Drachenlord is the pseudonym of Rainer Winkler, a German web video producer and livestreamer from Neustadt an der Aisch in Bavaria. He became known across German-speaking countries because of a large online community of critics, called haters, who harassed him for years. He began posting on YouTube in 2011, creating Let's Plays and metal-related content, and his channel attracted many viewers before it was deleted in 2022. The conflict led to repeated police operations and convictions on both sides.
Background and online career
Winkler grew up in Altschauerberg, part of the municipality of Emskirchen. He has said he is dyslexic and attended a special-needs school, where he reported long-term bullying. After working in temporary employment, he gave up that job in 2011 to focus on his YouTube activities. He used the pseudonym Drachenlord from 2011, and his channel was viewed millions of times before YouTube removed it in August 2022. He also streamed regularly on YouNow, where a Bavarian media regulator classified the service as broadcasting in 2019.
Harassment and police operations
The hater community organized online through platforms such as Discord and Telegram and called its actions the Drachengame. Groups gathered at Winkler's home in Altschauerberg, leading at times to several police call-outs a day. Some residents and businesses linked to him were also affected. In 2015 a man was convicted of a false emergency call that caused a large police and rescue operation at Winkler's house, one of the first known cases of swatting in Germany. In 2021 Winkler sold his property to the municipality, which later had the buildings demolished.