Reichstag Fire

Burning of the German parliament building in Berlin 27 February 1933, less than a month after the Nazi leader Hitler became chancellor. The fire was used as a justification for the suspension of many constitutional guarantees and also as an excuse to attack the communists. There is still debate over whether the Nazis were involved in this crime, of which they were the main beneficiaries.

Although three Bulgarians (Dimitrov, Popov, and Tanev) and a German, Torgler, were all indicted and tried in Leipzig, only a Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, was convicted, after being found at the scene of the crime and confessing.