On the cold, blustery evening of February 27,1933, a week before
the end of a bitter campaign especially between the nazi's and the
communists, the Reichstag building was burnt to the ground. A half
witted Dutchmen, Van Der Lubbe was arrested and shot for the
crime of arson, though it is unlikely that he had the intelligence or
the equipment to start such an effective fire in a public building.
The burning took place a week before polling day. People
thought to themselves that it was a communist crime against the
new government but no one can be sure.There are explanations of
this fire, 2 of which are:
* It was caused by Van Der Lubbe and communists, and,
* It was caused by Van Der Lubbe and a group of nazi's under
the order of Georing.
A timetable of the events on the night of the fire goes as follows:
9:03 - A man is seen entering into the Reichstag, through a
broken window.
Firemen work on the burning Reichstag
Gedenkteken Van der Lubbe op het Südfriedhof in L...
English: own scan from 1934 archive material9:08 - A policeman sees a shadowy figure inside, and flames.
9:15 - A shot is fired at the intruder.
9:22 - Police enter the building.
9:27 - Police arrest Marinus Van Der Lubbe inside the building.
9:35 - Police search a tunnel connecting with the Reichstag with
other buildings, including Herman Georings offices, on Georings
orders. All doors are found to be locked and secured.Van Der
Lubbe is interviewed by police. He admits to starting the fire and is
charged.
Shortly after the arrest Van der lubbe gave a statement, he
considered arson a suitable method and he insisted that his
actions were inspired by political motives.
A summary or evidence of lighting the fire was given at his
trial, this discusses to a greater detail the actions of van der lubbe...