germanyinww2

THE REICHSTAG

On February 27th the Reichstag had been empty since December. At 8:45 one of the caretakers checked the building and found it empty like usual. At 9:05 the caretaker sees a man carrying a burning brand on the first floor. By 9:14 the fire alarm is received by the local firestation and the firemen get to the building by 9:24 but fires are breaking out everywhere. At 9:27 there is a huge explosion and the Reichstag is  enveloped by flames. Behind the building a half naked dutchman by the name of Marinus van der Lubbe is found and was arrested. He says he did it as a "protest." Hitler and Goring arrived on the scene. Goring accused the communists. The next day the President signs a decree which allows the nazis to suspend freedom of speech. Many communists were arrested because of this event and were taken to court. When van der Lubbe was trialed he seemed to act like it was his responsibility and job to set fire to the Reichstag. This made them wonder if it was all his plan to do it. Later on, they put together that the Nazi party might of planned it because they controlled the police of Berlin and most of the community. But there is absolutely no evidence that proves the Nazi or the Communist party set the great chamber on fire.