What event was the Reichstag Fire?
Q: What event was the Reichstag Fire?
A: The Reichstag Fire was an arson on the Reichstag building, the meeting place of the German Parliament, in Berlin on 27 February 1933.
Q: Who was found inside the burning building?
A: Inside the burning building, Marinus van der Lubbe was found. He was a Dutch communist.
Q: What did Hitler urge President Paul von Hindenburg to do after the fire?
A: After the fire, Adolf Hitler urged President Paul von Hindenburg to pass an emergency law to fight back "the confrontation of the Communist Party of Germany". As a result, Enabling Act of 1933 was passed.
Q: What decree did German President von Hindenburg issue in response to the fire?
A: In response to the Reichstag fire, German President von Hindenburg issued The Reichstag Fire Decree which suspended most civil liberties in Germany and led to many Communists being arrested including all Communist Party members of Parliament.
Q: How did this give Hitler more power?
A: This gave Hitler more power because it made him effectively dictator as he had become Chancellor four weeks before and now had majority control over Parliament due to all Communist Party members being arrested.
Q: Who were brought to court shortly after for investigation into who planned or executed it?
A: Shortly after for investigation into who planned or executed it three men were brought to court - senior Bulgarian Comintern agents. One Communist was found guilty and executed; while two others were acquitted and went back to Soviet Union.
Q: Is there any definitive answer as who planned or executed it yet?
A: No, there is no definitive answer yet as historians still do not know who planned or executed it and it is still an ongoing topic of research.
