 Régime change arrived in January 1933 and the new government lost little time in imposing one-party dictatorship, one effect of which was to make political activity (except in support of the Nazi party) illegal.Emmi's husband was one of a large number of left-wing activists arrested in the aftermath of the Reichstag fire of 27 February 1933.She herself was arrested later in 1933 for "illegal party-political activity", and in 1934 sentenced to six years in prison for "preparing high treason" (""Vorbereitung zum Hochverrat"").