Buffs in Brief #2 — The Reichstag Fire (27 February 1933). Conspiracy or Opportunity?

A burning parliament. A communist caught at the scene. Within weeks, German democracy was effectively dismantled.

Was the Reichstag Fire a Nazi conspiracy — or a brilliantly exploited accident?

In this ten-minute deep dive, we unpack what happened and why it mattered — and recommend two excellent books if you want to go further:

• Burning the Reichstag by Benjamin Carter Hett

• The Reichstag Fire by Sven Felix Kellerhoff