- Legal Basis
- § 113 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment from six months to five years
- Summary
- Using force or threat of force to resist a public official carrying out a lawful official act
Resisting Law Enforcement Officers (Section 113 German Criminal Code) – Criminal Defence Against Resistance Charges
Resisting law enforcement officers is an offence that arises particularly frequently in connection with police operations, arrests, traffic stops, and demonstrations. Since the 2017 reform, penalties have been significantly increased and a new offence of assault on law enforcement officers (Section 114 StGB) has been created. For expats in Germany, understanding this provision is critical, as cultural differences in interactions with police can lead to misunderstandings with serious legal consequences.
Statutory Text – Section 113 StGB
Paragraph 1: Whoever resists a public official or soldier authorised to enforce laws, regulations, judgments, court orders, or directives, by force or threat of force during the performance of such an official act, shall be punished with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine.
Paragraph 2: In especially serious cases, the penalty shall be imprisonment from six months to five years.
Paragraph 3: The act is not punishable under this provision if the official act is not lawful.
Paragraph 4: If the official act is not lawful and the offender recognises this, the court may at its discretion mitigate the sentence or dispense with punishment.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
Public official during an enforcement action: Protected officials include those authorised to enforce law – particularly police officers, bailiffs, regulatory authority staff, and soldiers. The enforcement action must be a sovereign measure with coercive character.
Resistance by force: Force within the meaning of Section 113 StGB is any direct physical action against the official that is intended and suitable to prevent or hinder the enforcement action. This includes breaking free, pushing, hitting, clinging, or shoving officers away.
Threat of force: The announcement of physical violence can also fulfil the elements if it is capable of deterring the official from the enforcement action.
Lawfulness of the official act (para. 3): An unlawful official act cannot be protected by Section 113 StGB. Lawfulness is assessed based on the officer’s jurisdiction, compliance with essential procedural requirements, and the absence of abuse of discretion.
Typical Methods of Commission
Resistance arises in practice through breaking free or bracing during arrests, physical resistance during identity checks, altercations during demonstrations, and resistance against exclusion orders or custody. Assault on law enforcement officers (Section 114 StGB) – active physical attack without defensive purpose – has been punished since 2017 with imprisonment from three months to five years.
Sentencing Range
Resisting law enforcement officers is punished with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine. In especially serious cases (para. 2) – particularly when carrying a weapon or acting jointly – the penalty is imprisonment from six months to five years. Assault under Section 114 StGB carries imprisonment from three months to five years.
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence against resistance charges frequently focuses on the lawfulness of the official act. If the police measure was unlawful – such as an unlawful arrest or disproportionate use of force – criminal liability under Section 113 StGB is excluded. It is further examined whether the accused’s conduct actually crossed the threshold of resistance or whether it was merely passive resistance (simply standing still, going limp). In physical confrontations, a self-defence situation may exist. BAFTEH Strafverteidigung analyses bodycam footage, witness statements, and operational documentation and develops a defence tailored to the specifics of the individual case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was ist Resisting Law Enforcement?
Nach § 113 StGB macht sich strafbar, wer einem Amtsträger bei einer Vollstreckungshandlung mit Gewalt oder durch Drohung mit Gewalt Widerstand leistet. Ein tätlicher Angriff wird zusätzlich von § 114 StGB erfasst.
Spielt die Rechtmäßigkeit der Diensthandlung eine Rolle?
Ja. War die Diensthandlung nicht rechtmäßig, entfällt die Strafbarkeit nach § 113 (§ 113 Abs. 3 StGB). Das ist ein zentraler Prüfpunkt der Verteidigung.
Ist eine Einstellung möglich?
Je nach Schwere und Vorbelastung kommt eine Einstellung nach §§ 153, 153a StPO in Betracht.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Resisting Law Enforcement? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Resisting Law Enforcement requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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