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The number of so-called Reich citizens has almost doubled in Hamburg in the past five years - albeit at a comparatively low level.
While the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution added 90 people to the “Reich Citizens and Self-Governing Scene” in 2016, the recently published report for the protection of the constitution shows a potential of 175 people in the Hanseatic city for the end of 2020.
Across Germany, the state offices for the protection of the constitution assume around 19,000 people in the "Reich citizens and self-governing scene".
"The Hamburg citizen and self-governing scene is, like the nationwide spectrum, very heterogeneous and consists predominantly of individuals without group membership," said State Office spokesman Marco Haase.
Almost ten percent overlap with right-wing extremism.
And: "Reich citizens and self-administrators have been more active than ever since the outbreak of the corona pandemic."
Extended leeway through state corona measures
The state corona measures would offer "Reich citizens expanded scope and reception for their agitation against the Federal Republic of Germany," said Haase.
“With the so-called lateral thinker movement, the Reich citizens receive a new platform and vice versa.” Reich citizen myths such as Germany's alleged lack of sovereignty and the non-existence of a constitution could have penetrated parts of the “lateral thinkers” movement.
Some of the “citizens of the Reich” are also looking to join conspiracy ideological milieus.
"Contents of the QAnon movement are recorded and disseminated." Virtual networking is playing an increasing role for the scene.
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One reason for the increase in the number of followers is also the clarification of the scene and the associated clarification of the dark field by the protection of the constitution, according to Haase: "Information from the population and other authorities also play an important role."