Far-right group 'led by Prince Heinrich XIII' planned to build a new German ARMY after coup: Ex-military members of terrorists foiled by police 'wanted to bring the nation under their rule'

A far-right group accused of plotting to overthrow the German government and install a prince as ruler had plans to build its own army after the coup was complete, prosecutors have revealed today.

The gang - allegedly led by 71-year-old Heinrich XIII, Prince of Reuss - had already devised how the post-coup state would be organised with both a military and civil branch that would be split into ministries, German officials said.

Heinrich would lead the civil branch as head of a central 'Council' that was due to include judge and former AfD member of the Bundestag Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, 58, as head of the justice department, it is alleged.  

Meanwhile the military arm - led by a 69-year-old former paratrooper named only as Rüdiger v. P - would be responsible for establishing a new army recruited from the ranks of the current Bundeswehr defence force and police, it is claimed.

Rüdiger and his subordinates are accused of scouting three current Bundeswehr bases in Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria to see whether they could be used to station their own troops after the uprising had taken place.

They were also tasked with procuring weapons and training people how to use them - and had legally acquired several guns and put 'recruits' through target practice, it is claimed.