They simplify, simplify, normalize. And they rethink. The right-wing reaction to the coup plans of the conspiracy ideologues in Germany is frightening.
Politicians and journalists, right down to the middle of society, downplay fantasies of revolution. Militant citizens of the Reich become confused grandfathers. Large-scale raid on the “PR campaign”. NZZ published two opinion pieces about the coup plans. One with the caption: “Raid on the Reichsburger was also staged for the media.” Another: “A coup that would never have happened.”
It is these distortions that make the coup plans truly dangerous. They create an environment in which agitators feel comfortable. Even legal!
Facts: During the largest anti-terrorist operation in the history of the Federal Republic, 3,000 police officers searched 130 apartments and arrested 25 extremists. A network around the nobleman, former soldiers and elite policemen planned an armed coup. As a prelude, they wanted to take the Bundestag by storm. They would have access: among those arrested is a former member of the Bundestag from the AfD.
The facts also include: During the coronavirus pandemic, right-wing extremists, Reich citizens and conspirators have banded together and radicalized. The scene forms the action plans. A successful coup remains unrealistic. But there will almost certainly be deaths. So a warning at the end: smiling can be deadly.