The claim
A screenshot from a UN site suggests that Germany is still an “occupied zone” and is listed as a non-governmental organization (NGO) at the United Nations.
Our conclusion
The screenshot is from a publicly available registration form from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The entries are created by users and do not represent official recognition by the UN. Germany is a sovereign state and a member of the United Nations.
Details about the incorrect UN entry:
- Origin of the screenshot: The screenshot shows an online form from the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (ECOSOC), in which the Federal Republic of Germany is listed as a non-governmental organization with the address of the Federal Press Office and misleading information. Anyone can make entries in this form, even with incorrect information.
- No official recognition: The UN department ECOSOC expressly states that a profile in its database does not represent affiliation with the United Nations. The entry of the Federal Republic of Germany as an NGO is therefore not official and has no legal relevance.
- Status of the Federal Republic of Germany: Germany is a full and sovereign member of the United Nations. This is confirmed in the official list of UN member states, in which Germany has been listed as a sovereign state since reunification.
- Reich Citizens' Movement and Misinformation: The claim that Germany is not a sovereign state is often spread by the Reich Citizens' Movement and similar groups. However, these views have been refuted several times, including by the Bundestag's Research Service and various fact checks.
- Source of misinformation: The misleading screenshot was distributed across various platforms and websites, including right-wing extremist and conspiracy theory media.
Conclusion:
The claim that the Federal Republic of Germany is run by the United Nations as a non-governmental organization and an occupied zone is false. The underlying screenshot merely represents a user-generated entry in a public registration form and has no official meaning. Germany is a sovereign state and as such a member of the United Nations.
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Source: dpa fact checking
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )