The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

Germany: Reichstag Fire Decree suspends freedom of the press, February 1933

GermanyRSF 2026 rank: 14th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

Weeks after Adolf Hitler became German chancellor, the government used a fire that heavily damaged the Reichstag building to obtain President Paul von Hindenburg's approval for a decree suspending the constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press, along with the rights to assembly and free expression of opinion. The decree gave the government the power to arrest political opponents without specific charge, dissolve political organizations and suppress publications, and it remained in force until Germany's defeat in 1945.12345

What happened

On February 27, 1933, a fire heavily damaged the Reichstag, the German parliament building, in Berlin. The government blamed the fire on a communist plot to overthrow the state and used it to obtain President Paul von Hindenburg's signature on the Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State, known as the Reichstag Fire Decree, on February 28, 1933. Citing Article 48 of the German constitution, the decree stated it was issued as a defensive measure against communist acts of violence endangering the state. It suspended sections of the constitution safeguarding personal liberty, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and the privacy of postal and telephone communications. With the decree in place, the government was free to arrest and incarcerate political opponents without specific charge, dissolve political organizations and suppress publications. It followed an earlier measure of February 4, 1933, when Hitler's cabinet had already restricted the press and authorized police to ban political meetings and marches.12367458

What reason was given

Stated justification

The decree itself stated that it was issued as a defensive measure against communist acts of violence endangering the state.6

What changed for reporting

With the decree in place, the government was free to arrest and incarcerate political opponents without specific charge, dissolve political organizations and suppress publications.7

Timeline

1933

28 February 1933
Germany: Reichstag Fire Decree suspends freedom of the press, February 1933

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
Paul von HindenburgorderedPresident of Germany

Sources

  1. Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the StateDecree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State, primary. Source record
  2. The Reichstag FireThe Reichstag Fire, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. The Reichstag Fire Decree was passed on February 28, 1933.It was passed on February 28, 1933.Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State, Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State.Claim 911, checked 2026-09-26.
  2. The decree permitted restrictions on the rights to assembly, free speech and freedom of the press, and removed restraints on police investigations.The decree permitted the restriction of the right to assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, among other rights, and it removed all restraints on police investigations.Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State, Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State.Claim 912, checked 2026-09-26.
  3. A second account of the decree confirms it suspended the rights to assembly, free speech, freedom of the press and other constitutional protections, including restraints on police investigations.suspended the right to assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and other constitutional protections, including all restraints on police investigationsThe Reichstag Fire, The Reichstag Fire.Claim 913, checked 2026-09-26.
  4. An earlier order on February 4, 1933, had already restricted the press and authorized police to ban political meetings and marches.On February 4, Hitler's cabinet had restricted the press and authorized the police to ban political meetings and marches.Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State, Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State.Claim 916, checked 2026-09-26.
  5. Adolf Hitler had been appointed Reich Chancellor by President Paul von Hindenburg on January 30, 1933.Adolf Hitler's appointment as Reich Chancellor by President Paul von Hindenburg on January 30, 1933.Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State, Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State.Claim 917, checked 2026-09-26.
  6. The decree's own text said it was issued as a defensive measure against communist acts of violence endangering the state.the following is decreed as a defensive measure against communist acts of violence endangering the stateDecree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State, Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State.Claim 914, checked 2026-09-26.
  7. With the decree in place, the German government was free to arrest political opponents without specific charge, dissolve political organizations and suppress publications.With the decree in place, the regime was free to arrest and incarcerate political opponents without specific charge, dissolve political organizations, and suppress publications.Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State, Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State.Claim 915, checked 2026-09-26.
  8. The decree remained in effect until Nazi Germany's defeat in May 1945.It remained in effect until Nazi Germany was defeated in May 1945.The Reichstag Fire, The Reichstag Fire.Claim 918, checked 2026-09-26.