The Reichstag Fire

This documentary focuses on the Reichstag fire that occurred on February 27, 1933. It examines the arrest of Marinus van der Lubbe, a young Dutch unemployed man found at the scene. The film highlights the political ramifications of the fire, particularly how it was exploited by Adolf Hitler to justify the arrest of over one hundred thousand communists and sympathizers.

The narrative unfolds with the trial of van der Lubbe in Leipzig, which was broadcast on the radio. The documentary sheds light on how both the Nazis and the Communists used him as a scapegoat in this political turmoil. The film culminates in van der Lubbe's death sentence on December 23, 1933, while his co-defendants were acquitted. This documentary is a significant exploration of the early days of Nazi Germany and the manipulation of truth during a time of crisis.