Judge Buenger pronounces sentence in Reichstag fire trial . Van Der Lubbe to die , Torgler and Bulgarians acquitted . Judge Buenger , who has presided at the long trial of the prisoners accused of firing the Reichstag building , pronounced sentence in court at Leipzig . Van der Lubbe , the 24 year old Dutch workman who throughout the proceedings has maintained an attitude of silent dejection , was sentenced to death . Herr Torgler , the German Communist leader and the Bulgarian Communists - Dimitroff , Popoff and Taneff - were aquitted . Photo shows ; Dr Buenger , the presiding judge , ( centre ) pronouncing sentence in the Leipzig court . 26 December 1933