How strong was Hitler’s position in 1933 Study the photo and the facts about Hitler & the Nazis in How powerful was Hitler? What would he need to do in order to survive? Hindenburg & Von Papen appointed Hitler as a ‘puppet’ chancellor Only 2 Nazis in Cabinet Nazis largest single party, but didn’t have overall majority in Reichstag Prodigy

Who was to blame for the Reichstag fire? To assess what Hitler could gain from the Fire To analyse the reliability of accounts the Reichstag Fire (27 th Feb 1933)  Aims  Key words: Reichstag arsonist incendiary

 Your task: Read about the events surrounding the Reichstag Fire of February 1933 on page 364 of Essentials. Look at page 363 and note down ways after the fire that the Nazis appeared to strengthen/consolidate their hold on power. How helpful was the fire itself in the Nazi consolidation of power?  How far was Hitler responsible for increasing his grip on power – who else shares the blame?

Mock Trial Volunteers Needed: Two prosecutors Two defense lawyers Ten witnesses The rest of the class will be the jury

Hitler increases his power Hitler appointed Chancellor (Jan 1933) Hitler appointed Chancellor (Jan 1933) Calls new elections Calls new elections Nazi-controlled police used to break up political meetings during the elections Nazi-controlled police used to break up political meetings during the elections Hermann Goering ordered Prussian police to ‘cover’ for SA & police who used firearms against Nazi opponents Hermann Goering ordered Prussian police to ‘cover’ for SA & police who used firearms against Nazi opponents Hindenburg passed decree suspending Constitution Hindenburg passed decree suspending Constitution

How did Hitler exploit the Reichstag fire? Dutch Communist, van der Lubbe Dutch Communist, van der Lubbe Police imprisoned 4,000 Communist activists Police imprisoned 4,000 Communist activists 28 Feb, Hindenburg suspended freedom of speech & gave police emergency powers 28 Feb, Hindenburg suspended freedom of speech & gave police emergency powers March 1933 NSDAP gained 288 seats; won support of Nationalists & Catholic Centre party; abolished Communists March 1933 NSDAP gained 288 seats; won support of Nationalists & Catholic Centre party; abolished Communists Why might some historians suggest van der Lubbe was framed?

 Your task Read through the sources, decide which theory they support and explain why: Read through the sources, decide which theory they support and explain why: 1. Van der Lubbe started the fire and was acting alone 1. Van der Lubbe started the fire and was acting alone 2. Van der Lubbe was acting as part of a Communist plot 2. Van der Lubbe was acting as part of a Communist plot 3. Nazis started the fire themselves 3. Nazis started the fire themselves Give each source a reliability rating (out of 5) and explain why you have reached your decision Give each source a reliability rating (out of 5) and explain why you have reached your decision Write a paragraph explaining who you think was responsible for the fire. Use evidence to support your opinion. Write a paragraph explaining who you think was responsible for the fire. Use evidence to support your opinion.

Distinguishing Reliable from Unreliable Sources Or, to borrow this week’s question from TOK: WHEN CAN WE TRUST THE SENSES OF OTHERS TO GIVE US TRUTH?

Distinguishing Reliable from Unreliable Sources 1. Who wrote it? (Origin) 2. What was their motive in writing? (Purpose) 3. How long after the event was it written? (Origin) These questions can help us understand the biases embedded in a source, which helps us to assess its reliability

OPCVL A separate, but important, question for evaluating the value of the source, is what it tells us about the past (Content). A separate, but important, question for evaluating the value of the source, is what it tells us about the past (Content). These three elements: origin, purpose, and content, are key in determining the value and limitations of a source (i.e. its reliability) in helping us understand the past.

Partners – Discuss Similarities and Differences of Your Assessments of Reliability for Sources Yumika & James 2. Hani & Ana Paula 3. Lam & Kaisei 4. Michelle & Shelly & Michael Zhang 5. Tom & Alisha 6. Annie & Sarah 7. Kieran & Marian 8. Aoi & Roy 9. Sydney S. & FSunI 10. Fsun II & Sydney W. 11. Drew & Rino 12. Christy & Mike Yin

Background on the Three Theories Just in case you need a refresher before you start your PEEL paragraph answering: Who was to blame for the Reichstag fire?

THEORY ONE: SOME PEOPLE SAY THE NAZIS STARTED THE FIRE THEMSELVES – THEY HAD A LOT TO GAIN FROM IT.

WHY WOULD THE NAZIS WANT TO START THE FIRE? THE NAZIS WOULD PROMISE TO DEAL WITH THE COMMUNISTS – PEOPLE WOULD VOTE FOR THEM. WHEN THEY FRAMED VAN DER LUBBE AND EXECUTED HIM THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE THEY HAD ACTED – PEOPLE WOULD LIKE THIS THE NAZIS WANTED TO PASS TOUGH LAWS AGAINST THEIR OPPONENTS (ESPECIALLY THE COMMUNISTS). THE FIRE WAS THE PERFECT EXCUSE FOR THIS.

THEORY TWO: SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THE COMMUNISTS SET FIRE TO THE BUILDING AS AN ATTACK ON GERMAN DEMOCRACY.

WHY WOULD THE COMMUNISTS WANT TO START THE FIRE? THE COMMUNISTS BELIEVED THE NAZIS MUST BE DEFEATED. ELECTIONS WEREN’T WORKING. A BIG EVENT WAS NEEDED TO SPUR THEIR SUPPORTERS TO ACT. THE COMMUNISTS FELT THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THEIR SUPPORTERS SAW THEY WERE ACTING AND WOULD STILL VOTE FOR THEM.

THEORY THREE: SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT A YOUNG MAN (VAN DER LUBBE) SET FIRE TO THE BUILDING. HE WAS ACTING ALONE

WHY WOULD VAN DER LUBBE ACT ALONE? HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY AND WOULD ACT BECAUSE HE FELT HE SHOULD. HE WAS MENTALLY ILL. HE SUFFERED FROM LEARNING DISABILITIES AND HAD A FASCINATION WITH FIRE.

ON 27 FEBRUARY 1933, JUST FOUR WEEKS AFTER HITLER CAME TO POWER THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING BURNS.

THE FIRE AND SMOKE WERE VISIBLE FOR MILES AROUND. EVERYONE WAS WORRIED. PEOPLE WERE SCARED THAT FORCES WITHIN GERMANY WERE TRYING TO ATTACK IT.

THIS IS THE MAN ACCUSED OF STARTING THE FIRE. HE WAS HANGED FOR THIS CRIME. DOES HIS PICTURE SUPPORT ONE INTERPRETATION OVER ANOTHER? OTHERS SAY THE NAZI STORMTROOPERS (SA) STARTED THE FIRE.

THE FIRE TOOK PLACE JUST DAYS BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION AT THE PREVIOUS ELECTION THE NAZIS HAD LOST VOTES (FALLING FROM 230 SEATS TO 196). AFTER THE FIRE THEY WON 288 SEATS

NAZI NEWSPAPER HEADLINE: ‘NOW WE WILL TAKE RIGOROUS STEPS’ – THIS COULD ONLY MEAN ACTION AGAINST THE NAZIS OPPONENTS.