philipp Sch.
still to be arrested in the barracks, at his place of work.
Where Germany's best soldiers should serve.
At the same time, police officers moved out hundreds of kilometers away in Saxony and searched the soldier's private property.
He should have been in the barracks for access, mainly for security reasons.
The coronavirus almost prevented the operation - because that made Sch.
suddenly unusually often at home.
The action of the LKA Sachsen and the Military Counter-Intelligence Service (MAD) succeeded, commando soldier Sch.
came into custody.
Finds in two places in his garden had confirmed the unheard of suspicion: that Sch.
had secretly set up an arsenal.
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From this Friday the war-experienced KSK-Oberstabsfeldwebel (nickname "Schäfchen") has to answer before the regional court in Leipzig.
The indictment accuses him of violating the War Weapons Control Act, the Weapons Act and the Explosives Act.
Sch.
has not yet commented.
His lawyers also made no statements.
Should the KSK soldier speak out during the process, it would be a little surprise.
Because men from the KSK are particularly secretive - and are militarily prepared to withstand any interrogation even behind enemy lines.
On the other hand, the burden of proof is overwhelming and Sch.
want to prevent former KSK comrades from having to step into the light of public negotiations.
The process that is now beginning is also so explosive because Sch.
at the same time showed a clearly right-wing extremist sentiment several times.
And so far, such a well-trained elite soldier in the Bundeswehr has seldom been brought to justice on account of such serious allegations.
The case is being monitored at the highest level in the Ministry of Defense.
After the first find, the soldier's garden was dug up for several days by the LKA, a drone was in use.
The frightening extent of the weapon hiding place quickly became clear.
Thousands of rounds of ammunition may not be a large number for KSK soldiers - but the 7,000 cartridges found in total surprised even experienced investigators.
Oppressive evidence
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In fact, the evidence against Philipp Sch.
overwhelming: photos of the find show two hardware store buckets, a bag and a green box, about 50 x 100 cm in size.
Everything had apparently been buried years ago - unclear exactly when.
There were hidden: a Kalashnikov assault rifle, two kilograms of PETN plastic explosives with detonating cords, other weapons and weapon parts, various types of bullets (double and soft core), but also blank cartridges and irritants.
With a crossbow.
The KSK soldier Sch.
face up to five years imprisonment.
But the central question is: What was the purpose of the weapons store?
Was his presumably right-wing extremist sentiment the motive?
Should specific crimes be committed with it?
The investigations of the General Public Prosecutor's Office in Dresden and the MAD have not yet been able to clear up or prove any of this.
Despite extensive investigations, there are no indications of a terrorist motive behind the creation of the depot.
In the meantime, the Federal Public Prosecutor had also set up an investigation into the case, but ultimately did not take it over.
When and how exactly the KSK soldier allegedly embezzled the ammunition during exercises has yet to be documented.
The case also shows how difficult criminal investigations are in the area of the Bundeswehr, whenever it comes to allegedly stolen weapons and ammunition.
That the find in Sch.
mainly comes from armed forces stocks, the comparison of identification numbers clearly showed.
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The Kalashnikov that was seized, however, did not come from there.
However, it is central to a possible conviction.
According to WELT information, extensive ballistic examinations were carried out as part of the investigation.
The rifle and the ammunition that went with it, also found in the garden, were fired.
Some shots could actually be fired.
An appraiser will testify during the process.
From the question of possible violations of the War Weapons Control Act, the question of whether Philipp Sch.
could have committed a crime.
In this case a prison sentence of at least one year would be likely and Sch.
would then have to leave the Bundeswehr all the faster.
This must be decided by the court.
Currently, Sch.
Do not perform any service, against him a uniform ban was issued in the Bundeswehr.
As far as his attitude is concerned, there are clear indications of right-wing extremism in the results of the investigations, particularly by the MAD: the suspicion of such was also the starting point of the investigation against Sch.
been.
The MAD is supposed to expose enemies of the state in the Bundeswehr and led Philipp Sch.
on his list of suspected cases since spring 2017.
But it was not until the beginning of last year that the MAD received the first vague indication of the possible weapons hiding place.
In addition to all the weapons and ammunition, a whole range of other exhibits were actually seized: among them were SS song books and Nazi devotional items.
For MAD and the Attorney General's office, the elite soldier is Sch.
a right-wing extremist.
Codes such as "GruSS" or other references to Adolf Hitler and the Waffen SS appeared in relevant, albeit older, chats.
Right-wing extremism and the possible exploitation of the soldier's position could definitely play a role in the assessment of sentences in court.
There are also several questions that investigators and defense politicians are equally concerned about: Were there any accomplices or confidants who have remained hidden?
DNA traces on the evidence alone led to Sch.
As a demolition expert at the KSK, he had access to ammunition and explosives; as a so-called “breacher”, his job was to blow open locked doors in an emergency.
The criminal process must show whether there will be any indications of a previously unrecognized group of supporters of the accused.
After all, just over 80 soldiers had been questioned.
According to WELT information, there is currently an investigation against the son of the main defendant due to possible aid.
He is also with the armed forces, the investigations are therefore relevant, the outcome is open.
It should be decisive whether the son knew the content and purpose of the weapons depot when he is apparently said to have buried objects in the garden with his father at least once.
In the trial against his father, the son has the right to refuse to testify.
The father has not yet had a criminal record.
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The KSK's special forces take on tasks such as freeing German hostages in crisis regions.
Because there have been repeated extremist incidents and false corps spirit in their ranks, the force is currently being reformed.
The Defense Commissioner of the Bundestag, Eva Högl (SPD), told WELT: “Each individual case is one too many.
Every single case is dangerous.
And it is not uncommon for a network to be hidden behind it.
That is why nothing should be played down. ”Possible references to the Philipp Sch case.
other right-wing extremists are still being examined by the security authorities.