In January 1933 Nazi leader Adolf Hitler convinced President Paul Von Hindenburg to appoint him as chancellor, the head of the German government. Under his government the Reichstag building caught fire in the middle of the night. Hitler blamed the incident on the communists and was convinced the arson was part of a larger effort to overthrow the German government. Historians are still unconvinced of the evidence provided and continue to theorize the Nazis burned down the Reichstag in a false-flag attack. Nevertheless, Hitler persuaded Paul Von Hindenburg to enact the Reichstag Fire Decree. The decree abolished most civil liberties including the right to speak, assemble, protest, and due process. Additionally, it declared a state of emergency and would be used by Hitler to arrest, intimidate, and purge his political enemies. Communists and labor union leaders were the first to be arrested and interned in Nazi concentration camps. By clearing the political arena of anyone willing to challenge him, Hitler submitted a proposal to the Reichstag that would immediately transfer all legislative powers to the chancellor. This would in effect allow Hitler's government to act without concern to the constitution.