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Six Ways German Coup Attempt Was like Jan. 6.
German, American neofascists sound shockingly alike
Fascism is having a moment. Far-right groups have been active on both sides of the Atlantic. One of America’s two main political parties has been taken over by the far-right. Meanwhile, in Europe far-right groups have been active in Italy, Sweden, France and now Germany, where authorities recently foiled an attempted coup. The coup was led by individuals associated with the Reichsbuger movement (Reich citizen,) who reject the modern German state and want to return to Germany as it was in the early part of the 20th century. The movement even wanted to install a minor German noble as head of state.
However, Germany produced the world’s most famous fascist in the form of Adolf Hitler. So, it’s always disturbing when a group of far-right Germans tries to overthrow their government and install a Kaiser-like dictator.
I’ve been doing some research into the German far-right movement, mainly through listening to The New York Times’ in-depth reporting in its “Day X” podcast. (Day X is the day when the German coup plotters execute their plan to overthrow the government.) And I’ve learned far-right movements on both sides of the Atlantic have many disturbingly similar traits.
