Question Three
Both sources D and T show that the Nazis used the Reichstag Fire to their advantage as political propaganda. They did this by explicitly presenting the fire as the beginning of a communist uprising. Source D tells us of a “national revolution” with a picture of the Reichstag on fire and armed communists surrounding it, representing violence and force that the Nazi‘s said the Communists would use. The Nazi’s would’ve approved this book to be published, and probably even wrote it themselves.
Source E could also be interpreted as propaganda by convincing the public that the fire was only the beginning of a huge communist campaign to politically take over Germany. Source E says, “Government buildings and essential factories were to be burned down”. This would’ve scared industrialists and businessmen by making them believe their property was at risk. It also says the fire was “a signal for a bloody revolt and civil war” which would’ve terrified people into voting for a political party who was strong, determined and sure they would prevent this uprising - who were the Nazis. In March 1933, the Nazis won 288 seats, which was their best outcome ever. This proves how well the Nazi’s used the Reichstag Fire to gain votes in the election.
By using the idea that it was a national Communist revolution, Hitler was given special powers to alter Germany in a way that would change its political structure. Hitler, who persuaded Hindenburg to give him these powers, ordered Goering to allow the execution of communists by his police forces, who were mostly SA or SS Members anyway.
On the night of the fire, 4000 communist’s leaders had been arrested. Also, as a tougher measure against the “terrorist” threat, the death penalty allowed political opponents to be executed, which many were. Because of the Nazis control over the media, they banned other political parties holding rallies or releasing propaganda. This seriously hindered the Communists’ election campaign. In 1933, the communists lost 19 seats. (They went from having 100 seats to 81). This is another example of how the Nazis made significant but effective use of the Reichstag fire to undermine their opposition, but most importantly, to discredit the communists.
Question Four
In Source F, Hitler is responding to an accusation that he was involved in the Reichstag Fire. While there is opportunity, he discredit’s the Communists and emphasises on his efforts in saving Germany, and maybe even the rest of Europe from the Communist threat. He claimed that the police had evidence to prove it was a Communist attack. Also, he said, “these fires were to be the beacon signals for a nationwide campaign of dynamiting and mass murder”. He is suggesting that the Reichstag Fire was just the beginning of a national campaign. Furthermore, Hitler’s claim that a large quantity of fire lighting materials were found in the communist headquarters supports his theory that other fires were planned as part of a Communist revolution.
Source G agrees with Source F as it shows Göring agreeing with Hitler by blaming the Communists for the fire, and that is was arson. He also suggests the fire was the beginnings of a wider communist plot. Göring say “the whole thing was a signal for a communist uprising”. This is practically the same as what Hitler said in his interview, making Source G similar to Source F as they both claim that the fire was the beginning of an uprising.
However, Source G disagrees with Source F as well. Source G is very sensationalised compared to Source F, which is a similar account of what the situation was. For example, Göring says “One hundredweight of incendiary material? No, ten hundredweight or even a hundred”. Göring is exaggerating Hitler’s claim that “We have seized hundredweights of material in the secret cellar of the Communist headquarters”. Also, Göring said, “It may be a good police report, but its not the kinda of communiqué I had in mind”. Basically, he’s saying that its not right and is referring to the report of Martin Sommerfeldt who wrote, “the police…arrested a man who seemed to be running berserk in the corridors”. This suggests that Van der Lubbe acted alone, however Source F strongly disagrees saying “the police are able to prove were planned by the communists” which blames the whole Communist party of the Fire.
Question Five
Source A is a picture of people looking at the fire, an important event. People are stopping and staring at the Reichstag on fire proving the significance of the event.
Source B, Van der Lubbe’s statement, provides the Nazis with the opportunity to blame the communists for the fire. He says, “I was a member of the Communist party”. The Nazis had a chance to blame the communists and play on the fears of a communist revolution.
Source C, Goebbels’ diary entry for the 27th February, immediately seizes an opportunity to accuse of the communists of beginning an evolution and also gives Hitler and Goebbels an alibi. He says, “there is no doubt the communists made a final attempt to seize power”. This shows how the Nazis had used the fire to accuse the communists of trying to start an uprising white disassociating themselves from the fire.
Source D, a book called ‘Armed Uprising’, shows an illustration depicting armed communists and the Reichstag on fire. It is suggesting the communists are to blame and that it’s the beginning of a “nationalen Revolution”. This is an example of how the Nazi’s turned the Reichstag Fire into the thought of a communist uprising. The Nazi’s would’ve made many books and posters similar to this as propaganda to fuel their political appearance and to discredit the communists.
Source E, the announcement of the fire by the Prussian government, supports the Nazi’s claim that the communists were to blame for the Reichstag fire. It says, “this act of incendiarism is the most monstrous act of terrorism so far carried out by communism in Germany”. This obviously suggests the Communists were guilty of terrorism and that the Prussian government were supporters of the Nazi’s.
Goebbels took over most of the publishers, put controls on what journalists could write and set up a press agency to tell newspapers what the news should be. Propaganda was crucial to the Nazi’s attempts to gain complete control of Germany. It acted as a shield, which enabled the Nazis to carry out such acts as the Night of the Long Knives. In an ailing country, the Nazi’s message was strong, consistent and everywhere. Source D is a perfect example of how the Nazis manipulated culture in German (such as films, plays and music) to persuade people to believe communists were responsible for the Reichstag Fire and used it to signal the beginning of a revolution. Propaganda was as important as the Reichstag Fire. This is because the fire fuelled most of the Nazi propaganda, allowing them to discredit the communists and use it against them as a shield to accomplish horrendous acts to obtain power.
In 1939, the Hitler Youth had around 4 million members. Hitler wanted to turn the young in loyal Nazis. The three greatest influences on young Germans were their families, their schools and youth movements. The Nazis tried to control all three. This was a perfect way of brainwashing the German youth to support Nazis views. This was more important to the Nazis than the Reichstag fire for two reasons; young Germans grew up absorbing Nazi views, which remained with them into adulthood, ensuring millions of dedicated and enthusiastic Nazis. Furthermore, they could be used as means to acquire knowledge about people who opposed to or disagreed with the Nazis, who would then be executed or sent to a concentration camp.
Hitler set up the SS as a personal bodyguard. The ShutzStaffel were a very loyal version of the SA. In 1929, there were 280 members, but in 1933, there were 52000. There were different parts of the SS, one called the Waffen SS. They were the experienced military branch of the SS and were probably the best fighting force the world had ever seen.
The Gestapo was the Nazi’s secret police. Originally, they were organised by Goering, but after July 1936 by Himmler. They tapped into telephones, intercepted mail and spied on individuals. Anyone who even whispered opposition to Hitler was arrested and tortured. There were some instances of young children telling leaders at youth groups about their parents opposing Hitler.
The SS ran concentration camps where Nazi opponents were questioned, put through hard labour, tortured and ‘re-educated’.The Einsatzgruppen were squads of men who killed Jewish civilians during the war in Eastern Europe. This included men, women and children of every age. Such dreadful and terrifying acts occurring across Germany made people fear for their lives, unless they voted Hitler into power. Consequently, the Nazis began to carry out more attacks against Communists, making them the dominant political party.
On , , was named . Lacking a majority in the Reichstag, Hitler formed a coalition government and, not long afterwards called elections for . Six days before the election, on , the damaged the house of Parliament in Berlin. Claiming that the fire was the first step in a revolution, the Nazis used the fire as a pretext to get President von Hindenburg to sign the .
Under the decree, issued by von Hindenburg on the basis of Article 48, the government was given authority to curtail constitutional rights including free expression of opinion, freedom of the press, rights of assembly, and the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications. Constitutional restrictions on searches and confiscation of property were likewise suspended.
The Reichstag Fire Decree was one of the first steps the Nazis took toward the establishment of a in Germany. Though the elections did not bring the Nazis their much-desired majority in the , the Nazis were able to manoeuvre on , the passage of the by the required two-thirds parliamentary majority, effectively abrogating the authority of the Reichstag and placing its authority in the hands of the Cabinet. The Reichstag Fire Decree was the basis of later decrees that abolished the political parties other than the and strengthened Hitler's dictatorial power. I consider Article 48 and the Enabling act more important than the Reichstag Fire.
In conclusion, I believe that the Reichstag Fire was a very important incident and provided the Nazi’s with the means to destroy the communists politically and gain the power to eventually control all of Germany. However, I think that it was not the most important of all the above factors in gaining control. I have considered all other factors that contributed to the Nazi’s gain of power, and think that Propaganda, Terror and Article 48 & the Enabling Act we more important to the Nazi’s.
Propaganda was more important than the Reichstag Fire because it allowed the Nazi’s to discredit the communists and use it against them as a shield to accomplish horrendous acts to obtain power.
As terror swept through Germany, so did votes for the Nazi’s in the Weimar government. People became afraid for their lives, and considered not voting for the Nazi’s as suicidal. Any opposition to the Nazi’s would surely be dealt with. This scared people into voting the Nazi’s and was far more effective than the Reichstag fire in obtaining power.
Finally, Article 48 and the Enabling Act of 1933 provided Hitler with sufficient power to make laws without passing them through the government. This allowed him to literally do what he wanted, making them additionally vital to Hitler’s plans to control Germany.
