1. Hitler and Nazi Germany
The Reichstag Fire

2. The Reichstag Fire
In today’s class, I am learning to:
Describe events at the Reichstag Fire
Analyse evidence about who was to blame for starting the fire

3. The Reichstag Fire
In March 1933 elections were to be held to the Reichstag. However one week before the elections (27 February), the Reichstag was burned to the ground.

4. The building completely destroyed the Reichstag.
The Reichstag Fire
The building completely destroyed the Reichstag.
A Dutch Communist named Marinus van der Lubbe was found at the scene and blamed. He had matches and firelighters with him.
However some people believe the Nazis may have actually started the fire.

5. The Reichstag Fire The fire was a huge boost to the Nazis.
Hitler claimed it was the start of a violent Communist revolution, and promised that he would save Germany.
He said “Every Communist official will be shot where he is found”.

6. The Communists caused real fears for the Nazis.
The Reichstag Fire
The Communists caused real fears for the Nazis.
In the November Reichstag election, Nazi support had fallen whilst the Communists had increased their votes.
As soon as Hitler became Chancellor, the Nazis plotted to deal with this threat.

7. The Reichstag Fire
After the fire, President Hindenburg introduced the Reichstag Fire Decree.
This law gave Hitler emergency powers, including to arrest political opponents and shutdown or censor newspapers that were critical of the German government.

8. The Reichstag Fire
The Nazis also used propaganda to create fear about a potential Communist takeover.
This resulted in the Nazis gaining more votes in the Reichstag election, 44% in total (but still short of a majority), forcing them to work with other parties.

9. Revolts against Weimar
Who was to blame?
Evidence:
The Communists

10. The Reichstag Fire
There was a range of evidence to support Marinus van der Lubbe as being guilty of causing the fire.
He was the only man found at the scene of the crime, and he had various materials which could be used to start a fire, including matches and firelighters.

11. Van der Lubbe was arrested and interviewed by the German police.
The Reichstag Fire
Van der Lubbe was arrested and interviewed by the German police.
He signed a confession confirming that he had carried out the crime, even describing all of his times and movements inside the Reichstag when he started the fire.

12. The Reichstag Fire
When asked why he carried out the crime, van der Lubbe said it was because of the way that Germany was governed.
Communists were being arrested and intimidated, so he said he did it to try and fight back, and end Nazi rule in Germany.

13. This suggests that Hitler had not known about the plans beforehand.
The Reichstag Fire
When Hitler heard the news and arrived at the Reichstag, witnesses say they he seemed both scared and surprised, believing a Communist revolution was beginning.
This suggests that Hitler had not known about the plans beforehand.

14. The Reichstag Fire
After the fire the Nazis raided the headquarters of the Communist Party.
During this search the Nazis claimed to have found numerous documents which planned world revolution, including using violence (although these documents were never published).

15. The Reichstag Fire
Van der Lubbe was put on trial for the crime. He was found guilty and sentenced to death (by beheading).
If the Nazis had been involved in the crime they may have not wanted the publicity of a trial, perhaps suggesting that it was a Communist action.

16. Revolts against Weimar
Who was to blame?
Evidence:
The Nazis

17. The Reichstag Fire
However a great many people were suspicious of claims that this was a Communist action.
It was suggested that as the Nazis would hugely benefit from the fire (due to new powers and more votes) that they started the fire themselves.

18. In London, Communists held a counter trial about the fire.
The Reichstag Fire
In London, Communists held a counter trial about the fire.
They produced evidence such as a tunnel which linked Hermann Goering’s residence to the Reichstag.
It was claimed that Nazis used the tunnel to enter the building and spread petrol, before starting the fire.

19. The Reichstag Fire
The Nazis were known to use extreme violence to try and achieve their goals.
Hitler himself had led an attempted putsch, and the Night of the Long Knives showed the Nazis were willing to kill even their own supporters. A fire is therefore a small action.

20. The death of Adolf Rall pointed fingers at the Nazis.
The Reichstag Fire
The death of Adolf Rall pointed fingers at the Nazis.
Rall was a Nazi and is said to have told prosecutors that the Nazis started the fire to try and blame Communists.
It has been claimed that the Nazis murdered Rall in to stop him repeating these claims.

21. This suggests the Nazis had something to hide.
The Reichstag Fire
Many of the Communists that were arrested that night were not fairly treated and instead subject to torture.
Hitler even asked the President for permission to hang the men that night, but was refused.
This suggests the Nazis had something to hide.

22. The Reichstag Fire
Some Nazis (such as Karl Ernst) later claimed that they had been involved in the plot.
They said they started the fire in the hope that the Communists would be blamed, ensuring the end of any chance of a Communist takeover.

23. The Reichstag Fire
Various Communists – including van der Lubbe – were put on trial for the crime. However only van der Lubbe was found guilty.
This suggests that it was not a wider Communist plot, or that if van der Lubbe had help then it came from non- Communists.

24. Reichstag Fire: who was to blame?
The Reichstag Fire
DEBATE
Reichstag Fire: who was to blame?
Marinus van der Lubbe on his own?
van der Lubbe in a Communist plot?
The Nazi Party?