27 February 1933

The Reichstag Burns

In February 1933, shortly after Hitler came to power, the unemployed Dutch council communist Rinus van der Lubbe went to Berlin for a couple of weeks. On 25 February he commits arson in a centre for the unemployed, in the town hall, and in the imperial palace. These small fires are nipped in the bud. On Monday night, 27 February, he breaks into the Reichstag building to try once again. This time Van der Lubbe is successful, and the Reichstag fire is a fact. Mystification starts immediately and in the course of time books on the event will require many shelves. This photo shows the place where Van der Lubbe broke into the building. It was made on 27 February 2000, as the 'Foundation Give Marinus Van der Lubbe a Grave' vainly tried to have a commemorative stone placed in the Reichstag.

See also:

•  Biographical notes re Van der Lubbe film
•  Foundation 'A grave for Marinus van der Lubbe'

Today in the Biographies Dutch Labour Movement