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Edited on Sat Jun-05-04 08:59 AM by teryang
Particularly in agreement with the point of view in both posts.
I differ on the Reichstag fire however. According to Shirer, "...there is enough evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that it was the Nazis who planned the arson and carried it out for their own political ends." Van der Lubbe was a Nazi dupe, who had been taken into custody a few days earlier by the SA.
"The coincidence that the Nazis had found a demented Communist arsonist who was out to do exactly what they themselves had determined to do seems incredible but is nevertheless supported by the evidence." Shirer, P192 Rise and Fall.
Goering had access to the Reichstag from his quarters. Karl Ernst the Berlin SA leader used the tunnel to enter the Reichstag and set the fires. Testimony at Nuremberg was that Goering admitted setting the fires at Hitler's birthday celebration in 1942.
Trial of the communist leadership who were charged with conspiracy to burn the Reichstag resulted in acquittals after Goerings unbelievable performance upon cross examination. Van der Lubbe was found guilty and (interestingly enough) was "decapitated." Shire 192-194. Frankly, I have studied this period and wasn't aware of any serious controversy over this point. More recent scholarship, such as that of Peter Padfield, agrees with the Shirer description of events.
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