The Reichstag Fire & the Enabling Act

1. The Reichstag Fire
Learning Objectives: To investigate who the Reichstag
Fire was started by and why.
To assess the significance of the fire, and analyse its
consequences.

2. From Democracy to
Dictatorship
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.
Test your partner!
You have 3 minutes to
come up with three
questions based on Hitler’s
rise to the Chancellorship.
Now test your partner to
ensure that they
understand last lessons
topic

3. From Democracy to
Dictatorship
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.
When Hitler became
Chancellor, there were only
two other Nazis in the
cabinet of twelve.
Von Papen’s claim that he
could control Hitler was
utterly wrong. One of
Hitler’s first decisions was to
call an election for the 5
March, hoping it would give
him a clear majority in the
Reichstag.

4. From Democracy to
Dictatorship
2277thth FFeebbrruuaarryy 11993333
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.

5. The Reichstag Fire
This man found was
found at a crime
scene, he was found
carrying matches and
firelighters.
Who might this person
be?
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.

6. The Reichstag Fire
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.
What happened?
• On 27th February the
Reichstag caught fire.
• When they police arrived
they found
Marinus van der Lubbe on
the premises.
• After being tortured by the
Gestapo he confessed to
starting the Reichstag Fire.
He denied that he was
part of a Communist
conspiracy.
• Hermann Goering refuses to
believe him and he orders
the arrest of several leaders
of the

7. The Reichstag Fire
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.
WHY WOULD THE COMMUNISTS
WANT TO START THE FIRE?
• THE COMMUNISTS BELIEVED THE
NAZIS MUST BE DEFEATED.
ELECTIONS WEREN’T WORKING. A
BIG EVENT WAS NEEDED TO SPUR
THEIR SUPPORTERS TO ACT.
• THE COMMUNISTS FELT THEY
HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE
SURE THEIR SUPPORTERS SAW THEY
WERE ACTING AND WOULD STILL
VOTE FOR THEM.

8. The Reichstag Fire
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.
• Historians generally agree that van der Lubbe was
involved in the Reichstag fire.
• It was the extent of the damage, however, has led to
considerable debate over whether he acted alone.
• One view - considering the speed with which the fire
engulfed the building, van der Lubbe's reputation as
being mentally disturbed and hungry for fame, it is
generally believed the Nazi hierarchy was involved in
order to gain political power - and it obviously did.
• Another view - that neither the Nazis nor Communists
were behind the fire, and that van der Lubbe acted
alone. According to this view, the Reichstag fire was
a stroke of good luck for the Nazis.

9. The Reichstag Fire
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.
A JOKE FROM THE 1930S MAKES
IT CLEAR WHO SOME GERMAN
BLAMED:
IT IS LATE FEBRUARY 1933. ONE
STORMTROOPER TURNS TO
ANOTHER AND SAYS, “DID YOU
HEAR? THE REICHSTAG IS ON
FIRE!”
THE OTHER STORMTROOPER
FIERCELY SAYS, “SHHHSH THAT’S
NOT ‘TILL TOMORROW”!

10. The Reichstag Fire
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.
Content – What does the source say?
Origin – Who was the source written by?
Purpose – Why was the source written?
Reliability
Usefulness

11. The Reichstag Fire – Can
sources solve the problem?
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.
Marius van der Lubbe, statement at his trial (23rd November, 1933)
I can only repeat that I set fire to the Reichstag all by myself. There is nothing
complicated about this fire. It has quite a simple explanation. What was made of it
may be complicated, but the fire itself was very simple.
General Franz Halder, provided
evidence on the Reichstag Fire at
the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial in
1946.
At a luncheon on the birthday of
Hitler in 1942 the conversation
turned to the topic of the Reichstag
building and its artistic value. I heard
with my own ears when Goering
interrupted the conversation and
shouted: "The only one who really
knows about the Reichstag is I,
because I set it on fire!"
Rudolf Diels was in charge of interrogating
Marius van der Lubbe after the Reichstag Fire.
A few of my department were already
engaged in interrogating Marinus Van der
Lubbe. Naked from the waist upwards,
smeared with dirt and sweating, he sat in front
of them, breathing heavily. He panted as if he
had completed a tremendous task. There was
a wild triumphant gleam in the burning eyes of
his pale, haggard young face.

12. The Reichstag Fire
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.
You are a historian at a University.
Nazi Germany is your specialist
subject. You have been asked to
give a speech with regards to who
you feel was to blame for the
Reichstag Fire.
Review the sources on Pages 64 to
68 in your text books and create a
brief speech outlining your views.
You will be asked to give your
opinion to the class at the end of
the lesson

13. The Reichstag Fire
NAZI NEWSPAPER HEADLINE: ‘NOW
WE WILL TAKE RIGOROUS STEPS’ –
THIS COULD ONLY MEAN ACTION
AGAINST THE NAZIS OPPONENTS.
LO: To
investigate who
the Reichstag
Fire was started
by and why.

14. The Reichstag Fire
How mmiigghhtt tthhee NNaazzii ppaarrttyy
hhaavvee bbeenneeffiitttteedd ffrroomm tthhee
RReeiicchhssttaagg FFiirree??
LO: To assess the
significance of
the fire, and
analyse its
consequences.

15. Gave secret police the
power and ability to hold
people indefinitely in
protective custody.
It was used as propaganda
against the Communist
How might the Nazi party
have benefited from the
Reichstag Fire?
Party.
Remained in force during the
remainder of the Third Reich.
It was in effect the basic law
of the Third Reich.
Freed Hitler from
dependence on his
Nationalist allies. Gave
his regime a legal basis
for persecution, terrorism
and the suppression of
opposition.

16. LO: To assess the
significance of
the fire, and
analyse its
consequences.
How did Hitler exploit the
Reichstag fire?
• When Hitler heard the news about the fire he gave orders
that all leaders of the German Communist Party should "be
hanged that very night." Paul von Hindenburg vetoed this
decision but did agree that Hitler should take "dictatorial
powers". KPD candidates in the election were arrested and
Hermann Goering announced that the Nazi Party planned
"to exterminate" German communists.
• Marinus van der Lubbe was found guilty of the Reichstag Fire
and was executed on 10th January, 1934.
• Suspicion rested on the Nazis, however, who had a lot to
gain from the condemnation of Communists ~ the event
gives Hitler the excuse to grant himself emergency powers.

17. How did Hitler exploit the
Reichstag fire?
LO: To assess the
significance of
the fire, and
analyse its
consequences.
• Police imprisoned 4,000 Communist activists
• 28 Feb, Hindenburg suspended freedom of
speech & gave police emergency powers
• March 1933 NSDAP gained 288 seats; won
support of Nationalists & Catholic Centre party;
abolished Communists

18. How did Hitler exploit the
Reichstag fire?
LO: To assess the
significance of
the fire, and
analyse its
consequences.

19. How did Hitler exploit the
Reichstag fire?
Reichstag Fire (27th February 1933).
President Hindenburg used Article 48 to issue:
Law for the Protection of People and the State 1933 (28th
February).
This law removed many of the constitutional rights held by
citizens (i.e. The new law removed peoples’ basic rights and
freedoms).
LO: To assess the
significance of
the fire, and
analyse its
consequences.

20. Law for the Protection of
People and the State
Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to sign the ‘Decree for
the Protection of People and State’.
Order of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State
Articles 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124 and 153 of the Constitution of the German
Reich are suspended until further notice. It is therefore permissible to restrict
the rights of personal freedom, freedom of (opinion) expression, including the
freedom of the press, the freedom to organize and assemble, the privacy of
postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications. Warrants for House
searches, orders for confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also
permissible beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed.
Do you think this will help or hinder the Nazis in
the election?
LO: To assess the
significance of
the fire, and
analyse its
consequences.

21. Elections 1933
LO: To assess the
significance of
the fire, and
analyse its
consequences.
At the election in March 1933, the
Nazis won 288 seats, up from 196
seats at the last election. Despite
imprisoning many Socialists and
Communists and having all the
advantages of media control, the
Nazis did not win a majority.
A coalition was formed with the
National Party, ensuring a majority
in the Reichstag.
Hitler is disappointed – he needed
two-thirds of the seats in order to
change the constitution.

22. The Enabling Act
Learning Objectives: To be able to explain what the
Enabling Law is?
To understand the significance / importance of the
Enabling Law?

23. The Enabling Act
LO: To be able
to explain
what the
Enabling Law
is?
• The New Reichstag met at Kroll Opera
House due to the Reichstag having
burnt down. It was attended by the
288 Nazi deputies and 52 Nationalists.
• The atmosphere in the building was
described as one of death and
destruction.
• Outside the building was surrounded
by members of the uniformed SS, inside
the building rows of SA troops.

24. What was the Enabling
After the 1933 General Election
Hitler proposed an Enabling Bill that
would give him dictatorial powers.
Such an act needed three-quarters
of the members of the Reichstag to
vote in its favour.
All the active members of the
Communist Party, were in
concentration camps, in hiding, or
had left the country (an estimated
60,000 people left Germany during
the first few weeks after the
election). This was also true of most
of the leaders of the other left-wing
party, Social Democrat Party (SDP).
Act?
Hitler still needed the support of the
Catholic Centre Party (BVP) to pass
this legislation. Hitler therefore offered
the BVP a deal: vote for the bill and
the Nazi government would
guarantee the rights of the Catholic
Church. The BVP agreed and when
the vote was taken, only 94 members
of the SDP voted against the Enabling
Bill.
Hitler was now allowed to rule as a
dictator – the biggest benefit of the
Enabling Bill was that Hitler no longer
had to consult the Reichstag. He
could make laws (for four years)
without consulting anyone.
LO: To be able
to explain
what the
Enabling Law
is?

25. How was the Enabling
Act used?
Initially all All Jews and political opponents of
the Nazis are removed from the civil service.
Hitler’s first move was to take over the trade
unions. Its leaders were sent to concentration
camps and the organization was put under
the control of the Nazi Party. The trade union
movement now became known as the
Labour Front.
Soon afterwards the Communist Party and the
Social Democrat Party were banned. Party
activists still in the country were arrested.
A month later Hitler announced that the
Catholic Centre Party, the Nationalist Party
and all other political parties other than the
NSDAP were illegal, and by the end of 1933
over 150,000 political prisoners were in
concentration camps.
Hitler was aware that people have
a great fear of the unknown, and if
prisoners were released, they were
warned that if they told anyone of
their experiences they would be
sent back to the camp.
It was not only left-wing politicians
and trade union activists who were
sent to concentration camps. The
Gestapo also began arresting
beggars, prostitutes, homosexuals,
alcoholics and anyone who was
incapable of working. Although
some inmates were tortured, the
only people killed during this period
were prisoners who tried to escape
and those classed as "incurably
insane".
Reich Press Law imposes strict
control and censorship of the press.
LO: To
understand the
significance /
importance of
the Enabling
Law?

26. Gleichschaltung
‘Bringing Germany
into line’.
States
brought into line
Trade Unions
brought into line
Parties
brought into line.

27. How was the Enabling
The States are brought into line.
• 31st March, 1933: state
parliaments are
closed down.
• 7th April,1933: Hitler
appointed governors
to each state – all 18
governors were Nazis.
• Nazi governors had
the power to appoint
and dismiss state
officials and make
laws.
• 30th January,1934:
Hitler abolished the
state parliaments.
Act used?
LO: To
understand the
significance /
importance of
the Enabling
Law?

28. How was the Enabling
Act used?
LO: To
understand the
significance /
importance of
the Enabling
Law?
The Trade Unions are brought into line.
• 2nd May, 1933: Nazis
broke into trade-union
offices and arrested
thousands of union
officials.
• Unions were merged a
‘German Labour Front’
– at its head was a
Nazi!

29. How was the Enabling
Act used?
LO: To
understand the
significance /
importance of
the Enabling
Law?
The Parties are brought into line.
• 10th May 1933: the Nazis occupied the Social
Democratic Party offices, destroyed its
newspapers and confiscated its funds.
• Communist Party funds and property are
confiscated two weeks later.
• June 1933: smaller parties’ offices were closed
down and their leaders arrested.
• July 14th,1933: the Law Against the Formation of
Parties = Germany becomes a One-Party State.