| Day X plot | |
|---|---|
| Type | Ambush andassassination |
| Planned by | UnknownKommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) soldiers |
| Target | Dietmar Bartsch and others |
| Date | Day X, an unspecified operational date |
| Outcome | Potentially neutralized |
TheDay X plot refers to plans allegedly formulated in 2017 by elements within theKommando Spezialkräfte (KSK; "Special Forces Command") of Germany'sBundeswehr to assassinate several left-leaning politicians includingDietmar Bartsch. Others have dismissed the allegations as aconspiracy theory, saying a more routine criminal matter was exaggerated in order to embarrass the rulingChristian Democratic Union of Germany in advance of the2017 German federal election.
Information about the supposed plot came to police attention during the investigation of a different alleged plot by German military officers to assassinate thePresident of Germany. The planned killings were made public in November 2018. Two German military officers have been arrested in relation to the alleged plot. One was tried and acquitted, and the other released on court order without charge.
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Between 2008 and 2017, Germany'sMilitary Counter-intelligence Service (MAD) identified roughly 200right-wing extremists within theBundeswehr.[1]
In April 2017, German prosecutors charged a 28-year-old German Army soldier and two others with plotting a wave of violent attacks against left-leaning German politicians that would be framed on asylum seekers.[1][2] "Franco A.", alieutenant, had planned to targetPresident of GermanyJoachim Gauck,Heiko Maas,Claudia Roth, and unnamed "human rights activists and journalists".[1][2] He was purportedly aided by another soldier, named only as "Maxilimilian T." and a university student named as "Mathias F."[3] According to authorities, a search of "Franco A."s quarters also revealed his possession ofWehrmacht memorabilia and, it was also learned, hismaster's degree thesis advanced what was described asvölkisch arguments and theories.[4]
In November of that year, theFederal Court of Justice ordered "Franco A." released, ruling that "the results so far of the investigation do not substantiate the strong suspicion that a serious act threatening the state was in preparation".[5]
In 2022 Franco A. was convicted of preparing a "serious act of violence endangering the state". He was also convicted of possessing illegal weapons and explosives and of fraud, according to the verdict.[6]
In September 2017, prior to "Franco A."'s release,Federal Criminal Police officers searched the barracks of the German Army's eliteKommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) inCalw.[4] The search occurred after information obtained in the investigation of "Franco A." indicated that "Franco A." might have had contact with KSK soldiers.[4] Police were unable to find evidence of subversive activity during the search but suspected the KSK soldiers had been tipped off before their arrival.[4]
On 9 November 2018,Focus first publicly reported on the investigation.[4] According to it, the inquiry had uncovered a potential conspiracy within the KSK designed to murder Dietmar Bartsch and other unnamed politicians on an operational date designated Day X.[7][8] Day X was not a date-specific point, rather it was an unknown future date that would be designated at an opportunistic weak point in government power in order to maximize instability and accelerate the collapse of state authority.[7][9]
In addition to the Federal Criminal Police,Deutschlandfunk has reported that the German domestic security agency, theFederal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, is also investigating the matter.[4]
According to authorities, the earlier alleged tip-off to potential KSK conspirators had been made by alieutenant colonel in MAD who alerted the soldiers about the raid on their barracks in advance of it occurring.[7] Police apparently learned of this due to an informant, "André S.", placed within the KSK.[4] The MADdouble agent, named in charging documents as "Peter W.", was subsequently indicted in aCologneAmtsgericht on unspecified charges related to his alleged interference, police also alleging he was the previously unknown leader ofHannibal.[10] "Peter W."'s defense in the case alleged that much of the plot had been exaggerated and dramatized by supporters of theSocial Democratic Party of Germany within theFederal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection as a political scheme to embarrass theChristian Democratic Union of Germany in advance of the 2017 federal elections.[11] He was acquitted of all charges and, as of 2020, continues to serve in the German armed forces.[12]
In November 2019 the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) instructed the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt to open a process against Franco Albrecht on the accused of "preparing a serious, state-damaging act of violence".[13]
In 2022, Albrecht was found guilty of planning terror attacks posing as a refugee and was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.[14]
Day X, aNew York Times podcast