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In Germany, alongside law enforcement agencies such as the prosecutor's office, police, and customs, there are several specialized services. Each of them performs its unique functions to ensure state security.
| Service | German Name | Main Functions |
| Federal Intelligence Service | Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) | Foreign intelligence, supplying information to political elites and government agencies. |
| Military Counterintelligence Service | Militärischer Abschirmdienst (MAD) | Countering espionage and intelligence activities within the armed forces (Bundeswehr). |
| Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution | Verfassungsschutz | Monitoring compliance with constitutional rights and freedoms, countering extremism. |
In Germany, alongside law enforcement agencies such as the prosecutor's office, police, and customs, there are several specialized services. Each of them performs its unique functions to ensure state security.
The main task of these agencies is to protect the constitutional order and gather information both within the country and abroad. Their structure includes various departments, from foreign intelligence to military counterintelligence.
It is the last of these services, the Verfassungsschutz, that has recently come under scrutiny for its stance on gold investments.
Recently, a memo from the head of the Verfassungsschutz became public, published in the press and on the X platform (formerly Twitter). This document expresses concern about the activities of certain information channels.
This refers to bloggers and public figures who predict the imminent collapse of Germany's financial and political system. In their publications, they claim that the existing system has reached a dead end and that a collapse is inevitable.
As an alternative and a way to preserve savings, these channels actively promote investments in precious metals, particularly gold. It is this combination—predicting collapse and advertising gold—that has attracted the attention of the intelligence service.
According to the Verfassungsschutz statement, promoting investments in precious metals, such as gold and silver, against the backdrop of predictions of systemic collapse, creates a dangerous precedent.
The intelligence service believes that such activity indirectly contributes to the spread of anti-Semitic and right-wing extremist ideas and views. It is important to note that this is not a legal ban, but an internal assessment of the situation outlined in an official document.
Thus, the service's focus is not on the investors themselves, but on the channels that use the rhetoric of an impending collapse to advertise gold as the only reliable asset. According to the agency, this undermines trust in state institutions and can serve as a breeding ground for radical sentiments.
The intelligence service's statement triggered a strong reaction in the German-speaking internet space. Most commentators reacted to this initiative with disbelief and sarcasm. The main points of the public discussion can be summarized as follows:
Many commentators emphasize the historical role of gold as a symbol of security, freedom, and independence. Unlike fiat money, the state cannot arbitrarily 'print' gold, which makes it a reliable means of saving.
A historical example of the German Empire is cited, where under the gold standard, there was virtually no inflation, and government spending was significantly lower. It is also noted that the purchasing power of gold has remained stable over decades: in 1960, an ounce of gold could buy a good suit with accessories, and this ratio still holds true today.
In contrast, it is pointed out that since the introduction of the euro in the early 2000s, its value relative to gold has fallen by 90%. This, according to commentators, is the best proof of the precious metal's reliability.
Practical advice also emerged during the discussion. For example, anyone who buys gold should keep the receipts to prove the legal origin of the funds in case of questions from the tax authorities.
The importance of asset diversification is also emphasized, which is the only sensible strategy in times of instability. It is recommended to distribute savings among various instruments:
In conclusion, many commentators note that private ownership of gold is an act of anti-fascism, as it was totalitarian regimes, including the Nazi regime, that prohibited citizens from owning gold. In this context, the attempt to link gold investors with extremism seems particularly absurd.
