Fire brigade arrives at the Reichstag (German parliament) building. Despite fire-fighting efforts, the building was virtually destroyed by fires set at several places in the building. Berlin, Germany, February 27, 1933. Photograph »

Firemen in the Reichstag (German parliament) building after it was damaged by arson. Berlin, Germany, February 27, 1933. Photograph »

The Berlin Fire Brigade extinguishes the Reichstag (German parliament) fire. Berlin, Germany, February 27, 1933. Photograph »

Adolf Hitler (hand on rail) with Hermann Goering (second to left of Hitler) and Joseph Goebbels (third to left of Hitler) at the site of the fire that damaged the Reichstag (German parliament) building. Berlin, Germany, February 1933. Photograph »

Onlookers in front of the Reichstag (German parliament) building after its virtual destruction by fire. Berlin, Germany, February 28, 1933. Photograph »

Dome of the Reichstag (German parliament) building, virtually destroyed by fire on February 27, 1933. Hitler used the arson to convince President Hindenburg to declare a state of emergency, suspending constitutional safeguards. Berlin, Germany, 1933. Photograph »

Ernst Thaelmann, leader of the German Communist Party, was detained during a mass arrest of Communists following the fire that virtually destroyed the Reichstag (German parliament) building. Germany, date uncertain. Photograph »

Identification picture of Erich Muehsam taken in the Oranienburg concentration camp. Muehsam, an anarchist and a pacifist, worked as an editor and writer; he was imprisoned during World War I for opposing the war. Arrested during the massive roundup of Nazi political opponents following the Reichstag fire (February 27, 1933), Muehsam was tortured to death in Oranienburg on July 11, 1934. Oranienburg, Germany, February 3, 1934. Photograph »