Historic Mitte - Berlin - page 157

VISITING THE D VISITING THE DOME OME

Free reservations for visiting the Reichstag dome must be made at
www.bundestag.de . Book early, especially in summer, and prepare to show ID,
pass through a metal detector and have your belongings X-rayed. Guided tours
and lectures can also be booked via the website. If you haven't prebooked, swing
by the Visitors' Service ( GOOGLE MAP ; Scheidemannstrasse, next to Berlin Pavillon;
8am-8pm Apr-Oct, 8am-6pm Nov-Mar) near the Reichstag to inquire about remaining
tickets for that day and the next two. You can also reach the rooftop by making
reservations at the Dachgartenrestaurant Käfer ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 2262 9933;

Bundestag) .

Platz der Republik 1; mains €10-30; 9am-4:30pm & 6:30pm-midnight; 100,

It was the night of 27 February 1933: the Reichstag was ablaze. In the aftermath,
a Dutch anarchist named Marinus van der Lubbe was arrested for arson without
conclusive proof. Historians regard the incident as a pivotal moment in Hitler's
power grab. Claiming that the fire was part of a large-scale Communist conspir-
acy, the Nazis pushed through the 'Reichstag Fire Decree', quashing civil rights
and triggering the persecution of political opponents. The true events of that
night remain a mystery. Its impact on history does not.