1. How Hitler used a fire to become a Tyrannosaurus
February 28, 1933
How Hitler used a fire to become a Tyrannosaurus

2. In 1932, Germany’s president, Paul von Hindenburg, was ready to retire
In 1932, Germany’s president, Paul von Hindenburg, was ready to retire. But people who opposed Adolf Hitler were afraid Hitler would win the election.

3. Hindenburg was not a fan of Hitler, so he agreed to run for re-election.
Hindenburg was a beloved war hero and a popular president, but he barely beat Hitler.

4. Hitler was so popular that Hindenburg appointed him Chancellor in 1933
Hitler was so popular that Hindenburg appointed him Chancellor in In that largely ceremonial position, Hitler would be under the control of the president, and he would have very little power.

5. It was supposed to be a “safe” place to put Hitler, but it didn’t work out that way. Hindenburg, 85 years old and in weak health, was no match for the cunning and energetic 43 year old Hitler.

6. About 9:00 PM on Monday evening, February 27, 1933 – four weeks after Hitler became Chancellor, the Reichstag building caught fire.

7. The Reichstag was, and still is, Germany’s legislature
The Reichstag was, and still is, Germany’s legislature. Hitler blamed the fire on the Communists, and said an international Communist conspiracy was trying to take over Germany.

8. A 24 year old communist from Holland was arrested at the scene
A 24 year old communist from Holland was arrested at the scene. He confessed to setting the fire in an attempt to get German workers to revolt. He was later found guilty and executed by guillotine.

9. Many Germans were in a state of near panic after the government made this official announcement:

10. “The burning of the Reichstag was intended to be the signal for a bloody uprising and civil war. Large-scale pillaging was planned for as early as four o’clock in the morning on Tuesday.”

11. “It has been determined that starting today throughout Germany acts of terrorism were to begin… and general civil war was was to be unleashed...”

12. At the time, Germany’s Constitution gave the President the power to declare an emergency and suspend many civil rights.

13. It was officially Hindenburg’s legal authority, but there no secret that Hitler was behind the “Reichstag Fire Decree” of February 28.

14. Privacy in telephone calls
Abolished:
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Freedom to assemble
Habeas Corpus
Privacy in telephone calls
Privacy in the mail
Also… The national government took away many of the states powers.

15. For “the Protection of People and State” about 45,000 Hitler opponents were arrested and imprisoned in the next two months.

16. This is the last issue of a newspaper that was banned by Hitler after the Reichstag Fire Decree. It is announcing that it has been prohibited from publishing any more.

17. The emergency powers of the President allowed by the constitution had been used more than 100 times in the 14 years prior to the Reichstag Fire.

18. The constitution gave the Reichstag the power to restore civil liberties, but Hitler’s party had enough votes to keep that from from happening.

19. About a month after the fire, the Reichstag passed a bill giving the very popular Chancellor Hitler even greater powers. He could now make laws without the approval of the Reichstag (legislature).

20. The next year, President Hindenburg died at the age of 86
The next year, President Hindenburg died at the age of 86. He was an opponent of the Nazis, but he gets a Nazi salute at his funeral. Do you recognize a propaganda technique?

21. Hitler had been waiting for Hindenburg to die
Hitler had been waiting for Hindenburg to die. In the meantime, he had accumulated enough power to combine the offices of President and Chancellor into one, and to fill both jobs himself with no election.

22. The watchdogs had been silenced.
By that time, all political parties except the Nazis had been outlawed. Only pro-Hitler media was allowed.
The watchdogs had been silenced.

23. Hitler remained extremely popular in Germany.
The people believed he had kept them safe, and their country’s economy had regained its strength after many years of depression.
The rights the people lost in 1933 never came back during Hitler’s 12 years in power.

24. How powerful could a president in the United States become
How powerful could a president in the United States become? What does our constitution include to prevent this from happening to us?

25. After 86 years, anybody who knew the answer is long since gone.
Did a Communist acting alone set the Reichstag on fire?
Or was the fire arranged by Hitler to create conditions for him to gain more power?
After 86 years, anybody who knew the answer is long since gone.