fire (Reichstag Fire)

The Reichstag Fire occurred on February 27, 1933, when the German Parliament building in Berlin was set ablaze. The fire was quickly blamed on a Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, who was arrested at the scene. The incident took place during a period of political instability and was used by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party to justify a crackdown on their political opponents. The Nazis enacted the Reichstag Fire Decree, suspending civil liberties and allowing for mass arrests, effectively helping Hitler consolidate power in Germany. Its legacy remains a significant example of political exploitation of crisis.