Word: reichstag
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...with lots of American and British loans, but the Wall Street Crash of 1929 started a worldwide depression to which the shaky German economy was especially vulnerable. Unemployment soared. The feeble Social Democratic coalition government collapsed. And Adolf Hitler, whose Nazi Party held an insignificant twelve seats in the Reichstag, suddenly became a voice that attracted attention. He was one of the first 20th century figures to master radio as an important political medium. His message: Down with the system. Vote for a leader who will bring us back to greatness...
...nowhere, at street corners, in restaurants, cinemas, dance halls," wrote Christopher Isherwood in The Berlin Stories, which eventually became Cabaret. "Knives were whipped out, blows were dealt with spiked rings, beer-mugs, chair-legs or leaded clubs." In September 1930 the Nazis won 6.5 million votes, and their 107 Reichstag seats made them the second strongest party...
Split between Nazis and Communists as well as several traditional parties, the Reichstag became ungovernable. That gave crucial political power to a man who was supposed to be a figurehead, President Paul von Hindenburg, commander of Germany's armies during the war. Hindenburg was 83, vain, righteous and inclined to long naps. Since the Reichstag could not agree on a policy, he appointed some of his favorites as Chancellors, letting them rule by presidential decree...
...Nazis kept winning elections. In the summer of 1932, the Nazis doubled their Reichstag seats, to 230 out of 608; Hitler's blustering, barrel- shaped lieutenant, Hermann Goring, became president of the legislature. Hindenburg despised Hitler, "that Austrian corporal," but he asked him to serve as Vice Chancellor under Hindenburg's protege, Franz von Papen. Hitler rejected any compromises...
Hitler had no sooner taken office than he had Hindenburg dissolve the Reichstag and order new elections. With Goring in charge of the police, 40,000 Nazis became special officers, invading opposition meetings, beating and arresting opposition speakers. Just a week before the election, Berliners saw a red glow in the night sky and learned that the Reichstag was on fire. At the scene, Goring was shouting wildly: "This is a Communist crime against the new government! We will show no mercy! Every Communist deputy must be shot...