Final answer:
The Reichstag Fire allowed Hitler to secure his power and led to the full-scale takeover of the German government by the Nazis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Reichstag Fire was important because in the short-term it allowed Hitler to secure his power and in the longer-term it led to the full-scale takeover of the German government by the Nazis.
The Reichstag building was set on fire by an unknown arsonist in February, and Hitler blamed the communists, using this event as an opportunity to push through emergency measures that suspended civil rights. This allowed the Nazis to destroy the German Communist Party and imprison its members in concentration camps. Through voter fraud and intimidation, the Nazis gained more power in subsequent elections and eventually passed the Enabling Act, which consolidated Hitler's power and allowed him to pass laws by decree.
By understanding the significance of the Reichstag Fire, we can see how it played a crucial role in Hitler's rise to power and the establishment of Nazi control over Germany.