Burning the Reichstag (64 page)

21
.
Braunbuch
, 106–29.

22
.
Weissbuch über die Erschiessungen des 30. Juni
(Paris: Editions du Carrefour, 1935), 107.

23
.
Hanussen Zeitung
, March 8, 1933, cited in Tobias to Water Görlitz, April 17, 1972, TA;
Munich Abendzeitung
October 5/6 1955 quoted in Alexander Bahar and Wilfried Kugel,
Der Reichstagsbrand: Wie Geschichte gemacht wird
(Berlin: Quintessenz Verlag, 2001), 646–47; Riess to GSTA Berlin, January 15, 1967, LAB B Rep. 058/6398, Bl. 53; Steinle to Gestapa, July 25, 1934, NARA RG 242 BDC Microfilm SA Collections P-Akten Rudolf Steinle; Steinle Statement, September 18, 1934, NARA BDC P-Akten Wilhelm Ohst.

24
. “Wieder eine Auslandshetze entlarvt!,”
Völkischer Beobachter
, June 11/12, 1933; Wolfgang Wippermann, “Oberbranddirektor Walter Gempp: Widerstandskämpfer oder Krimineller? Kein Beitrag zur Reichstagsbrandkontroverse,” in Wolfgang Ribbe (ed.)
Berlin Forschungen III
(Berlin: Colloquium Verlag, 1988), 214,
220–23, 228; GSTA LG Berlin to Geheimes Staatspolizeiamt, September 14, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/132, Bl. 165–66.

25
. Wippermann, “Gempp,” 207–9.

26
. Wippermann, “Gempp,” 228; Beck,
Fateful Alliance
, 127–28, 277.

27
. “Hörbericht aus dem verwüsteten Plenarsaal,”
Völkischer Beobachter
, March 1, 1933; “Reichstag 15. Alarm!”
8 Uhr-Abendblatt
, February 28, 1933.

28
. “Reichstagsgebäude in Flammen—Alarmstufe 15,”
Sächsische Feuerwehrzeitung
, February 28, 1933, Oberbaurat Foth, “Feuer im Reichstag,”
Preussische Feuerwehr Zeitung
, March 1933, BFA.

29
. Göring to Oberbürgermeister, February 28, 1933, Gempp's handwritten notes March 5, 1933, printed text March 9, 1933, BFA.

30
. Milly Gempp to the
Der Spiegel
, December 26, 1959, BFA; Sommerfeldt to Grauert, June 12, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/214, Bl. 6–7.

31
.
Braunbuch
, 77–80, 88; Tobias,
Reichstagsbrand
, 644–56, 171–204.

32
. Margarete Fritsch to Diels, March 30, 1933, BA-K N 1211/76, NL-Schmidt; Fritsch to Oberfohren, April 5, 1933, LSH Abt. 309 Nr. 22766, 167; 31 VT.

33
. “Herr Oberfohren und seine Sekretärin,”
Kieler Volkskampf
, April 7, 1933, BA-K N 1211/76, NL Schmidt; typed letter copies ibid.; Wulf, “Ernst Oberfohren,” 184.

34
. “US Protests Nazi Charge of ‘Lie Factory,'”
Chicago Tribune
, April 5, 1933.

35
. Sonderabteilung Daluege to the Police President, May 13 1933, Sonderabteilung Daluege, Notiz, May 15, 1933, BA-BL Film 14719. I am grateful to Dr. Alexander Bahar for a copy of this document.

36
. “The Reichstag Fire,”
Manchester Guardian
, April 26, 1933.

37
. “The Reichstag Fire,”
Manchester Guardian
, August 15, 1933; “The Reichstag Fire,”
Manchester Guardian
, August 2, 1933.

38
. Sack,
Reichstagsbrand
, 117.

39
. Voigt to Crozier, August 24, 1936, quoted in Ayerst,
Guardian
, 518; “Hugenberg muss aussagen!”
Neuer Vorwärts
, October 29, 1933.

40
. Reese to Oberfohren, March 15, 1933, LSH Abt. 309 Nr. 22766, Bl. 159.

41
. “Hugenberg muss aussagen!”
Neuer Vorwärts
, October 29, 1933.

42
. Diels to Werner, September 20, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/132, Bl. 161; Schmidt-Hannover to Wolff, October 4, 1955, IfZ ZS/A 7 Bd. 2; Otto Schmidt-Hannover,
Umdenken oder Anarchie. Männer—Schicksale—Lehren
(Göttingen: Göttinger Verlagsansalt, 1959), 349–50.

43
. Sprenger Report, May 7, 1933, Theile Statement, May 8, 1933, LSH Abt. 309 Nr. 22766, Bl. 150–51, Bl. 148; Ida Oberfohren to Dr. A. Ritthaler, June 1, 1955, IfZ ZS/A 7 Bd. 1; Diels,
Lucifer
, 221; “Hugenberg muss aussagen!”
Neuer Vorwärts
, October 29, 1933.

44
. Ida Oberfohren to Dr. A. Ritthaler, June 1, 1955, IfZ ZS/A 7 Bd. 1; Beck,
Fateful Alliance
, 168–69, 228.

45
. Diels to Göring, August 30, 1933, GStA Rep. 90 P/68/3, 150–52.

46
. “Bericht Reise 16.-19.9.33” BA-BL R. 3003/201, Bl. 31–34; Ayerst,
Guardian
, 510, 513, 514; Voigt to Crozier, December 18, 1933, quoted in Ayerst,
Guardian
, 515.

47
. See for instance Diels to Goebbels, July 11, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/201, Bl. 214; Bülow-Schwante, Memo, August 18, 1933, Diels to AA, August 22, 1933, Bülow-Schwante to Diels, August 28, 1933, Bülow-Schwante to Propaganda Ministry, August 31, 1933, Bülow-Schwante to Gürtner, September 6, 1933, PA des AA R. 98417.

1
.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
, September 21, 1933, evening; Reed,
Burning
, 38, 40–42; Hays,
City Lawyer
, 352.

2
. On German legal procedure see Hett,
Death in the Tiergarten
, 18–31; on the lawyers Arthur Garfield Hays,
City Lawyer: The Autobiography of a Law Practice
(New York: Simon and Schuster, 1942), 339–88.

3
. “First Day of the Reichstag Fire Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, September 22, 1933; “The Reichstag Fire Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, September 23, 1933; Kugler,
Geheimnis
, 26; Dodd,
Embassy Eyes
, 58; Fraenkel to Tobias, August 14, 1971, BA-K N 1274/65a NL Fraenkel; Reed,
Burning
, 43.

4
. 6 VT 12; Georgi Dimitrov,
Reichstagsbrandprozess
(Berlin: Dietz Verlag, 1953), 214.

5
.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
, September 24, 1933, 2nd Sunday Edition; Tobias,
Reichstagsbrand
, 359.

6
. Dimitrov Statement, March 20, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/35, Bl. 129–30; Reed,
Burning
, 51, 53, 98; “Der Prozess in Leipzig,”
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
, October 6, 1933, evening; “Dimitroff Forcibly Removed From Court,”
Manchester Guardian
, October 7, 1933.

7
. Heisig to Schneppel, September 18, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/109, Bl. 24; Torgler statement April 15–17 1945, TA; Schnitzler to Diels, undated notes, NL Schnitzler II; Tobias to Roesen, August 23, 1961, TA.

8
.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
, October 18, morning; Hays,
City Lawyer
, 377–78; J.K. von Engelbrechten,
Eine Braune Armee entsteht: Die Geschichte der Berlin-Brandenburg SA
(Munich-Berlin: Verlag Franz Eher Nachf., 1937), 267.

9
. Note, December 18, 1933, PA des AA R. 98417; Fabian von Schlabrendorff,
Offiziere Gegen Hitler
(Frankfurt/Main: Fischer Bücherei, 1960), 25; Doris Bünger to Calic, September 12, 1966, in Uwe Backes et al., eds.,
Reichstagsbrand: Aufklärung einer historischen Legende
(Munich: R. Piper, 1986), 293–94. Although Calic probably forged many documents, including part of this letter, his strongest opponents present this passage in their own book as authentic.

10
. 2 VT 61–75; 6 VT 32–33; 21 VT 232–35, 238; Reed,
Burning
, 179.

11
. 1 VT 76, 261–70, 71.

12
. Heisig's words: “Bei dieser Frage gab er keine genügenden Auskünfte,” 2 VT 73; 6 VT 36; Zirpins 6 VT 42–63.

13
. 6 VT 63–134. On Marowsky's conduct see 8 VT 82, Hett,
Crossing Hitler
, 119–20, 181.

14
. 6 VT 55.

15
. 27 VT 81; “The Reichstag Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, October 23, 1933; Mergel,
Parlamentarische Kultur
, 88.

16
. Kugler,
Geheimnis
, 31; Reed,
Burning
, 180.

17
. 11 VT, in H. Bernard et al., eds.,
Der Reichstagsbrandprozess und Georgi Dimitrov: Dokumente
, Bd. 2 (East Berlin: Dietz Verlag, 1989), 179–80; Reed,
Burning
, 241.

18
. Reed,
Burning
, 256–57.

19
. Eugen Mutzka, Protocol, April 12, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/5, Bl. 87–88; Reed,
Burning
, 149.

20
. Reed,
Burning
, 154; 19 VT, 53/58–140, 143.

21
. Reed,
Burning
, 154; 19 VT 57.

22
. Reed,
Burning
, 162.

23
. Reed,
Burning
, 127.

24
. Reed,
Burning
, 169.

25
. “The Reichstag Fire Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, October 14, 1933; 15 VT 101–43; Reed,
Burning
, 132, 255; 37 VT 121–51.

26
. Reed,
Burning
, 254–55, 310–11; Bahar and Kugel,
Reichstagsbrand
, 246.

27
. Tobias,
Reichstagsbrand
, 301, 429;
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
, October 24, 1933, morning, and December 6, 1933, morning.

28
. “Comedy in Reichstag Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, October 25, 1933;
Völkischer Beobachter
, October 25, 1933.

29
. Reed,
Burning
, 139.

30
. 16 VT 146–173/180.

31
. 16 VT 155–56.

32
. 22 VT 215; 14 VT 33; 16 VT 157–58; “Reichstag Fire Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, October 16, 1933.

33
. 15 VT 179–81, BA-BL R. 3003/259.

34
. “Surprising Evidence at the Reichstag Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, October 21, 1933; 20 VT 34–36.

35
. “Surprising Evidence at the Reichstag Trial,” 1933; 20 VT 43–45.

36
. “Surprising Evidence at the Reichstag Trial,” 1933; 20 VT 45–46.

37
. 31 VT 121–22.
Manchester Guardian
, October 21,
Manchester Guardian
, October 21, 366

38
. Schuster,
SA
, 231.

39
. Dodd,
Embassy Eyes
, 61; Grauert to Göring, November 2, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/204, Bl. 255.

40
. 31 VT 94.

41
. 31 VT 103.

42
. 31 VT 121–34; Dodd,
Embassy Eyes
, 60.

43
. “Göring's Wild Outburst at Reichstag Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, November 6, 1933; Cripps to Hoesch, November 5, 1933; Bülow-Schwante to Neurath, November 6, 1933; Bülow-Schwante to Embassy, November 21, 1933, PA des AA, R. 98417.

44
. TBJG 1933, 306–9; “Reichstag Defence Counsel in Angry Scene,”
Manchester Guardian
, November 8, 1933; Reed,
Burning
, 243.

45
. Reed,
Burning
, 244–45; 34 VT 55.

46
. 34 VT 81.

47
. TBJG 1933, 310.

48
. Reed,
Burning
, 251; “Dutchman Startles the Court,”
Manchester Guardian
, November 14, 1933.

49
. 37 VT 171–72; “Dutchman Startles the Court,”
Manchester Guardian
, November 14, 1933.

50
. 37 VT 172–92.

51
. Reed,
Burning
, 250; “‘Exasperating' Fire Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, November 15, 1933.

52
. “Van der Lubbe Speaks Out,”
Manchester Guardian
, November 24, 1933; 42 VT 47–75/80.

53
. 42 VT 142.

54
.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
, October 23, 1933, morning; 42 VT 154–64.

55
. 42 VT 164–71.

56
. Reed,
Burning
, 271.

57
. Ibid., 255.

58
. “The Reichstag Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, November 28, 1933; Diels to Göring, April 16, 1934, GStA Rep. 90 P/5, Bl. 127.

59
. Sack,
Reichstagsbrand
, 190.

60
. Gisevius Report, December 14, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/200, Bl. 45–46.

61
. Diels Memo, December 9, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/200, Bl. 66–70.

62
. Diels to Göring, December 11, 1933, BA-BL R. 3003/200, Bl. 72.

63
. 56 VT; Reed,
Burning
, 324–25.

64
. Schneppel to Nebe, January 13, 1934, BA-BL R. 3003/200, Bl. 6–8.

65
. Judgment, December 23, 1933, in Deiseroth,
Reichstagsbrand
, 230, 237, 301, 315–16.

66
. Ibid., 239–41, 245, 259–60.

67
. Ibid., 257, 259.

68
. Ibid., 263.

69
. Ibid., 262, 298–99; “Reichstag Fire Trial,”
Manchester Guardian
, October 19, 1933

70
. Judgment December 23, 1933, in Deiseroth,
Reichstagsbrand
, 285–86, 289.

71
. Ibid., 320–21.

72
. Reed,
Burning
, 330.

73
. Bünger to Bumke, February 2, 1934; Dr. Med. Bruno Gittner Zeugnis, June 1, 1934; Justice Min. to Pres. Reichsgericht February 21, 1936;
Leipziger Tageszeitung
, March 22, 1937, BA-BL. R. 3002/PA/112, Bl. 40, 44, 75, 91.

74
. Coenders to Bumke, December 22, 1933; Coenders to Bumke, February 17, 1933, BA-BL. R.3002/PA/128, Bl. 46, 50–58.

75
. Coenders to Bumke, February 17, 1933; ibid., Bl. 50–58.

76
. On Coenders in the trial see Tobias,
Reichstagsbrand
, 404; 16 VT;
Manchester Guardian
, November 9;
Manchester Guardian
, November 16.

77
. ORA Werner Protocol, January 9, 1934, BA-BL R. 3003/68, Bl. 28.