Reichstag Fire

• Before the Reichstag Fire, Hitler had elections that he thought he might not win
• After the Reichstag Fire, Hitler blamed the communists and declared that the fire was the beginning of a communist uprising
• President Hindenburg gave Hitler the Reichstag Fire Decree to deal with the Reichstag Fire
• The Reichstag Fire Decree meant that Hitler could:

  • suspend liberty, such as the freedom of expression
  • use the SA as another police force
  • arrest over 4000 communist leaders
• Hitler used the Reichstag Fire Decree to arrest communists, break up meetings and frighten voters