- Legal Basis
- § 241 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment of up to one year or a fine; up to two years for threat of a felony; up to three years if against a public official
- Summary
- Threatening another person with the commission of a criminal offence against them or a person close to them
Threats (Section 241 German Criminal Code) – Criminal Defence Against Threat Charges
Making threats is an offence against personal freedom under German law, and in practice it is reported particularly frequently in the context of relationship disputes, neighbourhood conflicts, and aggressive confrontations. The 2021 legislative reform significantly expanded the scope of the offence and increased the penalties. For expats in Germany, it is important to understand that even statements made in the heat of the moment may constitute a criminal offence.
Statutory Text – Section 241 StGB
Paragraph 1: Whoever threatens another person with the commission of an unlawful act directed against them or a person close to them which targets sexual self-determination, physical integrity, personal freedom, or property of significant value, shall be punished with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine.
Paragraph 2: Whoever threatens another person with the commission of a felony directed against them or a person close to them shall be punished with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine.
Paragraph 3: The same penalty applies to whoever, knowing better, pretends to another person that the realisation of a felony directed against them or a person close to them is imminent.
Paragraph 4: If the act is committed publicly, at a gathering, or by disseminating content, the penalty shall be imprisonment of up to three years or a fine. The same applies if the threat is directed against a public official.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
Threat: The threat must announce a specific harm over whose occurrence the threatening person purports to have influence. It must be sufficiently concrete – mere expressions of displeasure or vague hints generally do not suffice. However, no verbatim announcement is required; implied conduct can also constitute a threat.
Subject of the threat: Since the 2021 reform, a threat of any unlawful act against sexual self-determination, physical integrity, personal freedom, or property of significant value suffices (para. 1). For the qualified offence (para. 2), the threat must be of a felony – an offence carrying a minimum sentence of one year of imprisonment.
Addressee: The threat must be directed against the person threatened or someone close to them. Persons close to them include family members, partners, and close friends.
Intent: The offender must act intentionally. They must intend for the threat to come to the victim’s attention and to be taken seriously. Whether the offender actually intends to carry out the threatened act is irrelevant.
Typical Methods of Commission
Threats are made verbally, in writing, by telephone, or through digital communication channels (messengers, social media, email). Common situations include threats during relationship break-ups, aggressive statements in neighbourhood disputes, intimidation in business settings, and threats against public officials. Increasingly, threats are also made via social media platforms, which can lead to enhanced sentencing under paragraph 4 due to the public nature of the commission.
Sentencing Range
Simple threats (para. 1) are punished with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine. Threatening a felony (para. 2) can be sentenced with up to two years of imprisonment or a fine. For public commission, commission at a gathering, or through dissemination of content, as well as threats against public officials, the penalty increases to up to three years of imprisonment or a fine (para. 4).
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence against threat charges regularly begins with the question of whether the alleged statement actually had the character of a threat or whether it should be classified as a mere expression of displeasure, a warning, or a situation-specific exaggeration. Particularly in emotionally charged situations, statements are frequently taken out of context or subsequently dramatised. It is further examined whether the required intent was present – that is, whether the accused intended their statement to be understood as a serious threat. In word-against-word situations, the credibility analysis of the accusing statement takes on particular importance. Rechtsanwalt Bafteh develops a tailored defence strategy for each individual case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was ist eine strafbare Threatening Behaviour?
Strafbar ist nach § 241 StGB die Threatening Behaviour mit einem Verbrechen sowie mit bestimmten Vergehen gegen Leib, Leben oder Freiheit gegenüber dem Betroffenen oder einer ihm nahestehenden Person.
Genügt eine Äußerung im Streit?
Nicht jede unbedachte Äußerung im Affekt erfüllt den Tatbestand. Es kommt auf die Ernstlichkeit der Drohung und den Vorsatz an, was sich oft erfolgreich angreifen lässt.
Ist ein Strafantrag erforderlich?
Nein, die Threatening Behaviour wird von Amts wegen verfolgt. Umso wichtiger ist eine frühe Verteidigung, die nach Akteneinsicht ansetzt.
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 Threatening Behaviour? 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 Threatening Behaviour 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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