Counterdemonstrators outnumber Reich Citizens at German gathering

A meeting of Reich Citizens in the western German city of Darmstadt attracted considerably more protesters than attendees, the local police said on Saturday. 

Reich Citizens do not acknowledge the authority of the modern German state, instead professing loyalty to either the Third Reich of the Nazi era, or the German Empire that existed before World War I. 

Officers put the number of participants at the Darmstadt event itself at around 200 and the number of people at the counterdemonstration at just over 800. A police spokeswoman said there had been no disturbances so far. The demonstrations were reportedly still continuing in the afternoon.

The Darmstadt Alliance Against the Far Right had called for the counterdemonstration under the slogan, "The emperor has abdicated, democracy lives on!"

A spokeswoman for the alliance also described the situation as having remained peaceful and expressed her delight at the number of counterdemonstrators. 

"I'd say, 'Brilliant!' Colourful, diverse," she said, "a good sign for our city."

The regional domestic intelligence service said the Darmstadt event was billed as "a grand gathering" of Reich Citizens from across the country. 

According to information from the security authorities, these gatherings have been organized at irregular intervals since August 2023.

The intelligence service defines Reich Citizens as groups and individuals who do not recognize the Federal Republic of Germany, its legal system, state institutions and democratically elected representatives.