The Reichstag burned for three hours on February 27, 1933. Police arrested a Dut

1933 Event

Reichstag Burns: Germany's Parliament Set Ablaze

The Reichstag burned for three hours on February 27, 1933. Police arrested a Dutch communist named Marinus van der Lubbe at the scene, shirtless and sweating. Hitler had been chancellor for exactly four weeks. The next day, he suspended civil liberties. The day after that, he began mass arrests of political opponents. Van der Lubbe was tried, convicted, and beheaded. Historians still argue whether he acted alone or was set up. Either way, democracy in Germany ended with that fire.

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February 27, 1933

93 years ago

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