A1bert
Speer 1,942 + Historiography
Webb, K. , (2008) ^.!^^. Kiinberley Broadbridge: St Ives pp. 69-73
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Section 4 . A1bert Speer and the HSC
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. .
Chapter 9:
I.
Responding to questions on the HSC
. General advice
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. The personality section of the HSC examination paper is in Section ill: . There are 27 personalities available for study.
.
.
. A1bert Speer is listed at N0 21.
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. It is. a good idea for students to do the personality as their third question: . The World War I questions (Questions I, 2 and 3) should be attempted first. Students have
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five minutes reading time before the examination and this time is best spent reading the sources, This means they will be ready to immediately tackle the Core questions.
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. The 20th century study question is best done next. Students will still be fresh and ready to
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. Then the personality question should be attempted.
attempt a complex essay response. . The personality question is: Question I3.
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. It is worth 25 marks, the same as the other questions on the paper.
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. Thus, it requires 45 minutes, the same as the other questions on the paper,
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. The personality question is generic, ie the question is the same for all27 personalities. . The question has two parts and BOTH parts of the question must be answered.
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. Each part of the question should be answered separately. Do not start part (b) on the same
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page as part (a). Begin a new page.
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Question I3 - Part (a)
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The Part (a) question is worth I O marks (out of 25) :
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. Answer this question first.
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. Students should not spend more than I8 minutes on this part; in fact 1.5-16 minutes will probably be enough time to answer this part.
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Part (a) questions require simple descriptive, narrative responses. Questions for this part will often
be worded as follows:
. .
, ,
. "Describe the role played by. ......" . "Outline the main events in the career of. . ..."
.
. "Describe the significant events in the life of. ...."
.
. "Identify the major features in. ....."
.
. "Wrlte a brief biography of. ...."
.
. "Outline the main features. ....."
. "Outline the major contributions of. .."
. .
This book is subject to Copyright. No ribre than 10% Is permitted to be photocopied. @ Keri Webb, Kiinberley Broadbridge 2008
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69
I^ CHAPTER 9 . Responding to questions on the HSC
SECTION 4 . Abert Speer and the HSC
IF Therefore Part (a) responses should have the following features: . There should be copious factual detail.
. There does not need to be an argument because students are not being asked to analyse in this question; they are simply being asked to describe or narrate.
IF IF tlF
. This requires accurate, relevant, factual detail.
I^
. There is no need for historiography. Students will obviously not lose marks if it is included but the descriptive/ narrative nature of the part (a) question means that students will be better served
I. =
by not using historiography here.
I. =
Students should avoid making some of the following common errors often present in HSC responses to the part (a) question.
I . Identify clearly what the question is asking. If a question is asking for a description of the role played by the personality in the national history of his/ her country, students must make sure they focus their information on what the question is asking; a. do not waste time with lengthy descriptions of Speer's family life, his relationship with his parents and his marriage to Margret Weber; b. do not spend ages describing his love of mathematics and his father's opposition to his son pursuing this field of study;
c. do not get carried away with Speer's architecture studies. 2. If the question is asking for a brief biography, .it would be appropriate to go back to the family background, though students should not get carried away with the minutiae of Speer's early life. 3. If the question is asking for a description of the personality's rise to prominence, problems can
fir I. I. I. . I. =
I^ ,F . .
arise:
a. should students stop at the point just before he really makes his name with the Nazis? b. should they stop at the point he has become Armaments Minister?
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c. should students take the story to the end of the war?
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d. the syllabus takes rise to prominence' to mean Speer's work as Armaments Minister so students should go this far and include detail from this period of Speer's life,
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4. Students should avoid falling into the trap of getting carried away with lengthy descriptions of 'pet interests':
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a. a page and half on "Germania" is not a good idea;
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b. a detailed page and a half account of Speer's work on the new Reich Chancellery is similarly
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unlikely to be required.
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I
Question 13- Part (by
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The Part (b) question is worth 15 marks (out of 25):
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. Answer this question second.
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. Students should spend at least 27 minutes on this part; if part (a) has been answered in I5-16 minutes, students can spend up to 30 minutes on this part.
.
*
70
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This book is subject to Copyright. No more than 10% is permitted to be photocopied. @ Keri Webb, Kiinbertey Broadbridge 2008
. .
. SECTION 4 . A1bert Speer and the HSC
;I,
CHAPTER 9 . Responding to questions on the HSC
Part (b) questions require complex, anal^ICai responses. Questions for this part will often be
.
worded as follows:
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. "Assess the role of. ,..."
.
. "Evaluate the role of. ..."
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. "To what extent was. ...."
. "Assess the impact of. .."
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. "Assess the significance of. .. " .
Part (by questions may well be preceded by a quotation. Students will then b k d
the idea(s) contained within the quotation as they affect their personalit . Q t t' f might be similar to these:
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. Great people in history attract their critics as well as thei d "
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. "People shape the events of their time more than the events h th "
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. The importance of the role of the individual is often real " . The significance of the role of the individual in the life of t' "
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Questions that follow quotations like these might be in the form of:
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. In the light of this statement, assess the impact of the ers I't "
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. How accurate is this statement as it applies to the personality you have studied?" . "To what extent does this statement accurately reflect your personality?"
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Students should avoid making some of the following common err ft
.
responses to the part (b) question.
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I . Students must ensure that the quotation is addressed: a. if the quotation is simply ignored, it becomes next to impossible to answer the question;
.
b.
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.
students must avoid jumping in with a prepared response of the kind "D'd S about the concentration camps?" - the quotation in a not want th'
c. This does not mean that students must be mention in the uotat' f 2, Students do not have to agree with the idea contained within th
permissible to challenge it
,
It is quite
a. however, this does not mean students reject the quotation in the ' t d their own response;
b.
any refutation must be in terms of the ideas in the quotation; havin d th' ,
then introduce a new line of thought;
I
C.
the normal "to what extent" rules apply - students must make sure at I t 50-6 O response is dealing with the quotation, even if it is to ar ue a ainst 't.
I opyright. No more than 10% is permitted to be photocopied I
71
SECT10" 4 . A1berl Speer and the HSC
CHAPTER 9 . Responding to questions on the HSC
3. Quotation or no quotation, students must understand that part (b) questions require analysis; an argument has to be presented and developed. Part (b) responses are, in effect, mini-essays, and so the normal rules of essay-writing therefore apply : a. there must be an introduction in which the argument is presented; b. the argument must be developed throughout the answer;
.
r , r IE .
c. the argument must be supported with accurate, relevant, factual evidence; d. paragraph structure must assist the flow of the argument;
e. there should be a topic sentence(s) to show the marker what the paragraph is going to say; then comes the evidence to back this up;
f. students should ensure that there are links between paragraphs so that the response flows rather than become a series of disconnected paragraphs; g. there must be a concluding paragraph to sum up the argument.
Do students have to include the views of specific historians in part (b) responses? The syllabus page on A1bert Speer says nothing about the views of historians. However, one of the outcomes
. IF . . . . .
listed for the personality section is :
H3.4 explain and evaluate differing perspectives and interpretations of the past Students are therefore strongly advised to make sure that the views of historians are included in a
.
.
part (b) response. However, students should note:
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. It is a waste of time throwing in the names of twenty three historians and dropping names every
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third line:
. markers will know students have not read them all.
. Dropping historians' names all over a response prevents the flow of the argument.
. .
. Historians' views should only be used to support the ideas being presented by the student.
^
. A student might develop a line of argument, support this with factual detail and then choose to support it further with historiogrpahical evidence.
IF
. In other words, the historians are there to support the ideas of the student, not to become the
.
basis of the answer,
.
. The only exception to this is if a response is based on a historiographical debate which is not advised for a part (b) response.
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. How many historians should be mentioned? As a rule, the fewer the better. A few detailed, accurate, relevant references will strengthen a response; twenty three references can make a response look rather ridiculous. 2
. . .
,
Finally, should students quote directly? Learning piles of quotations is a waste of time; it merely shows you can remember quotes. It is much better if students 'paraphrase' what a historian is saying and therefore show the marker that they 'understand' what the historian is saying. Short, pithy quotes of a few words can be effective but lengthy quotations - even if they are accurate merely serve to hinder the flow of an argument. I Stage 6 SIIabus Modern History. Board of Studies, Sydney, 2004, p38 2 These are Ihe author^ personal views gained from many years of HSC marking. Different Ieachers have different ideas and students should discuss all of these issues with their teachers
72
. . . . .
This bookls subject to Copyright. No more than 10% is permitted to be photocopied. @ Ken Webb, Kiinberley Broadbridge 2008
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A1bert Speer
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Event
1905/9 Mar
Born in Mannheim into an upper middle class family. Father was a successful architect. Leaves School. Speer has a desire to pursue mathematics but his father insists his son studies architect
Began his architectural studies at Institute of Technology in Karlsruhe. Transferred to Institute of Technology in Munich.
Came under the tutelage of Professor Hein rich Tessenow.
Tessenow
promoted
German
craftsmanship, architectural simplicity and was influenced by the monumental neo-Classical Greek style. Ideals that Speer to was influenced by. Qualified as an architect.
,. 927
Married Margarete Weber, from a lower class family.
After graduation, worked as Professor He in rich Tessenow's assistant, 19304 Dec
Attends a political meeting at Neue We It (beer hall), in an inner city area of Berlin, where Hitler is
speaking to students at the Berlin Institute of Technology. Speer was impressed with Hitler's shyness, restraint and Yet his conviction. A few weeks later Speer went to hear Goebbels at the Berlin Sportzpalatz. He was unimpressed with his strident tones and claims "I felt repelled; the
positive effect Hitler had upon me was diminished, though not extinguished. " ,. 931. I Mar 1,932
Joined Nazi Party. He was member number 474481. Joined his local Motorist Association of the National
Socialist Party (NSKK) and he used his car to drive Nazis dignitaries to functions. He meets Karl Hanke, Nazi district leader. June
Received the commission to redesign Party
Headquarters in Berlin by Hanke, (By now, was Reichstag deputy and head of the whole Berlin 1933 March
section of Nazi Party) Asked to renovate the Propaganda Ministry
(Goebbels' Office) in Berlin by Hanke (who is now Goebbels' private secretary). He completes this in just two months!
" \
Significance
Date
1,924
..,
Chronology & Significance (,. 905-1990s)
a\,-
,. 923
lit\,^:\. ...jilt 1:1
Renovates the private residence of Kar! Hanke, Nazi Official
April
Speer criticises the design plans for the I May Tempelhof Field Night Rally whilst in Hanke's office. Hanke invites Speer to come up with something better.
He designed a large raised platform with speakers o0king down on the masses. Behind the platform were three gigantic banners - two vertical swatiska banner each ten storeys high. When Hitler stood to speak he was picked out by a spotlight while powerful spotlights used elsewhere.
July
Appointed the Commissioner for Artistic and Technical Presentation of Party Rallies and Presentations - events manager for Nazi rallies.
Sept
Drew up plans for the decorations for the 1,933 Nuremberg Rally. His plans included a 30 metre high eagle and two 1.0 storey high Nazi banners dominating the Zeppelin Field. Speer met Hitler for the first time.
Placed in charge of supervising the renovation work of the Chancellor's Residence, under Hitler's own official architect Paul Ludwig Troost. This led to
many informal meetings with Hitler. Hitler impressed by Speer's work invites him to dinner. Later, he spends time at the ObersalzbeTg (Hitler's high-secu rity mountain estate)
Appointed the head of the building Department of 1934
Jan
21 Mar
Deputy Fuhrer, Rudolf Hess' staff. Placed in charge of the Beauty of Labour Movement, whose aim was to improve the physical working conditions of German workers' First major commission to build the permanent reviewing
stand for the Nuremburg Rally. He
designed a massive stone structure 400 metres long and 24 metres high.
September
Troost, Hitler's longstanding architect dies. Speer
appointed as Hitler's personal architect
- First
Architect of the Reich October
Construction of Nuremburg Rally reviewing stand
completed. He created his 'Cathedral of Light' for the Nuremburg Party Rally - 1.30 anti-aircraft search
lights. Filmed by Leni Riefenstahl in Triumph of the Wi".
Appointed to build a permanent complex of buildings at the Nuremberg Rally site. These plans included a huge horse-shoed Great Stadium
(Deutschland Stadium) which was to be three times the size of the Great Pyramid and seat 400,000
spectators the equally Impressive glass domed Congress Hall designed to seat 50,000. Nearby the new Marching Field would have a two kilometre parade avenue with seating for ,. 60,000 people. Redesigned the Olympic Stadium to overcome some
a. 935
of Hitler's objections to modernist elements of the original design.
Designed the German Pavilion for the World Trade
1936
Fair to be held in Paris in 1937. (Speer managed to
get hold of the plans for the Soviet pavilion which was to be built opposite Germany's pavilion. Speer ensured that he increased the size of the German
design so that it dwarfed the Soviet structure. ) (The German Pavilion shared the Gold Award (with USSR) for his design for the at the World Trade Fair in Paris in 1937, ) 1,937
ian
Appointed Inspector General of Construction for Berlin (GB! - Inspector General of Buildings for Construction). This effective Iy made Speer a State Secretary with a place at all high level Nazi meetings.
In this role Speer was to design Germonio-the new Berlin. The emphasis was on colossal architecture.
The railway stations were to be moved so that visitors arriving at the South Station would be confronted with a six kilometre North-South
avenue-longer and grander than the Champs Elysee. At the southern end the skyline would be dominated by an Arch of Triumph- a stone
monument higher than the Eiffel Tower on which were to be engraved the names of the 1.8 million Germans who had died in WWi. , At the northern end of the avenue over
SIX
kilometres away would stand the Great Hall which would boast the world's largest dome over 200 metres in diameter. The intersecting East-West Avenue would contain government buildings,
offices, theatres and residences. Germania was due to be completed by 1950. 1,938
Jan
Commissioned to build the new Reich Chancellery in
the neo-classical style. It was designed and completed within a year!
Over 4,500 men on site worked around the clock while 3,500 men worked preparing materials, The building was designed to impress and intimidate. The impressive entrance was called the Court of Honour and the doors were flanked by two
statues by Arnold Breker representing the Army and
the Nazi Party. Visitors would then pass through a series of halls each one longer than the previous one' To reach Hitler's reception visiting diplomats had to work over 220 metres! Hitler's office was 400
square metres with 9 metre high ceilings. The nearby Cabinet Room were designed for meeting between Hitler and his ministers. The chairs were
embossed with swastikas and eagles although no cabinet meeting were ever held there. It was beneath this building in a bunker that Hitler committed suicide In April 1,945. Ironically this was
the only new building Speer completed in his career I ,. 939
Jan
Reich Chancellery completed. Awarded the Gold Party Badge from Hitler for his work on the Reich Chancellery.
April
Speer's Germania plans required the demolition of 50,000 flats near the city centre. With 23,000 flat occupied by Jewish tenants the Berlin project and the resettlement plans went hand in hand with the Party's anti-Semitic policies and passing of 'Law on Rental Contracts with Iews'. Speer created the Main Resettlement Division which together with the SS made a list of all Jewish occupied apartments, evict Jewish tenants, and organise the reallocation of
Uewish flats' to Aryan Germans who were to lose their apartments because of Speer's demolition work.
August 1940 Mar
World War 11 breaks out.
Halt to construction on the Nuremberg site and Berlin
June
French signed
an
armistice. Construction
recommenced on NurembeTg site and Berlin.
Appointed Department Chief of Public Works oversees building projects for the army and air force. His early projects included three Junker 88 bomber factories and several air-raid shelters. 1940-,. 941 ,. 942
7 Feb
Speer approves the use of forced labour Appointed Minister for Armaments and Munitions after Fritz Todt's is killed in a plane crash.
1.3 Feb
Speer has top bureaucrats and army suppliers sign a document giving him full power over armaments decisions. Hitler told Speer If he had any difficulties
with anyone, they should bring them to face him.
He set up the Central Planning Board to control the allocation of raw materials to industry. April
He requested women join the workforce, Despite Hitler's initial opposition due to ideological reasons, German women entered the workforce as the war worsened.
Mar -July
In his first 6 months, Speer had increased armaments production by 55%.
Mar
Visits Mauthausen Concentration Camp near Linz.
1943
Claimed only shown the positive and 'sanitised view of the camp. May
Speer had increased armaments production by a further So%,
September
Appointed Minister for Armaments and War Production
6 Oct
Attended Posen Conference, major conference for Nazi leaders. In morning, Speer made a stinging
attack on Nazi gauleiters, arguing they were selfish and hurting the war effort. Bormann reported this back to Hitler in order to weaken Speer's position.
Later in the day, Him in Ier made explicit the 'Final
Solution'. Speer claims that he left the conference before Him in Ier's speech. Autumn
Hitler seeks armament information from Speer's
department al head, Karl Saur, rather than Speer himself 1.0 Dec
Visits Dora missile factory in Harz Mountains, where
V2 weapons were produced. Speer witnessed the harsh SS treatment of prisoners, who worked in
permanent semi-darkness, no medical support, poor ventilation, high death rate (60 000 men sent to
Dora, 30 000 died). He demanded conditions be improved, for economic reasons rather than humanitarian. He never checks to see if they are carried out. 1944
Feb
Speer falls seriously ill, spends 3 months recovering. His enemies make moves to try and discredit him
April
Speer visits Hitler at Berghof to discuss differences on policies. Their relationship is beginning to crack.
September
War production reached its peak. 7 million foreign labourers and 400 000 prisoners of war working a slave labour.
,. 945 March
Began to resist Hitter's 'scorched earth policy' Speer (claimed that he) colludes with Dieter Stahl, Head of Munitions production, about a plot to assassinate Hitler using poison gas.
23 April
Speer flew back to Berlin. Visits Hitler in his bunker and tells him he counter inarided his orders. Last
time he sees Hitler (Hitler commits suicide a week later). 8 May 1,945-1,946
World War 11 ended.
Imprisoned by the Allies and then put to trial at Nuremburg. Speer denied knowledge of mass murders of Jews in
Eastern Europe, but unlike other Nazis who claimed they were merely 'following order, Speer accepted responsibility for the actions of the regime. He argued he was not involved in the political decisions, that he was a technocrat, carrying out the duties he had been given.
Found guilty of two counts of four counts, crime against humanity and war crimes. Avoided the death penalty and was sentenced to 20 Years' 1946-,. 966
Served 20 Year in Spaudau prison. Write his memoirs.
Meets Georges Casalis, the French prison chaplain. He helps Speer work towards acknowledging his guilt. 1,969
Published German version of Inside the Third Reich
(Speer's memoirs of life In Nazi Germany) 1981.
Died on a visit to London at age 76.
1983
The full and unedited Wolter's Chronik was released
to the Bundesorchiv after his death. Rudolf Wolters,
Speer's assistant, began keeping a daily written record of the work done by Speer from 1941to
1944. Despite Speer's effort to have parts of the Chronik changed for fear of incrimination it was released unedited. Within it were references to the
meeting held by Goebbels on Berlin Jews attended by one of Speer's representatives, Dietrich Clahes. Late ,. 980s
and a. 990s 1,989
Speers is the subject of a number of books examining his life and war guilt. Matthias Schmidt, German historian, published
A1bert Speer: The End of o Myth Condemns Speer unequivocally. He criticises Speer's writing as too much myth and little truth.
1995
(Schmidt gets access to the Chronik and writes his thesis in early 1980s) Gitta Sereny wrote Abert Speer: His Bottle with Truth after numerous interviews and meeting with Speer.
Critical of Speer's behaviour, she believes that he undoubtedly knew about the murder of the Jews and his constant refusal to face the issue was the
greatest lie of his life. However, Sereny was willing to believe that after the Nuremburg trial Speer had made a genuine attempt to repent.
1,997
Dan van der Vat, Dutch historian, The Good Nozi Argues that 5peer saw enough to know what was happening and in fact was a 'liar, a fraud and a hyocrite'.
A1bert Speer: Architecture representing Nazi Ideals Fuhrer Prinzip Nuremberg Rally Site Reich Chancellory - magnitude empathise Hitler's importance 'Triumph of Will' - provided technology needed to make film and his work features in her film Monumental ism
Tempelhof - 1.30 aircraft spotlights
Extended plans for Nuremberg site" make Hitler more impressive Reich Chancellery - dimensions
Germania - 'Great Hall' made larger than Hitler's original ideas Anti-Communism - Paris World Fair Exhibition 1937
Paris remained after WWII - A staggering Victory Arch was to be erected on the model of the Arc d' Triumph in Paris but bigger.
Symbolism Nuremberg - 1.0 storey high flags and Gold Eagle 1000 Year Reich
Theory of Ruin Value Admirer of Imperial Rome Nazi architecture was similar to Roman style
Hitler looked to Roman ruins and their eternal aspect. Totalitarian Nature of Regime Art style submissive to State Neo-classical architecture
Building represented national rebirth Anti-Semitism
Jewish Flats Slave labour Economic
Use of stone Militarism
Armaments
Germany government post WW2 demolished remaining Speer's buildings - link to Nazis
A1bert Speer: An Assessment
Role in Nazi Architecture
Architectural Megalomaniac
Technocrat t:. ,
";Aichit^dural' Mega16fiidi11ab',"^vtdej^;ai':\\*;;.!'
Technocrat -'Evidence
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Personalities in the 20th Century
I. Historical Context
295
in 1933. Forexample, as 'Coriumissioner fortheArtistic and Technical Presentation of Party Rallies and Demonstrations', it was his responsibility to arrange the Nuremberg rallies. They became spectacular successes, thanks in large part to his organisation and
. Of considerable interest to historians are the
imagination^;tlis use of 130 anti-aircraft searchlights
reasons for the support Hitler undoubtedly rectaived from much of the Gennan public, especially the middle class. Speer 's decision in 1931, as a member of that class, to join the Nazis constitutes a useful case study.
with their vertically pointing beams produced a 'cathedral of light' effect, and, together with gigantic stylised eagles and swastika"bearing flags, helped create a monumental sense of occasion.
. How the members of the Nazi elite interacted, and
the parts they played in the exerci^e of power, are especially of interest. In his role, first as Hitler's favourite architect and especially, from 1942, as Armaments Minister, Speer provides an important study of the contribution made by one of the key players' Hitler was, and remained, by far the most powerful person in the Nazi regime - but he did not seek to monopolise power for himself, He allowed considerable latitude to key individuals such as Speer - and, like the others, Speer worked towards achieving
A1bert Speer Chronology 1905
Born in Maimheim.
1927
Qualified as an architect. March: Joined the Nazi Party. May: Redesigiied Goebbels' office. Placed in charge of Beauty of Labour
1931 1933 1934
movement.
1934
what he understood Hitler desired.
f
;
. With the fall of the Nazi regime, the Allies used means such as the Nutemberg War Crimes Trials to identify and punish co- called crimes against humanity When Speer was brought to trial in 1946, the Court had indisputable evidence of his involvement in the exploitation of slave labour - for which he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. However, at that time, evidence had yet to be discovered of Speer's involvement in anti-Jewish activities and so he escaped
1937
a death sentence.
March: Began to resist Hitler's 'scorched earth' policy. 1945-19461mprisoned by the Allies and then put on trial at NUTemberg. 1946-1966Served 20 years in Spandau prison
2. Background A1bert Speer was born into an upper middle class family in 1905. After qualifying as an architect in 1927, his career did not take off as he had hoped. Finding it difficult to get architectural work on his own, he ended up working for his father. Thus, while Speer did not experience material hardship like so Inariy other Gennans in the 1920s and early 1930s, as a young man he was probably frustrated with his lack of professional
I
achievement.
3. Rise to Prominence Soon after hearing Hitler speak at a meeting in Berlin, Speer joined the Nazi Party in March 1931. And in contrast to his previous lack of professional advancement, Speer was soon appointed to a succession of increasingly more important positions within the Nazi Party and Nazi regime after Hitler came to power
* I ,SE:*
Created his 'cathedral of light' for the Nuremberg party rally. Filmed by Leni Riefenstahl in Triumph of the 17/11 Appointed Inspector General of Construction for Berlin.
1942 1943
Feb: Appointed Minister for Annaments and Munitions to replace Fritz Todt, Sept: Appointed Minister for Annaments and War Production.
1943
Oct: Attended Posen Conference where
Himruler made explicit the 'Final Solution' 1945
1969
Published Gennan version of Iris^de Ihe
1981
Died on a visit to London.
1990s
Subject of a spare of books examining his life and war guilt.
Third Reich.
On 21 January 1934 Hitler's chief architect, Paul Troost, died. Speer replaced him, One of the projects on which Troost had been working was the development of a pennanent site at NUTemberg for Nazi Party rallies. Speer took over the project. Amongst other things he was the designer of its 'German stadium' intended to hold 405,000 spectators (and where it was also intended the Olympic Games would permanently take place, once Germany had achieved a position of world domination), Speer secured his reputation when he oversaw the reconstruction of
It, 296 ,
*
HTA Modern History Study Guide
Hitler's Reich Chancellery in less than twelve months, Hitler provided undreami of opportunities in
So shocked was Hitler when he discovered what was organisations when he visited theirfactories: near Line happening that, in order to rectify the situation, he gave in Austria in March 1943; at Nodiausen in the Han Speer the type of backing that Do other leading Nazi Mountainsin Central Gennanyin December I943; and
The key positions Speer held were those of (a) General and in the process became what he describes as the Building Inspector fortheNationalCapital(GBD from ' closest thing to a personal friend Hitler had
had ever received. For his part, Speer lacked any at Landsberg in Bavaria in February 1945. Following detailed knowledge of the amiamenis industry but he the first visit he complained about the 'luxurious'
30 January 1937, and then (b) Minister for Armaments and Munitions from 8 February 1942. In these Redevelopment or Berth,
was a very talented organiser, ever ready to recruit accommodation he saw and went on to recommend
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experts, listen 10theirrecommendaiions and to delegate that savings could be made by using cheaper building authority. Consequently. the influence of the inilitsry materials. On one occasion he was so appalled that he was replaced by that of industrialists, who Ihen did intervene to improve the living conditions of the
positions, Sneer had considerable power at his disposal. Hitler's long-standing interest in arebitecture produced The crucial question is, how did he use that power? jin him a desire 10 rebuild German cities, in particular According to Speer, he conducted himself in an Berlin, on a grand scale and in a manner that would extremely efficient and - by any obieciive standards - endure a thousand years, To this end, Speer's highly professional fashion. Indeed there are solid suggestion that the main construction material be grounds 'for agreeing with the claim he made in his nanaral stone was adopted. The particularresponsibility
achieved the desired eruciencies. In general, they did inmates - in order that production could be increased this by limiting production as much aspossibleto those
weapons models best suited to mass production, and Speer always maintained he had rin knowledge of the concentrating their production in the most efficient Holocaust. However, from line text or a speech
last memo to Hitler that 'without my work the war for the redevelopment of Berlin was given to SpeeT. In order to secure row materials such as stone, a Europeanwould perhaps have been lost in 1942/43'. wide network of quarry sites was established overthe
factories. Construction of the Me 109 fightsr aircraft, delivered at Posen on 6 October 1943 by SS chier for example, was concenimted in three factories rather He innch Himinlet it appears that Speer was in the than the previous seven, and monthly production audience when a lengthy explanation was given for
On the other hand, Speer's ministry was also implicated next eiglit years. This involved a pomership with the
and 1944, labour productivity per worker in Ihe
increased from 180 to 1000. Overall, between 1942 the on-going extennination of the Jews
in the use of slave labour - for which he was found SS andexploitationofthelabourofconcentrationcamp
armaments industry increased by more than 100 In 1946. during his NUTembern. trial, when it seemed percent. (Butaner January 1945 production plummeted certain he would he found guilty and executed, Speer
guilty at the Nuremberg inals in 1946 and sentenced inmates. In 1942 the GBlorganisation also constructed to twenty years imprisonment. Since then, however, a large reception camp on the outskirts of Berlin
as a result of Allied strategic bombing. )
.more information has been uncovered raising Ihe capable of processing up to 1500 conscriptsd workers ,. ..
.* ,I ,. ,
.,
297
architecture and, eventually, at the highesi levels of government. In return, Speer offered uncritical service
between late January 1938 and 10 January 1939. 4:
Personalities in the 20'' Century
possibility that Speer's crimes against humanity were per day from Eastern Earope.
Reaction to Hi"er's 'Scorched Earth' directive
more extensive than at first suspected
The ediiorial of the Nazi Party newspaper P61kiscl, e, Beoboeh, er of 7 September 1944 called upon all
Rein, io"ship willI Hitler
Hitler's original scheme was expanded considerably by Speer 10 involve most of Berlin. As part of the
nothing but dealli, annihilation and hale will meet him'
he even eniertained the idea of filling Hitler's bunker
Hitler's personal support. Again in IF, side file naild numerous design changes. Forexample, production or Reich. Speer offers a clue to his commitment to Hitler: the Junkers Ju 88 bomber was slowed by recoinmended My position as Hitler's architect soon became modifications 10 the original design which, by late indispensable 10 me. Not yet 111irty, I saw before me I 942, numbered 18,000. tile niOSi exciting prospects an axiliteci can dream of
as Hitler gave me orders and I carried Ihem out. I
with poison gas. What were his motives? Perhaps it was bear responsibility for them. .. purely for the good of Germany: so that, after niiljinry defeat, 11is nation still Ichined some infrastructure that This admission of gum by association \\, as sufficient would be needed to begin a recovery, OJ. perhaps, he 10 enable 11imio escape the hangman. But ho\\. genuine was cunning Iy distancing himself from Ihe regimc in was Speer in admitting to his 'share in responsibility'
111e hope that Ile could play an imporkin! role in post- but not actual jinolveii:eniin criii, es ariainst humanity?
could Inove lowards economic recovery. .. h must as Minister for Annaments and Muniiions. He bolstered nave been during these moriihs Ithat my mother saw Germany's defence to such an extent that the war
architect became a \\, elcome member of the Nazi weapons of the highest possible quality. To achieve leader's dose circle of acquaintances. And nothing what they wanted, military officers continually ensured advancement in Nazi Germany more Ihan inIerfered in Ihe manufacturing process, demanding
government ti. e. Hitler, who had committed suicidal
Despite the enormous danger involved, Speer set about nation and Ihe world. As an important member of
on 111e way, could be checked, Hitler persuaded us, In the last three years of the war, SPCer made a minor and instead of IIOPeless unemploymeni, Gentiany contribution to Germany's mintory effort in his capacity
Hitler caprured11isimanination. Given Hitler's artistic/ actually declined by 24 percent. Mass production was architecturel pretensions, it is no surpriseihaiihe young noi a priority - rather, the military authorities demanded
is therefore ^y obvious duty to answer for this
openly couniennanding \\, harm referred to a colleague the leadership of the Reich I therefore share in the as being 'these insane plans or desiruciion'. Apparently, genemliesponsibilicy from 1942 onwards ... Irisolbr
Here it seemed to me was hope. Here new ideals ... The perils orcommunism which seemed inexorably Armaments Minister
In the first two years of the \\, ar, output per \\. orkerliad
German nati and caused a world catastrophe. It
It was Hitler who inspired this 'scorched earth' policy. 11as escaped his responsibility before the German
after his death
an SA parade in the streets of Heidelberg. The sighi probably lasted at least two years longer than would of discipline in a lime of universal chaos. the otherwise have been the case. Before Hiller's impression of energyin an atmosphere uruniversal appointment of Speer to oversee the war economy, hopelessness, seems to have won her over also. production of weapons 11ad been extremely inemcieni
I have something fundamental 10 say ... This war has brought an unimaginable catastrophe on the
Gehnans to ensure Ihat the approaching enemy found misfortune, including 10 the Gennan nation. I have 'every footbridge destroyed, every road blocked - this duly all the more because the head of
Unlike millions of o111ers, Speerjoined the Nazi Party process, -Speerordered the eviction oftens of thousands before Hitler came 10 power. This suggests he was of inhabitants from apartments in the inner city, of aciing out of conviction rather than simply jumping whom 75 000 were Jews according to records compiled on the bandwagon. While he claims riot to have been by Speer's own organization. Whilst at the time the 'poliiical'. it is clear he was attracted to Hitler. This fate of these Jews was of ino concern to him, after the explanation, given in his memoirs Inside Ihe Third war Speer made Era"Iic efforts to suppress this Reich. gives an insight into why so many middle class information, and it did not become widely known until Gennans voted for Hitler:
delivered this dramatic statement
war Germany - possibly becon, ing its leader. IF it were the latter, his sclTerne came badly uusiuck: Ile was arrested on 23 May 1945,10 be put oiitrlal by the Allies us part of their 'denazificaiioii' campaign *
RESOURCES Fest. J.
SPC"', Tile F1'""! ladit,
Frappe;. S
London, \\Einen!bld & Nicholsoii. 2001 filcht id""If in Am del"i HisIon. .' Lull
Rig/',,,$1,111 & 4thu'I Spar, '
4, Significance and Evaluation
Melbourne. Macmillaii. 2002
Sureiiy, G. A1be, '1511eeJ': His Bafflei, ill, 71'111h Involvement in the crimes of the Natzi re"jinc?
There was a serious downside 10 ho\\, Speer was able SPeer, A to achieve increased output in the armTameiits industry. More and more use was made of coilscripied foreigners, prisoners of war and concentTatioii camp in males working under SS supervision. \Viih Hiller's direct support, at one stage Speer imponed 200,000 niineTs from occupied Russia. On at least three occasions, Speer witnessed at first hand Ihe conditions experienced by slave labourers \\. orking for his
London. Picador. 1996 hayM* Ihe 71/11dRe, 'c/I
London. PIToenix. 1995
Van der Vat. D. 71, " tilt, fir, d Lic$ 44the, ',.$11eeJ me GadN, ,=i. London, Phoenix. 1997 \'ideo/Film
'Soeer: TlIe Archiieci'. an episode in the 1996 SBS series Hille, .$ Ile, ,cm^^e, I
:liee, tind Hille, U Gennariia -111eMadness. 11 Nu, eniburg - rite Trial. 1/1 Spandau - The Punish ritent)
Student Number: 12027850
Modem History: A1bert Speer
Describe A1bert Speer's role in the Nazi Party from 1931 to 1945, Overview:
This report will give a backg'ound to A1bert Speer, including his introduction to his career. It will then outline the role of A1bert Speer as Hitter's friend and confidante within his inner circle.
Furthermore it will describe his role as Hitler's architect in the Nazi Party, and following this it will convey facts regarding his role in the Nazi Party as the Minister of Armaments. Introduction to Career
rubert Speer was born on the 19th of March, 1905in Mannheim, the son of an architect.
Speer studied at schools in Karlsruhe, Munich and Berlin and following this he sought to acquire his architectural license which he obtained in 1927.
Following this Speer was witness to one of Hitler's speeches at the student rallies in Berlin in December 1930, and became "captured by the magic of Hitter's voice". This inspired him to join the socialists three months later.
Speer was asked by Josef Goebbels to redesign his official residence in 1932, which he did
efficiency and skin, impressing Hitler, This was the beginning of a long, active relationship between Hitler and Speer. A1bert Speer in Hitter's Inner Circle
Through close contact and work relations, Speer and Hitler quickly developed trust within their relationship, which led to Speer's introduction to Hitler's inner circle. This inner circle consisted
of Hitler's close friends which acted as advisors towards him. Hitler's trust of Speer is supported by the fact that Speer was petrixitted to enter Berkoff with his wife Margarete Weber. This emphasised the relationship that Hitler and Speer shared as this was a privileged activity and serves to demonstrate Speer's close contact with the leader of the Nazi Party. A1bert Speer as Hitler's Architect
Speer was held in higli regard by Hitler, and it was this respect that led Hitler to give Speer the task of designng the Noremberg rally sites for May 1st, 1933. Hitler hintselfwas an enthusiastic
architect but he lacked the skills of architectural action which became the role of Speer. He surpassed Hitler's expectations which impressed Hitler.
in January 1934, Paul Ludwig Troost, Hitler's architect, died and was replaced only six hours following his death by Speer hilliself. A1bert Speer then became the first architect to the Fuher. This marked the beginning of Speer's active involvement in the Nazi Party.
Student Number: 12027850
Modem History: A1bert Speer Speer was initially given two tasks, The first was to redesigi the NUTemberg rally sites, the second was to create a penmanent headquarters for the NSDAF Speer carried both of these tasks out efficaciously and brought further respect to his name. in 1937 Speer became the subsection leader of the realm propaganda, inspector General of
the construction of the Reich's capital, which meant that he was a part of the department that was responsible for evictions of the Jewish in 1939.
1938 Trunked Speer's debut as an active yet silent participant in the violence carried out by the Nazi Party against Jews. This was due to the intense racism of the Party and Hitler's aspirations to build an entirely new chancellery (Gennania). In order to achieve this, Speer was given unlinxited financial assistance and was periliitted and supported in demolishing 52 000 flats and renting 23 000 of these Jewish flats the Aryan people of Gentruiy, in 1941 Speer was selected as a representative of the electoral district of Berlin West, thus increasing his decision junking power within the Nazi Party. It was also in this year the deportation of Jewish people from Gennany began.
Speer conducted his architectural duties througli the Fuller and his support, providing new premises for the Nazi Party, as Hitler's riglit hand man. A1bert Speer as nunister of Armaments
On the 7th of February, 1942, Fritz Todt, the Minister of Armaments, was killed in a plane crash and Speer was appointed by Hitler himself as the succeeding Minister.
Under his new title, Speer was given ''itee reign" over his district with the goal of reorganising armaments productions. He immediately demanded the increase of armaments
production and this was accomplished through the use of concentration camp labour. Speer had indirect control of the Gennan economy and his dedication to war efforts was vast. As a result, armaments production had doubled by 1942 and continued to rise tiltougliout Speer's control of this area of the economy.
in September 1943 Speer was rewarded for his efforts with the Fritz Todt ring of honour for his work.
Speer continued his work for the Nazi Party as Minister of Aimaments and in 1944 he created a series of underground factories, which were 20 kiri in length and he used 600 000 slaves to carry out further demands of the war effort. These slaves worked 13 hour days and one in three of them died partly as a result of their hard labour ordered by Speer. It was also in this year that Speer was asked to declare his part in the 'final solution' scheme executed by the Nazi Party, He denied any kilowledge of this policy.
Himaler stated to the 'Observer', a British newspaper, that "in him is the epitome of the managerial revolution". This is useful to show that Speer's part in the Nazi Party was to act based on
Student Number: 12027850
Modern History: A1bert Speer
the wishes of Hitler hintself. Speer fellill in this year and was moved to the countryside where Hitler sent him the best doctors in the country,
in May 1944 Speer returned to work and immediately pleaded for the completion of the war. Speer appeared to be unaware that his armaments production efficiency had delayed the end of the war by approximately two years, Hitler developed his ' ' scorched earth" policy which Speer disagreed with and future disagi. Gements such as this eventuated in severe deterioration of the relationship between A1bert Speer and Hitler.
Therefore, as the Minister of Armaments within the Nazi totalitarian regime, Speer was effectiveIy in control of the Gennari economy.
Deterioration of Speer and Hitler's Relationship 1945 brought further disagreements between the two former friends, and the most signficant of these was Speer's violation of Hitler's direct orders to periliit the destruction of industrial areas of Gennany that were destined to fall into Allied hands,
Historians learn from Speer's own evidence that Speer planned an assassination of Hitler in April, 1945, which failed. Speer was arrested after the conclusion of the war and was transferred to
NUTemberg where he was to be held until a court trial. He was later charged and sent to the 'BGrlin Spandau' for 20 years,
A1bert Speer's Role in the Nazi Party - Historiography Many historians argue that Speer was aware of the atrocities of the Nazi Party and followed Hitler's orders regardless of the repercussion of this.
For example, Hugl:I R. Trevor argues that Speer "ignored the political implications of the regime and served with absolute loyalty the Teal CTiriinial of the Nazi regime [Hitler]". This suggests an almost puppet-like role in the early years of Speer's service. Hemy King, a prosecutor at Noremberg states that "From 1942 to 1945 not only was he one of the men closest to Hitler, but he was also one who influenced Hitler's decisions. ..". King's statement shows that Speer's role was as Hitler's advisor.
Conclusion:
Throughout the period of 1931 - 1945 A1bert Speer acted within the Nazi Party as Hitler's puppet - the man who carried out Hitler's ideas. He was also Hitler's personal architect and the Minister of Armaments and War Production where he was effectiveIy controlling the German economy.
^I
.
^I
Chapter 4:
.
^. 11 ^I
First Architect of the Reich (, 934-42) Rallies/Germania/'Reich Chancellery/'Jew-Flats'
.
.
I. ^
. . . . . .
\*
It has already been noted that luck played a significant role in the career of A1beit Speer. Luck
entered his life again in a macabre way with the death of Hitler's leading architect, Paul Troost in March 1934. Speer now stepped into this role at the tender age of twenty nine. Hitler's fascination with architecture and Speer's talents in this area combined to bring Speer and Hitler closer and closer. Speer said at his trial at Nuremberg in I 946 that had Hitler had any close friends, he would
have been one of them. Speer'SI relationship with Hitler will be dealt with in more detail in Chapter 6. Rallies and ruins
Speer had already proven his ability to organise impressive events with the I May Tempelhof display and the 'Day of Victory' party rally in 1933. His efforts for the party rally in Nuremberg in 1934 were to far surpass his achievements of the previous year. Speer's ideas would forever be immortalised in Leni Riefenstahl's film masterpiece of the rally 'Triumph of the Will". . Speer's most memorable creation was the 'cathedral of light' effect using 130 anti-aircraft
.
searchlights. British Ambassador, Henderson, referred to it as the bathedral of ice'.
.
. Speer put on an amazing show with his organisation of mass displays in Zeppelin field and its
.
thirty four flag platforms. The pseudo-religious ' Blood Flag' scene in which Hitler, SS leader Himin Ier and SA leader Lutze walked in silence through the massed ranks, was Speer's idea.
^
. The use of massed flags and night time rallies were also Speer\s ideas, He claimed it hid the embarrassing sight of so many 13avarian beer bellies amongst Hitler's supporters - not good for the youthful party image.
=.
. Riefenstahl had to refilm some rally scenes after the completion of the rally. Speer relates the
=.
=.
amusing story of Julius Streicher and other Nazi luminaries pacing up and down trying to learn their lines. '
=.
In his memoirs, Speer made a rare reference to his private life during this period of his career.
=.
foe confesses thaO he neglected his I^tinily, at this period for the sake of hi^ work, which left him too tired at the end of a long day to devote any energy to GrateI and the baby'
=.
Rallies were spectacular, exciting and provided great propaganda. However, a party rally, ino matter
^
how dramatic, was transitory. Speer understood that Hitler wanted something that was going to
^,
last, in the way that the ancient Egyptians and the ancient Romans had a lasting legacy. Hitler envied Mussolini his collection of Roman monuments which could be used to inspire his people to a great future. He wanted his Germany to achieve what the Romans had achieved :
^ ^ =.
Our architectural works should also speak to the conscience of a future Germany centuries from now. In advancing this argument Hitler also stressed the value of a permanent type of construction. 3
=, =, =.
=,
I Span, A, Irisde the Third Ra'of I, Phoenix, London, 1995 edition. PIO5 2 Van der Vat. D, The Good Nazi: The Life and Ues of Abert Sneer, Honghtori Mirin Company. New York. 1997. p65 3 Speer. p97
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25
SECT, 0". a . Rise to prominence
CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich (1934-42)
:^ at
Whenever Hitler was shown architectural drafts or models by his architects, he invariably rejected them and demanded revisions. However, he rarely behaved like this with Speer. Speer always felt
that in architectural matters, Hitler always treated him as an equal. When in 1934. Speer showed Hitler his model for the permanent site for all future party rallies in Nuremberg, it was accepted
immediately. 'Speer^s gtand vision in these matters always seemed to match the megalomaniacal
;^ .,
.
.
^
hopes of Hitler.
The Nuremberg site was to be a massive complex, including a stt^Iium capable of holding 400 000 people-and massive areas formilitary exercises. A budget of 80.0 million marks was -allocated. The
, project-was to be finished by 1945 but in the-end only a-few fragmented buildings had been
completed. Speer's design -showed that he had finally deserted the simplicity of his earlier mentor,
i^ . ., ,
Tessenow, and had fully adopted the -classicism of the late Troost. eal to to Hitler's Hitler'sneed needfor foran anarchitectural arc itecturallegacy, Ie ac S eer' went one sta e further To appeal Speer' went'one stage further.
. He showed Hitler designs of what the buildings would look like as ruins, covered in Iw, . hundreds of years into the future.
" **
. Speer was at first berated by other Nazi leaders because his designs implied that Nazism would
ii^
not last forever. However, it appealed to Hitler's sense of history.
I^
. Speer referred to this notion of lasting monuments as "the theory of ruins". A building was of value if its ruins lasted into the future. For this reason, materials had to be used which would
predate the modern age as it was believed that' modern materials would not last.
Germania and - other projects
Ir =
Hitler'S principal architectural dream involved his hoped for rebuilding of the city of Berlin. Hitler's future empire needed a capital that would rival and surpass cities such as Paris and Vienna. His obsession with this idea can be judged by the fact that even during the war when Berlin was under
I:
r
attack, Hitler still insisted on continuing with the project. Even when the Russian campaign was showing signs of lagging behind, Hitler was still insistent that granite purchases from Norway and
Ir
Sweden increase. '
'r ,
Hitler had toyed with grandiose plans for Berlin as far back as the early 1920s when he was just an unimportant Southern German politician. These were to provide the basis for Speer's own plans and models,
.r Ir
. Hitler envisioned a five kilometre avenue stretching through the centre of the city leading to a domed hall several times the size of St Peters in Rome.
r
. There was to be a triumphal arch that would -dwarf that of Paris.
;r
. At the other end of the avenue would be the Fuhrer's Palace.
Ir:
. In addition there were to be dozens of major cultural buildings, including a mega-6000 seat cinema and an operetta theatre.
,,=
This new capital was to be called Germania and was to be opened in 1950, The buildings of Germania were to be monotonously huge. The plans for the new city suggest that ideology was clearly having an impact on art; the vastness of Germania represented the will to
conquer. in an attempt to impress Hitler, Speer was willing to take Hitler's megalomania seriously
-r .I. r ^
and he planned for buildings of vast dimensions.
I. Ir
4 Sneer. p259
26
This bookis subject to Copyright. No more than 10% is permitted to be photocopied
@ Ken Webb, Kiinberley Broadbridge 2008
Ir ;r
I^. SECT10" 2 . Rise to prominence
CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich (1934-42)
^
. , . Speei; granted the closest approximatibn to a carte blanche ever given to anyone by Hitler
.
expanded on his patron ^ plans, increasing the dimensions of the great dome and other features 5
.
Fest relates the story of Speer^s father visiting his son during the period of all these grandiose plans. Apparently Speer's aging father could do nothing more than shake his head and suggest that his
.
son and his associates had all gone completely mad. 6
.
In January 1937, Speer was formally placed in charge of the I^. erlin project and given the title
.
'Inspector General of Construction for the Reich Capital'. He was given extensive powers and was directly subordinate only to Hitler. This meant that Speer did not have to go through city officials,
.
the Ministry of the Interior or Goebbels. I
.
Answerable to Hitler alone, Speer wash lapt granted a kind of dictatorial status '
.
In the immediate pre-war years, peer^ expanded his architectural work.
.
. He redrew the plans for the I 986 Olympic Stadium. Hitler had been very unhappy with the modernist look of the original idea with its emphasis on glass and steel.
.
. He designed the German pavilion for the 1937 Paris World Fair. The German site had been
. .
. :^, . . ^ ^ ^
placed next to the Soviet pavilion. By chance, Sneer came across the designs for the Soviet pavilion and he was able to ensure that his design dwarfed that of its neighbour. The new Reich Chancellery Speer's major architectural achievement was the building of the new Reich Chancellery. In January I938, Hitler gave Speer the job of designing and building this new edifice and demanded its completion by January 1939. Hitler said that he wanted a building which would impress diplomats and overwhelm overseas leaders with the power of the Reich. Speer had 8000 men working in the project, 4500 actually on site while 3500 worked on preparing materials.
. Hitler made a habit of visiting the site unannounced and checking Speer's plans, though he never demanded alterations.
. Speer suggests that during this period Hitler was very concerned with his mortality. . He feared not living to see the completion of his dreams and during the I 930s often suffered bouts of ill health.
^, ^ =. =^,
. It was at this time that Hitler began putting his faith in a quack doctor, Theodor Morrell, who provided Hitler with ever increasing amounts of pills, potions and injections. Speer managed to complete the project early. It would be incorrect to say ahead of schedule, as Speer had not worked out a schedule, instead:
"he displayed the briMant improvi^;ational genius with which both followers and opponents have always credited him. re
:^,
The Reich Chancellery was arguably Speer's greatest architectural achievement; it certainly
impressed Hitler who awarded him the Gold Party Badge and added a personal touch by giving
:.
him one of his own watercolours from the very early days. ' Hitler seemed particularly pleased with
^,
would result in visiting diplomats shivering and shaking, 10
^
5 Van der Vat. p70
:. I^I =.
^
his study table, with its inlay of a sword half-drawn from its sheath. Hitler was amused at how this
6 Fest. J. Spear: The Final Verdict. Weldenfeld and Nicolson, London, 2001, p93 7 Fest, p64 8 Fest, PIO3
9 In his youth, Hitler had salously hoped to become an adjsi and had twice med to gain entry into the Manna Academy of Fine Ans to Speer, PI72
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27
SECTION a . Rise to prominence
CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich (1934.42)
r:
Exercise 4.1
I:
Using the words and phrases in the box below, complete the f 11
r
Speer's big chance came with the death of appoint Speer his chief architect.
in March 1934 and
s decision to
He played a major role in planning the party rally at
I: ,:
, which was great filmed by S e ^ y _,_,,. $peer's innovation at 'these
events was his ,_,_ effect. Speer was 'Iven the ' b f I
r
,_, site for future rallies but these plans were never realised. S
,:
developed the , the idea that monume t h Id ' '
=
continue to exist well into the . Hitler^; principal architect I d
r
of _, to rival cities like Part^. He intended namin his new 't I .
many projects, this one remained a dream. Speer redesi ned the 01
r
Hitlers objections and in 1937 he desi ned the G ' ' Speer's greatest success was the building a new
.
.
b uildin g
which opened in January 1939. For this project, Hitler awarded Speer a
.
.
. future
Gold Party Badge
Troost
cathedral of light
.
Hitler
modernist
Nuremberg
Reich Chancellery
.:
Leni Riefenstahi
B erlin
theory of ruins
r
permanent
Germania
,
Paris World Fair
r .
Party intrigues
Speer stated that he always tried to remain aloof from the 'intr' ' ' '
r
Hitler tended to discuss only 'artistic' matters with him. Howe , S ' '
r
shy exterior that Speer presented publicly, there lurked a ruthle '
r
meant that he was forced into the political whirlpool whether he 11k d ' ,
around him a group of young architects who developed a stron to alt f h ' However, despite their loyalty, none was allowed to even consider acce t'
first getting his permission.
r .
Speer had faced opposition early on from the likes of Goebbels, h Hitler. ' s
o
However, Speer's main party opponent was Martin Bormann. Bor ' but as time went on he moved more fully into Hitler's orbit and as th
become so close to Hitler, that no one could get to see the Fuhrer Ih t f Bormann.
r . .
'
r
. Before the war Bormann took care of Hitler's finances, the b 'Id' h I' even the needs of Eva Braun, Hitler^s long-suffering mistress.
^
. Bormann worked to make himself indispensable 12
^ L
11 The monntainside in Bavarla there Hitler had his Be rehtese aden in nt ' t
12
Speer,
p
r
137
L 28
This book is subject to Copyright. No more than 10% is ermitted I b h
L
@ Ken Webb. Kiinberley Broadbrid e 2008
L
.
SECTION a . Rise to prominence
CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich 0934-42)
I^. . Bormann resented Speer because at this stage Speer could see Hitler without Bormann being there. This was a challenge to Bormann's power.
I.
. Speer was be coin. ing'jealous of another architect, Hermann Giessler, who had been given the job of redesigning Munich and Linz.
.
. Speer sought to lessen Giessler's influence by issuing a decree that all building requests had to go through him.
;a,
>~ Y
. Bormann put in a written protest against Speer's 'empire-build. ing'.
.
. Bormann succeeded in blunting Speer's influence. Speer backed down and accepted control
I^, .
of building only in Berlin and INuremberg. (Speed had found the frtriit of his uthority and influence in the Byzantine worki of Nazi intr^7ue, and its name Was 80rmann. 13
. . .
The outbreak of war
With the outbreak of war, Speer sought to become fully involved in wartime activities. ..
.
' Desplt^ 'Hitler!s wishes, ' Speer
.
,. charge. of-the rocket. construction
inari';^gad' to get- himself put in
,.
. ,
.
=11 . . =. =.
.
^ ^, ^
.
.
.
Speer Was but in ' charge'of 26 I"000 wojker^. wh^seibb"was. to'
' build army buildings; aeroplane ' .. ft^qtorie$ andaiiraid*, shelters. in. .
,: B^bib. ',' ^^y*I!ate:;t94j;-$peer'$. ,,-,
.meithdd bolt-^0 60016ir:fad". ' '"hit"' "t~' B'I' " ' ' ' .. .' ..-.,-, *
*.
SPEER AND THE WAR I939-4 t
=,"";*:'\'; 'J"'* * '**;', I';*:*.:'. *:
:
.
S 6r Set dirt ' '' Sped SetU'Up' Several Severaltrans' transport
units of thousands of trucks and
'-'a transport'fi66f of'^Oof6ighf. .' materials and removal'of bomb debris.
:, =,
.,,.
' ~ "' ' ' ', ' ' * ',, 4*;* ,'* , *,,,, - **~.:'. ' I, ' * .:. I *, J. .,. '. .
barges for the movement of
^
..
,,..
. :.
.,
.. **,, ,.*f" ::.:JJ. ,.,'.,. ', ,-*..,, -.,...'
Site at i>eerierlionde. I' ' ' ~ ,
,
::Foiloyiij^jilt;'f4jbf:t^arts, ;, Sneer*.,
'in, gif, it;^**.^,^nil^^off;;,:,,,:in
-GPh^^}*^4^!^^!;t^-i^;:^:"'
;f^!119.9"^:j^i^!!^;$,!i;;,,;;,;:I^^it^;11; : ; th^j. ^^^;^^its^I^:;^$;^^;'::' 6t, I^0$^^i^j^#'^^;^j. ?-;';".:: -
-.^oil^,*inns;I^^i's^^,, it;;**,~
.VCi:k^;'tint;^^;,:!$it^j^1.1^f;;t;;;; - ':', -.. -.;,'-,.:,,,*.. .,.,;.*-* -,$1'- ,j. I ; ' ; '
' 'leverft^Itij^i^^::;,;;,:*,-,:;,,: ... """*',,*;'4'4;*,"**',. *"'.. . , I, '. . '
The issue of the 'Jewish Flats' Until his appointment as Armaments Minister in 1942, the most controversial issue with which Speer was connected was that of 'The Jewish Flats'. In April 1939, the ' Law on Rental Contracts with Jews' was passed. This allowed the ejection of Jews from their homes if alternative accommodation could be found. A resettlement department was later created. However, this was not enough for Goebbels who was very keen on dealing with the Jewish issue. It had been Goebbels who pushed hardest for the nationwide pogrom against the Jews during the 'Night of Broken Glass' in November 1938.
^ =, =, =, =, ^
Goebbels decided that the 20 000 flats still owned by Jews in Berlin were needed as a reserve in case allied bomb damage meant that German citizens had to be relocated. He was tired of the hesitancy towards the Jews and ordered their deportation to Lodz, Riga and Minsk. Goebbe!s was happy to use terror tactics to achieve his aim. 13 Van derVal. p92
This bookis subject to Copyright. No mmre than 10% is permitted to be photocopied. @ Keri Webb. Kimberley Broadbridge 2008
29
SECTIO" a . Rise to prominence
CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich (1934-42)
Early in the war, Speer's office had dealt with various Berlin construct' t , contractors and Iiaised with delivery firms. However, as the issue of th J ' h F ,
. . .
was now dealing with delegates of the Jewish community, SS Qincers and Goebl? I . G ' Was eager to rid Berlin of its Jewish population. His impatience led him t ' ' t
.
committed suicide rather than be forced east. By this time, ' S ee ' d
.
was too big or because Speer could not stomach the work * It*
.
hurry things along. Houses were searched and Jews were herded onto t k . M
its administrative function in resettlement matters. Fest ponderswheth th' ~
Debate has continued amongst historians about the connection between S d. h
Fest suggests that he was not 'directly' involved in the events. '
As head of department Speer certainly had nothihg to do w/'th .thi^se in d t , - h
. .
his r's"'st"Ityin this field, 14 , , , , ,
.
In his S andau diaries andhish' In his Spandau diaries and his memoirs, Speer never mentions d F1''
.
in
the
affair.
I
.
Gitta Sereny suggests that Speer would not have known what 'was -
.
Most of thi^ early resettkament work. .. was purely administrative andi'ti Ik I S ,
..
now headihg an organisatibn of thousands, knew much about the details ' I d 15 However, Sereny also makes the point that Speer must have known ab t th 194 ' remove all the Jews because one of I his leading Officials, 01ahes, had att d d th when Adolf Eichmann had been told to work out the plan for reinov' th It I^ impossible that Speer was not informed of the substance of this in t ' - th the, Jews from Berm. ,6
I'
r r
Speer^s long-time friend and colleague, Rudolf Wolters, kept a detailed ch ' I f
the war. When this chronicle was later published, certain sections r d' h omitted - Wolters stated later he had done this out of consideration f S go along with this. However, later on Wolters became ang with S e ' I towards his Nazi career and so he broke with Speer, and placed the
with the (West German) government archives. Speer's participation and knowled e f th J
'r . r
Flats business was now out in the open.
I^
This raises issues about Speer as a inari. Even if it can be acce ted that h h d d' involvement, he had to know what was going on, as Sereny su ests b H
.
live with the knowledge of what was happening to these up to 75 000 B I' J ,
would perish in the camps?
.= ,,
.
. A1bert Speer always maintained that he was no anti-Semite. Thi b b .
,
IL:
However, he seems to be a inari totally without emotion. He felt nothin b t th
these 75 000 people; it was merely an administrative issue. A s h I ' t
.
back and analyse Speer's cold upbringing to seek an explanation for this. Sereny argues further that the fate of the Jews was of no concern to him, h fate of the millions of slave workers who would work for him later in the w Th I was, says Sereny, that when Speer wanted something, he went after it, and th h not matter. ,7
.
..= .
.,
^
14 Fest, PI20
,
15 Soreny, G. Nbert Speer: His Battle with Truth. Picador. London, I995, p220
.-I
16 Sereny. p221 17 Sereny, p223
30
.^
IF= This book is subject to Copyright. No mole than 10% is permitted to be hotoc ' d.
=
@ Keri Webb. Kimberley Broadbridge 2008
,=
11
SECTION a . Rise to prominence
CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich 0934-42)
.
. Van der Vat has a different explanation. He suggests that Speer was a inari who was able to
.
'compartmentajise' his life. For Speer, the violent activities of the regime were quite separate
. . a
. .
from the work which Speer did for the regime which in turn was quite separate from the personality of Hitler, the inari who continued to maintain such a hold over him. Exercise 4.2
Read each of the following statements. Circle either THIS Is TRUE or THIS Is FALSE as it applies to the statement.
I . Speer was not the sort of metn to become involved in
THIS Is TRUERHis Is FALSE
party intrigues to even understand these mechanisms. . I. . .
2. Speer was able to develop a ^lose and effective working relationship with Martin Borm^Inn.
3. Speer saw Hermann Giesler as a threat to his privileged
.
THIS Is TRUE/rHis Is FALSE
position, 4. Speer managed to establish a complex and extensive
^
THIS Is TRUE/PHIS Is FALSE
THIS Is TRUE!'rHis Is FALSE
range of organisations during the early stages of the war. 5. The main driving force behind. the takeover of the Berlin
THIS Is TRUERHis Is FALSE
Jewish flats was Goebbels.
. 6. Speer was intimately involved in the detail and planning of
THIS Is TRUE/THIS Is FALSE
the eviction of the Jews from Berlin.
I^ ai ^ ^
7. Though Speer did not intervene on the Jews' behalf in
THIS Is TRUE/THIS Is FALSE
Berlin, he was deeply emotionally troubled by the events.
8. Speer's personality was such that he was to able to compartment allse his life which enabled him to overlook unpleasant aspects of the Nazi regime.
THIS Is TRUERHis Is FALSE
^ . . :. ^
^ ^ . . . . .
This bookis subject to Copyright. No more than to% is perrnitted to be photocopied. @ Keri Webb, Kiinberley Broadbridge 2008
=11
31
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4.18.2 Sneer und the churnclerislics of
relative slubiliiy, 1924-9 amen inflation stabilised, Speer was able to transfer his
studies to the more esteemed Institute of Technologyin Munich. The foUowing year, in 1925, he transferred
However, Speerts membership of the Nazi Parry was soon to provide him with new work opportunities. He was asked to redecorate the local district headquarters of the Nazi Party in West Berlin. A few months later Speer redecorated the Nazi district headquarrers on Voss Street in Berlin
again, this time to the Institute of Technology in Berlin-Charlottenburg
The Weimar period was an exciting time to be
studying architecture in Germany. Germany led the way in architectural innovation with the internationaUy famous Bauhaus School. The Bauhaus . School of
architecture emphasised simple, useful designs for buildings and furniture, Characteristic features of the Bachaus style include the nat roof, curved cornets and horizontal oblongwindows Speer however, was not an admirer of the Bachaus
style; he preferred older, grandet styles of architecture
4.18.3 Speer und the imp, ICt of the Great Depression Speer Grid the Depression
4.18.4 Speer, und Hitler's titression 10 power und role us F"forer Hitler becomes ch. oncellor Once Hitler had been elected ChanceUor the Nazis
began a series of newbuildirig projects to help establish and promote the new regime. Speer found himself receiving more and more coinniissions. 111 March 1933
Speer was given the job of rebuilding and redecoratiiig the new building for the Ministry of Propaganda on Wilhelmsplatz, Then he was asked to remodel and
extend Goebbels's house, design decorations for the May Day rally at Tempelhof and design decorations for
the NUTemberg Party rally of 1933. Speerwas also called _) on to refurbish the chanceUery in collaboration with Hitler^ official architect, PaulLudwigItDOSt
Speer became a part-time assistant tutor at the
Speer Grid Hitler
Berlin. Char!6ttenberg institute in 1927. He planned to develop a private architecture practice to work at on his
Speer's efforts on the chancellery building pleased
days off. Butthe Depression had setoffttie collajise of the
Hider who invited him to dirmer. Hitler took an instant
building industry and Speer, as ayounguntt. led arcliitect
liking to Speer. Hider had once planned to be an architect himself and readily*discussed his visions of grand imposing buildings with Speer. Speer soon became part of Hitter's inner circle. He was given a party uniform and invited to live on Hitter's high-security
found it particularly difficult to obtain commissions
Speer joins the NGzi Pony Many of Speer^ students were supporters of the Nazis In December 19^. 0 they invited Speer to come to a Nazi
rally for studentss-at which Adolf Hitler was going to speak. Speer de:qide'd to attend- the rally. He found himself entranced by Hitter's speech, in which Hider proposed solutions to the threat of cornmunism and
mountain estate at Obersalzberg. When Paul Ludwig Ttoost died in January 1934. Speer received his first major commission from the Nazi government: to design
and build permanent bleachers for the Zeppelin Field I
in Nuremberg
renounced the Treaty of Versailles. A few weeks later
Speer attended another Nazi rally, this time addressed
by Joseph Goebbels. Speer was disturbed by Goebbels's anti-Senttism but was nevertheless unable to shake the
Impression Fritter had made on him. Speer joined the Nazi Party the very next day; he was member number 474481
Speer grid 'ruin theory Speer was conscious of Hitter's belief in the thousand year Reich. He noted that when iron and steel
reinforcement deteriorated it made buildings look unattractive. Speer felt that construction from stone
As the Depression dragged on, Speer'S salary was
would lend a quiet magnificence to his buildings as they
reduced by the Prussian state government in 1932 as a
decayed in the distant future, like the ruins of ancient
budget-balancing measure, He resigned his teaching
Greece and ancient Rome. To this end, Speer proposed 'a theory of ruin value: which advocated the use of only stone and brick in building construction
Chapter 4 Na*ional Studys Germqny, I918-45
.*'
Germon cumr"I life
Speer Grid Nozi Pony commissions
post and decided to manage his father's properties
pi i, .,
4.18. s Speer und'. the iru"stormiilio" of
,r
C)
L
,
...,..,......
,*,,\, ** =t, $5*;;.,=;13=!
.
The 'cothedrol of fighi'
the truce with France in June 1940, however, Hint
In 1934 Speer was asked to design the decorations for
the 1934 Nazi Party Rally at NUTemberg, Speer\s most memorable workfor the 1934rallywas the designfor the AmtsLu@!cor, a rally for the middle and minor party
dignitaries. Speer created a dramatic scene, organising for the rally participants to march into the stadium in
darkness, illuminated by 130 searchlights pointing towards the sky. This displaywas said to have'looked like a cathedral of light.
The Nuremberg Pony rolly SIIe
C:
.By 1934 Hitler had determuled that more buildings and stadiums would be needed for future NUTemberg rallies ~ so he coinrnissioned Speer to design a new rally site coinp!a<. Speer^ designs for the site in duded a huge processional avenue, a horseshoe-shaped stadium
'^called the German Stadium) and a culture hat, 1/1 teams
issued a decree that construction in NUTemberg an Berim could continue, but smaller sites were close
down. By 1942 the war was beginning to turn again! Germany and resources and funding were diverted fror
Speer's building projects to the military effort. Speer work as an architect was significantly hampered.
Speer becomes minisfer of ormomenfs Hitler appointed Speer as his minister of armaments t 1942 after the previous Thinister, ETitz Todt, died in mysterious plane crash. Speer set about reorgaiiisiri. the armaments industry immediately. In his firs 6 months armaments production had increasei markedIyarid kept growing over thenartyearand ahaU not peaking untilluly 1944.
Speer^; in;^jor reforms included the main coriumttee. and rings sad!:tore and the Central Planning Board. It i;
of size, the processionai avenue, the Gennari Stadium
reckoned that;Speer's managerial skins prolonged till
^rid the
war for a least;a year.
site itself were vastly superior to similar
structures elsewhere in Europe or the United States.
Mom commitfees Grid rings
Berfin
Speer established a new business structure for the entire
Hitler had long held '-a'-personal. desire to redesigii
armaments industry based on a system .oi, nLair: committees and rings. Each main . co^I, .;nittee represented a different type of weaponry while the rings
Germany's prerriier city Bentn. Hew^Ited Berlin to be
the greatest city in the world, suipassing Paris and Vienna. Based ODElitier'sideas Speer^ designs for Bermi
included a wide boulevard, alluge publichallcappedby an enormous dome and a grand triumphal arch. Speer also designed a new university quarter, a new medical quarter, ministry buildingsr theatres, cinemas and
hotels for the city's transformation, , .., .
represented raw materials and ,. parts. The ; maim coriumttees and rings structure was supposed to ensure
that each factory produced only one type of weapon at a time,
thus
maintaining pea, k efficiency
and productivity.
.,. .\
Central PIOnning
.t
The new choncellery
Speer also established a Central Planning Board to
11/1ariuary 1938/11tler instructed Speer to design a new
coordinate armament production for the three branches of the wilttary (army, navy and alitorce). Before the creation of the Central Planning Board each branch had
enlarged Chancenery building. Speer^; new chanceUery building was designed to give foreign diplomats an impression of the power and magnificence of the Reich. From the large gates at the entrance, a diplomat had to walk 220 metres ttirougii several stately rooms to reach
Hitler's reception hall. Inaer's office had a large balcony on the first floor to enable him to wave at and greet the adoring crowds below. Hitter's underground air-raid
shelter was located underneath the new chanceUery.
been responsible for its own weaponry design and production, resulting in competition for raw materials and much duplication.
4.18.7 Speer und the import of Nuzi
propugu"do; terror und repression within Germany und the occupied territories . Speer's orchiiecfure Grid stove lobour
4.18.6 Speer und the NIIzi war muchi"e
Due to Speer^; ruin theory his balding projects required
The ouibreok of World Wor 11
vast quantities of stone, The SS (which controlled
The war brought a sudden halt to construction work on
the NUTemberg party rally site and Berlin. After signing
concentration camps throughout Germany) organised stonequarrying and stonemasonry conttacts and set
...
Macqucrie HSC Modern History
,
,
their prisoners to work quarrying stone, By April 1941, 500 concentration camp prisoners were excavating the
foundations for the German stadium at Nuremberg and, by. August of that year, over 10 000 prisoners were quarrying stone and making bricks. gave access to more building materials. Hemrich
Hilumlerinvited Speer to make a tour of the occu. ied
,
regions to deterwine the location of suitable quarries so ,.
.,
that the SS could set up new concentration cam s nearby '
Speer's Ministry of Armoments Grid
Speer's armaments ministry employed a vast workforce. Initialy, this workforce was made up of German Labour
unhygienic conditions and inadequate food. Speer was
Service workers but when the Labour Service workers were conscripted into the army Speer had to look
elsewhere for workers' 111 August 1942 Ender ordered .... .
..; .,
a.
,
FritZ S^:uckel to 'round up workers from the occupied territories, by force if necessary. Speer did not bbject to this roundup even though it was completely megal. Foreign workers endured terrible conditions and
violence, which resulted in rinserj, juriess and death. B 1944 t!Ie 1
q
over 55 000 foreign workers who originated from Poland,
j^rgg, ed that the rentoval. .. of. .Iewish, workers from
armaments industry work was grossly inefficient and meant a depletion of skined labour. I ' .
,..,
4.18.9 Speer und military defeat und the townpse of rinzism
trucks for the ionrney and then beaten and kicked by firupp overseers when they arrived.
effective than they had been previously, systematically destroying installations vital to the armaments industry.
I^^! KEY TERMS
Only frantic repairs enabled armaments production to continue. Speer contended that at this point he was beginntng to doubt Germany could will the war.
~.-
Armiiments production The production of we upons of ! w^I- . Kruj^^ One of Germony's longest in dustiiolists rind the
By May 1944 the Allies' air raids had became far more
.,.
.
a
-^, I
4.18.8 Speer und Nazi rociul policy, tinti. Semilism und the Holoctiusl Speer's orchiteciure ond on Ii-Semifism The Berlin transformation required the demolition of 50 000 apartments near the city centre. Speer created the Main Resettlement Division and ordered it to make
a list of all the apartrnents that were occupied by Jews. The Main Resettlement Division was then to evict
Following the D-Day invasion Hitter ordered the
implementation of a scotched earth policy which called _ for the destruction of all industrial plants, gasworks, waterworks, electrical plants and telephone exchanges,
Hitler wanted to make it impossible for the invading Allies to gain a foothold on German territory Speer daimed that he could not agree with this policy He considered the war to be lost and could not see the
sense in destroying the industry and' utilities that
Europe (and Germany) would need in the coming postwar period. in secret, Speer spent several days in September 1944 travelling to the German frontier areas
Jewish tenants and allocate Jewish-Qinied aparttnents
to convince local authorities not to comply with Hitter\s orders, For the last months of the war Hitter continued
to anyAryari Germans who would lose their apartments due to Speer^; demolition work. Evicted Jews were told
to order more severe scorched-earth policies while
Chapter 4 National Studys Germony, I918-45 '":*,." . **4**,*::' '""""" "" "'L* .. . .. . . L .. . '
.
Scorched-eort^: policy .
inchufocturer of the 90s chambers. !
,
more concerned when, in October 1942, the Nazis began removing Jewish workers from armaments factories and sending them to- the death camps. He
Air folds
--^^..
.. t.
camps were weak and ill from brutal treainient,
the moraine, Hungary and Romania. The workers were taken by train to the 1<1'upp plant, crainmed into came'
--^--
F1*.
prisoners (mainly communists, Jews and gypsies) to work in the armaments factories. Many Iewish concentration camp prisoners were forced to work on secretiriiracle weapons, such as the V2 rocket. the armaments factories were appalling. Factory managers complained that workers from concentration
stove 1060ur
.,
In September 1942 Hitler ordered concentration camp
Conditions. at the concentration camps set up near
I'
.
Speer's ormomenfs ministry Grid
onti-Semitism
Germanys successful occupation of Western Europe
I
to pack a suitcase and were then deported east to ghettos and concentration camps.
Speer secrerly made efforts to halt the destruction.
.
*
.
.
,
. .
Speer's orrest ond in o1 At the end of the war Speer was arrested by the British secret service. He was tried and convicted as a war
CTirriinal by the International Military Tribunal at the NUTemberg trials. Speer served '20 years in Spandau Prison.
discovery of several important documents it has bee revealed that Speer tried to conceal incriminatir information, lied about his involvement with tt evacuation of Iews from Berlin and did indee know about the Final Solution. He had therefo;
manipulated the image of himself that he projected : the postwar world.
,
4.18.10 Sneer und historicgr"phictil
Speer has also faced CTitidsm for his role as Na architect. His buildings promoted Hitter's Germany an
perspectives
enslaved thousands of concentration camp prisoners i the SS's stonecuttirigiridustry.
At the end of the NUTemberg trials Speer emerged as the
only one to e>:press any remorse for his war crimes. But as more information has surfaced about Speer^; life
,
Eta 4
during World War 11, historians. have questioned his sincerity in tins regard.
C,
o r,
,.
by~..-.~
-~---
I How did Speer's orchifecfure promofe Nozi .
Speer, the Penitent NGzi
Germony?
During his trial at NUTemberg, Speet^ claimed responsibility for his actions as Minister of Armaments and e, ;pressed sorrow at the nitsery nazism had caused. ,
2 Using the informotion in sources 4,180 Grid 4.18b Grid your knowledge of the text recall the success c Speer OS minister for Grindmenfs.
He also denied any 1
Speer's confession and remorseful attitude established him as 'the penitent Nani' in the eyes of the world. Speer's memoir ETi?Inerunge, a, published in 1966 after
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.....
..
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his. release from prison, repeated his sense of remorse.
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Many historians and journalists were prepared to take Speer at face value.
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Ii^^ KEY TERMS
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extensively ogoinst Britoin towords the end of the wor. I
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Penitent "nzi A Nozi who confessed his sins und did
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Source 4.18n Germon junk pro, union, 1940-4
Speer Grid the Finol Solution in 1971 an American history professor named ETich
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GoldltagerL published all artide that suggested that Speer had kilown about the Final Solution since 1943. Goldliagen's argonient hinged on Speer's attendance at
--.- *=-,.-:-\-.--=-. it 3'15 -- -3/8-*-:",.---- :=I
a conference held at Posen in October 1943, where
aspects of the Final Solution had been discussed. Speer claimed that he had left the conference before the Final Solution was discossed and had not known anything
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about the fate of the Jews.
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^ ' *milerI sneer, Miler's Favourite Architect ,
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individuals, which functioned effectiveIy because he shared .\*ith , them the power to make decisions, Rather. ^Ian -concentrate all power in his own hands,
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: ' '. - 1-937; all;I esj?e!:jaily as Minister for 41,111aments and' ^;t'.,-;': ' - I' .-' . I, ^tnnfi6ji$ 1:1. onI{F^btuary 1942; For a time under his
;:;,;:':' --:, .' "J*I^^^I^hip us Artiiarnents Mumter, industry bt3carne
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^' -" ' " Gemiari, armed forces that he suggested' to Hider
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figure5, !;;^;16^it'sI^eer, - On' 9 February 1942, .addressing his ne
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staff, after'Selfi^ appointed Minister for Armaments-and Munitic
^:;-;..; .,": : -- *, illstiEicatio, I. Speer was one of the-- key Nazis
' The issue at the heart of this chapter is: did Spe
\"' "' been lost jin, 1942::-43'-a boast that had some *:,-;.- , ' - ' , ' .. - '.' f tit '-- k N ^<*,;,,, 1,114 ;.. ::test>oilsible. for Germany s Total'War effort ,*"'....
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j:';' -" ' :' ' s' eer unotc;.. 'tnn-^,^^o. 9ksi Inside the r*hird . ^!^ei'ch
participate in- -the Nazi regime's crimes agaii humanity? Specifically, did Jews and other SIa labourers SII^Eer as a re^ult of the activities of t
organisations he led? And, in addition, did he kill about the Holocaust?
1.10 matter . how useful you find the enorrno
$;""." I (pubij^had'.^I'-'19.7^I. ^, Id. E^",, d@,,, Tiles, c#, t-'. D;"rj, ^
amount of detail Speer provi!Ies about the N;
. about his life. alla- whatit was like to be a member of
leadership, you will need to ask yourself how renal
; . (1976) (viniph, :. apt>eared '^I Enghs}! by^ISIation),
the Nazi leadt;I^hip. With their e:;tier!lay detailed
,^ ^,
msi hts ir!to how Ender and the leading Nazis conducted theiriselves, they provide fascinating
, ,*
reading, '
IIJ his books .and:,'interviews, Speer also declares that he had no knowledge of air!y criminal behaviour. He cl^inns he had nothing to d(>' with Nazi racism;
that'he was-simply a technician, . at first interested
possible involvement in the . crimes committ
a^amst humanity by the other leading Nazis. EARLY CAREER AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE NAZI PARTY
A1berc'Speer was born on 19 March 1905, in the c of Mannheirn, into a wealthy upper-middle-cli
only in calTying out architecti!ral commissions. and
family. The Speers lived in a fourteen-roc
later in achieving increased industrial production.
apar!znent, and were waited upon by six servants' I
Was he ternng the truth? How was it possible for an insider, with an extremely:detailed knowledge of the Nazi leadership, not to'1
father, A1bert, was an architect (as was bis I^I. t}: before him) and his mother came from a wean warmth and affection, and the son developed it
criminal activities? Was he seeking to hide his own criminal involvement behind an enonnous amount offasdnating detail?
~ ~~:.=.. J
a historical source he is' when it comes to his o1
background. Apparenrly, it was a f^. Tnny lacking something of a loner with a good dose of amogari^
He ^rewinto a tall, handsome young man. In Aug
, ...
Germ""^
1978-1945 .,
'inferiors'. If the nation was to have a future, these .
1928, A1bert married Margarete, his childhood sweetheart. They were to have six children.
had to be ^ 'eliminated'. Gennany needed' to be
reawakened and this required a return to traditional
At School, Speer. was a hardworking student who
vanies. (Because his audience 'was fined with university' students and also their professors, Hitler . g:;ve an unusually restrained and measured delivery q:uite academic in tone-Ile was anything but the
did well in his final exams. Although he most liked maths and wanted to. pursue his sindies in that
field, his parents persuaded him to become an
architect, In 1923, he began ^tudying architecture at the Technical 'University -at I^arlsruhg. He
'shrieking and gesticulating fanatic in uniform Speer had expected. 'Everydimg about him bore out
transferred to Munich's more prestigious Technical University in 1925 and then, the following year, to Berlin, to study under Professor Hemrich'Tessenow.
the note of reasonable modesty* Furthermore,
antis6mitism failed to - get ' a .meritiqn. ) What so
jin^ressed Speer was ai^ feeling he got, that Hitler
When Speer graduated in. 1927, . at twentythree years of age, Tessenow made him his graduate
cared enonnously about the German'people.
So appealing was Hitter's message that, the very next day, Speer applied to join the Nazi- . Party, be conitng member number 474481 on I March
assis^It-the youngest ever to be appointed to the
position. It involved . some teaching of undergraduate students and brought in a . modest
income. While' contin\Ling teaching until 1932, he
1931' 'I was not choosing the NSDAP, but becoming
attempted to build up his own private architectural practice. Because of the Depression, however, and
reached out to me. ' But he reassures the reader of
a' follower of Hider, ' whose magnetic force had
there were fewjobs to be had.
his . memoirs that 'I continued to associate ' Jewish acquaintances'.
Speer joins the Nazi Party
of^amisations of the Nazi Party, including that for
wit!I the building trade particularly badly affected,
Subsequenuly, Speer. also joined various b^Ich
.
architects. One of the' benefits for Speer was to be
The ruming point' in Speer's 'life came when he
attended a political meeting, along with 5000 Others,
commissions, the first for the red!*sign of the interior of the Nazis!- district headquarters for the western
ms because many architectore students were going
region of Berlin, located at Grunewald. Next, in July
on 4 December 1930, Adolf'Hitler addressed it It
1932, his was asked to redesigri the interior of the
that Speer followed. Hitter made quite an impact. In art, his speech was about the First World War, about
party's Berlin headquarters on the VossStraSse in the
which had continued throughout the Weimar eriod a second-rate power divided - by class conflict. According to Hitler, Gennariy had lost many
And because he was one of the -few Party members who owned a car, a small BMW, he became head of
central administrative district, Adolf Hider House.
how it had left Germany in a very rundown state
his local Warinsee branch of . tile Nazi Party's
transport division, the NSKl;..
of its'brightest and bestiri the war, and been left with
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Figure 5.2 A sketch
produced by Hitler in the inid 1920s of a 'Great Hall'. What became of this idea?
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A 16 e r t S p e e r, H it Ie r 's F a v @11rit e A r e fr it e c
A SHARED INTEREST IN ARCHITECTURE Hitler was very much a frustrated artist and architect. When at school, he liked to draw, and,
early on dedded he wanted to become an artist His poor academic perfonnarices at school, however, did not provide him with the necessary qual-
few days I myself knew that I should some^ dE become an architect'. In later years, he claimed h had, the pot^ntial to . become one of Gennany leading architects, but the I First World WE
interrupted that careet path, Because he w{ motivated to help the nation's cause, so he arguei
ifications to enrol for training in the fine arts at an.
Ile g;*ve up the idea to become a politician.
institution of higher learning. This did not stop him
Hitler was to maintain -aji interest in architectru
trying his hand at painting, and dreaming abotit
throughout his life. Apparendy, after his failed 192
how he would redesigri his hometown, Nor was he
'Beer Hall Putsch' he read architecture books whi:
deterred from applying to enter the General School
serving his brief prison sentence. Dating from ill;
of Painting at the \7ienna Academy of Fine ms.
ume were a number of sketches of monument
Failure Of his application in September 1908 struck
buildings, including one of a triumphal arch, th;
him like a bolt 'out of the blue', .Discontent, he
later was to serve as a model in the planne
asked for an explanation from the Academy's rector,
redevelqpment of Berlin, The success of tli NUTemberg Rallies 'in 1927 and 1929 prompted. hii
whom Ile recorded, in Mein K@millias saying that his rector, it was 'incomprehensible . .. that I had never attended an architectural school or received any
to start on sketches for a penmanent site for tti; event. Often in conversation he would speak aboi architecture, frequendy astonishing his listeners wit
other training in architecture'. He adds that in a
the details Ile had memorised abotLt farnot
true talent lay in architecture-according to the
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Figure 5.3 A night scene from one of the NUTemberg Rallies. What evidence does the photograph contain of Speer's influence?
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1918~""
buildings, such as .the opera house in . ans.
Sometimes he would illustrate these discourses by
drawing on a piece of paper. He liked itI^ company
of architects. In 1945, his personal library inclu e thirteen books ^bout architecture and city planning, and found in the bedroom of his bunker was a set o architectural, magazines.
,
S eerls work' first came to the attention of Hitler in
rind 1933. After conxing to power, the Nazis Ita taken o'ver orgariisatioii of May Day, and it was Spe^r who volunteered to design the PIad'onn for BentrL. $ celebration ,at the Tempelhof Field. Around it he
had hung, in groups of three, large flags; the CGn
three being 15 metres high. Floodlights illuminated
the ' whole scene and, adding - enormously to the dramalic effect, over allundred. searchlights pointed upwards into the 'night sky. . .
Tally was held in Nuremberg and Speer, in his new OSition, arranged the background for the
ceremony. This dine, in addition to flags, he placed
behind the podium a huge golden eagle wi . a
thirty-metre wing span. Searchlights were also again
used to dramatic effect. On this occasion he came
briefly into contact with Hitler, who personally - approved bis ariarigement. In the meantime peer hadesi^ried the Propaganda Ministry. Then, in just t!vo months, he Tenovated Goebbels s new private a atonent-by having teams of tradesmen wor
continuously, in shifts around the clock. This came to Hitter's notice: he requested. that Speer join a
team, led by Professor Palul Troost, whose task it was
to redesigii his own official residence in the Reich
Chancellery-in quick time, so that the apartment could be used to impress visitors'
,
association with Hider-which would lead' to Ins
ap^ointment to some vety' powerful positions. Of
Speet, Hitler would say later: 'He is an artist and has a spirit akin to mine . . . He is a buildingperson like
me, intelligent, , modest, and nQt an obstinate
minta. ry 'head. ' He himself told Speer- that he had
taken not^ce of him on' his inspection visits. He. said he had been 'searching for a young architect to
whom I would entrust my building plans one day . . .
'Hider had undoubtedly taken a special liking to
mystery' .F, erhaps it was his appearance that. had call^ht Hitter's eye. At the time lie was a handsome
twentyeight-year<)Id, displaying the feati, .Ies of the
Nazis' ideal Aryan-tall and blond. At a later stage,
Speer recalled one of his colleagues observing, Do
ou know what you are? You are Hider s unrequited
love. ' (It must be elm^basised, however, tlIat the
friendship never developed to the point of physical closeness. )
At the time -of the luncheon, it was Troost who was
Hider's leading architect. Then, after a short timess, Troost died in January 1934. Spegr was to step into the position left vacant. HITLER'S LAZY LIFESTYLE As a member of 'the cirde of Hitler's intimate ,
Speer 'frequently' attended lunch or dinner with
him. After dinner, the guests would be entertained
by the showing of a newsreel, followed by one or two
telephone call requesting that he meet Hitler in a
Frequently, Hider made midday visits to inspect e
According to Sped, the type of I^estyle Hider led
had to answer bis questions. One day, totally
left him with 'only an hour or two a day to devote to government business.
me today'? had although- a group of leading 1.1azis,
mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps, known as the
S eer that Hitler spoke. Because of his keen interest
Berghof, where he spent much time. In his memoirs,
une, cpectedly, he said '\^jin you come to dinner wi
,
ToSI, ects in the Nazi regime, so vital ms the role played by the Fiihrer. Speer made . the best of t!Ie OPPqrrunity. It marked the beginning of an origqing
'A building-person like me
work in progress, and it was sometimes Speer w o
It
opportunity to make the type Of impression that
movies. Occasionally Speer would receive . a
,
xi
piovided Speer with the
me',..'why he took to me so warinly remains a
Demonsti. atipns'. Four months later, - the Nazi?at^,'s
I;
That luncheon
mentioning speer. Nevertildess, Speer was giye!I e
and Technical Presentation of Party Rallies and
*I^
flowed freely.
And that in ' I found in yo\! . C)
oEficial ^^OSition of "Comintssioner for the Artistic
,
it was his '}lobby'. Consequently; their conversation
IGOebbels claimed credit for the spectacular, not
Apparently Hitler was much impresse . at
I-
the- company of someone such as - Speer. According to Speer, architecture was a 'magic wqrd for Hitler;
could result in an enonnous boost to .one s career
More than a h^ridred searchlights , I .
in att and architectute, Hider er^joyed enonnously
including Goebbels, sat around the table, it was to
cafe for coffee-at two or three in the morning.
Speer also became a frequent guest at Hitler s
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Speer uses the tenn 'the mountain disease' to, refer to the unchanging, monotonous, boring routine he and other guests had to endure there. Hitler would
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sleep in until about 11 a, in. After getting out of bed,
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he would. be briefed on what had appeared in the
daily, .press. . and. abo^t. .current .political issues. ._}lis
guests would then join him for a long
followed by a half-hour walk to a techouse
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group would then be driven back to the. Berghqf
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where slipper was served at 8 p. in. Later; a movie was ' 'shown, latter which the guests would gather around .
the fireplace until early in the morning. When in ,-
residence at- the Berghof, Hider seems to have got
very littte work do!Ie; One of the few things he did was write speeches, and even that he would continually put off until the last nitnute As to the power Hitler exercised, Speer observed
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that .'There was something fantastic about the
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absolute authority Hitler could assert over his dosest associates'. and 'Hitler .reserved all important decisions for himself'
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BUl'LDlNG A PERMANENT SITE FOR THE
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NUREMBERG RALLIES
NUTemberg was one of the best examples in Europe of a late medieval d^,. Hider greatly adulted its
architecture, 1111ariuary1923, the Natis chose alarge park alongside Dutzend Lake, on the city's southeastern outskirts, as the site for a parade. Eventually, it became the 'custom to hbld annual ramies there for
the party fatt}Ifii!. Eacl! year the celebration became
Figure 5.4 'Hitler And Speer discussing plans at Nuremberg. What does this photograph indicate about the 'partnership'?
planning a complex of huge buildings for the si He was working under the direct orders of Hid
enhanced with the use of fanfares, gigantic flags,
who had come up with the idea when in prison 1924. He had' even made some prelinxinary sketch which served as guidelines. It was a long. tel
torchlights add floodlights.
prcject, the finishing date later decided on bet
more and more elaborate. To rouse the emotions,
the original march pasts and speeches were As already mentioned, it was Speer's idea to add a
particularly dramatic effect by locating all of
1945-but the war intervened, and only a limit amount was to be completed, After he- replao
parade ground. He had them pointing vertically into
Troost, the development of the NUTemberg Rally SI became Speer's first me!jor prqject early in 1934.
the night sky, their beams appeafuig like great
The 'Law of Ruins' and the Zeppelin Field
Gennany's anti-aircraft searchlights around the enonnous white columns, visible on a clear night to
a height of 15 kilometres. At the 1934 Rally, 130 searchlights were used. The British ambassador wrote: 'The effect was both solemn and beautiful, it
was like being in a cathedral of ice. ' It is commonly referred to as Speer's 'Cathedral of Light'. He, himself, likened the effect to being in a Gothic cathedral'-which was designed to antact your gaze
upward, towards the heavens.
When the architect Troost died, he had been
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Originally the prqject had involved only the Luitpo Arena. The intention was for it to accommoda
200 000 spectators and participants. But nothing \\ ever large enough for Hitter's liking, and Spe
quickly leanied to cater for his desire for enonno buildings by drawing up plans for ever more gigarii structures. On the at!jarent Zeppelin Field, Spe
planned an arena that would accommodate up 340 000. Speer approached the task as a 'test of r
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Figure 5.5 The Zeppelin Field. What was its significance for Speer^ career?
abi^q, ' . . . The design went far beyond the scope of
my assignment'-^Id won Hider s approval. Having made the right -impression on- Hitler, subsequently he 'respected my ideas and treated me as an
massive pylon at either end, each decorated with a large swastika, and on top of .which was a giant brazier. In the centre of the grandstand was the
speaker's platf'onn, behind and high above which
architect, as if I were his equal .
was another giant swastika. Within the grands^rid
One of the bright ideas Speer came up with was what he ternied his 'law of ruins'. According. to this,
Zeppelin Field complex was completed in time for
ina^jor structures should be built from the types of
material that would enable them to last thousands of
ears. Even if they fell into disuse, their architectLiral lines should continue to impress--:just as Roman ruins did. Hider was so taken with the idea that he ordered that the 'law of ' ruins be corne a guiding
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11
the 1,935 Rally.
Plans for the Marzfield and the 'German Stadium
Even the Zeppelin Field failed to sa^sfy Hider. Nj. '~'\, he wanted a field that w'ti. s large enough to ho. ,-
military mmnoeuvres -in front of half a million
principle for all the Nazis' monumental buildings.
spectators. In 1938, work commenced nearby on
construct major buildings-because it would allow
Marzfeld, in honoiir of the Roman god of war, and
He also ordered that granite should be used to them to last at least 4000, and possibly even 10 000,
years'
Spectators at tile Zeppelin Field were to be seated
on stone terraces located on three sides of a square
parade ground, 290 x 3/2 metres. Behind the
,
were a 'Hall of Honour' and a chapel .. The
construction of a 60-hectare field kiloam as the also the month of March, in whichllitler announced the reintroduction of conscription. It was to be
enclosed by a 3-kilometre-long, 30-metre-high fence made from 960 red swastika flags.
Also planned for the site was the ' German
terraces were sixty-six massive stone towers, each
Stadium' to accommodate 405 000 spectators. It was
with six flagpoles. On the north-eastern side was the main grandstand, a fortress-like stoicture. It was
covet 20 hectares. There were to 'be five massive
classical in style, backed by severitytwo pillars, with a
to be horseshoe shaped, made from granite and
banks of seating, rising -150 steps to a height of
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choral festivals, nationalist concerts, military and .
ecjuestriari contests and'shows'. GENERAL BUILDING INSPECTOR FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THEREICH. CAPITAL (GBl)
Hider. h^d big plans for B^:rlin-to be renamed 'Gennariia!. When in prison, back ill the add 1920s, he came up with the idea of redeveloping the centre of the ti^,. He made sketches for an enohnous great hall with a massive dome-bigger than St Peter s basilica in Rome---and .also for an arch, milch larger * ^^:,
than the Arc de Triomphe ill Paris. It was intended
,
these two monuments would be joined by an avenue
running nortti^outti that would be wider than Paris's 'Champs Elysees, and two and a half times- us long. As. regards size--if . not quality of design-
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Figure 5.6 Hitlei; in the company of Spee, on a tour of inspection of Paris in June 1940.
90 metres. Yet so f;IT away from the sports field below
would many of the spectators be that they would only , see -the contests using binoculars!. The idea of a 'community' stadium
It would be. wrong to see the NUTe!liberg site simply
as the place where annual parades took place and
Hider delivered speeches. Its gigantic scale was also intended to impress observers with the power of the new Nazistate. Just as importantly, it was intended as a Tactical demonstration of how the Nazis were
supposedly creating a 'national community',
Enormous parade grounds and stadiunLs were being \,/
the Ftil!rer is busy. with plans for a new Party Building as well as grandiose reconstructtbn of the ' Reich
Why would Hitler have been interested in doing this?
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most. impressive in the world. in- February 1932, COGbbels recorded in his diary: 'in Its leisure hours
built to enable Gennarrs to come together as a unified whole, as never before. The Nazis looked
back on the Weimar. years, as a period . of class division, which they claimed to be replacing with a real sense of community life. The distinctive,
exparisive style of Nazi construction intended to encourage that end has been terrned 'community' architecture.
another good example of this 'community'
architecture was the 01yTnpic stadium built in
Berlin, under the .direction of architect Wemet March. It had seating for 65 000, with standing room for another 35 000. After the Olympics, March intended it to serve as the site for
celebrations of national importance, attended by
representatives of the 16th: for 'great parades,
capital, fits program is all ready. Spypri^ingl};. after he became chancellor; Hitler s pet prqject met witti opposition from the IPrd mayor of Bermi, Drjulius Lipperc When ^litter proposed an avenue 120 met!'es wide, Upperr s response was to support a width of only 100 metres. For four years Hider somehow managed to put up . with this
rests^Ice. Uppert was allied to the Nazis' District Leader of Berlin, Joseph Goebbets. Finally, to ensure that his plans for the reconstr'ucdon of central Berlin were fairlifinuy implemented,
Hitler appointed Speer his General Building
Inspector for the T^Isformation of . the Reich Capital on Solanumy 1937. He told him: 'With the City of Berlin, we can get nothing done. From now on you make the design ... When you have some. thing ready, show it to me. You know I always have dine for that. ' Speer was answerable only to Hider. For Speer's 'guidance, Hitler handed over bis sketches of the dome and the arch, commenting: I
made these drawings ten years ago. I've always saved them, because I never doubted that some day I would build these two edifices. ' Attack on Lippert
Speer was a quick learner in the game of political infighting that took up so much of the time of the Nazi leaders. He set about destroying Goebbels
man, Lippert, who, as Berlin's lord mayor, had an
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Hitler had earlier provided furttier proof of his
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ordered that the Academy of Arts be evicted ^. om
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the building' alongside his own o^lidal residence, the
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Chancellery, so as to provide Speer's organisation
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served for public exhibitions in the building were then used to display the evolving project in
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Hitter's private j>lay^xing. Guards were posted, and it was only with his perilii^ion that visitors were allowe entry. He had a doorwayspedalIy made between his chancellery and Speer's o^aces so .that he could visit
whenever he chose-which was sometimes at -night,
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the role of the enthusiastic guide
EverL as late as April 1945, with the Soviet troops about to enter Berlin, Hitler was still leading' these
Figure 5.7 The GBl^ model of the proposed redevelopment of Berlin.
Note the weapons lined up along either. side of the avenue a loaching the Triumphal Arch. What was their purpose obvious Tight to involve himself in its urban developi!lent.
First, he planned an attack in' the newspapers on
Lippert's reputation. Next I^e wrote to jin,
claiming that, as GBl, he had supreme authority
when it came to urban planning, Finally, in July
1940, Speer put it to Hitler that Lippert was
tours. Speer may as well not have been there--it was Hitler who was in charge, drawing attention to this or. that detail. He would lose all sense of formality,
being totally relaxed and spontaneous. For his Own
entertainment, he would lower his eye tq the Ieve\ \ the model avenue so as to get an impression of w at
a first time visitor to 'Gemiariia' would see. There is no doubt whatsoever that this was a project close to his heart, indeed, something of an obsession.
obstructing his work; Thereupon Hider arranged for Lippert to be sacked. Speer thus disposed of an
The shape of the new Berlin
rocess he outinanoeuvred Goebbels. It was quite clear that be had become a ina^jor player in the
Berlin with a wide new avenue, 5 kilometres long,
o orient very effectiveIy. Not only that, but in t!Ie
regime's power politics and one who, because e could et Hider's backing, had to be taken - very
Seriously, The episode also demonstrated that Speer was capable of being very ruthless.
Hitter's 'original comumssion was for Speer: to provide
mmning norrti-south. At the northern end was to be
located the ' Great Hall* . It was designed to hold
180 000 spectators, within a domed stillcture 250
meters in diameter and 320 metres high. At the other end was to be a triumphal arch, 120 metres high, on
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which were 'to be recorded the names .of the 1.8 withon Gennarzs killed in the First World War.
THE WOLTERS CHRONICLE
One of the architects 'Speer recruited was the a
speej- interpreted his commission broadly, , ear. old Dr Rudoif Woiters. The knew each otti
coming up with a plan that also included an from ^indent da s, Since then, Wolters h;
east-west . avenue that intersected with the north~ diev!=I ed an' ex eru^C in town - Iannin . south avenue, and required extensive demolitionbuildings. housing 50 000 ap'arunents were actually.
addition he kept a diary, took notes, and was I ;accumulator of letters and doomnents. in late 19,
knocked . down, Speer's plan' provided for the he'. a r ached S e6t, seekiri emussion to construction of a number of buildings: a palace for the Ftihrer; headquarters for the high command of the armed forces; a palace to incorporate ' the
political, economic and military departinents controlled by 1.1itter's deputy, Hermann G6iing; and a large railway tern^nal, with a hall 300 x 300 metres,
*
and 50 metres high.
together a chronicle, a semio^dai diary of d OBI's activities. Not only did Speer approve, but I
also instructed the section heads in'his or^T'Saij( to provide Wolters with any into mmation that coll be useful. -Proposed entries had to be referred S f for TVal ' ' Speer approval. What resulted was a very valuable primary sour
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of infonnation, cohtaining the type of 'detail .th only a trusted individual, well . placed in I
The New Chance116ry
The redevelopment of Berlin was'due for coiniiletion organisation, could acquire. Because the Wolte
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in 19!^0 but, because of the war, these monumental chronicle was never intended for publication, buildings were never to be constructed. One building was to incorporate sensitive information th
that was completed was the New Cliancellery. 111 late otherwise would have been' onintted for fear January 1937, Hider set Speer the. challenge of , . implicating. colleagues in conduct of which odie coinpletirig this verylargejob by. 10January 1939. He did it with a few days to ^pare by employing a
workforce of 8000 in byo sinfts. Its 360 000 square
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For Instoriam, the most interesting sections of ti Wolters Chromae have been. those referring to tl
meters indrided 420 Toolns. The two storey building's activities of the GBl's IResetilement lieparuiien main features were its 146 metre^long marble gallery one of the dut^es of that partialIai department w and Hider's sttidy, 27 metres x 14.5 metres. One of to identify Jellys who were Telling fiats in Berlin, D the main purposes of the New ChanceUeiy was to chi. onide entry for April 1941 refers to Jew-flats'. ovenvhehn foreign dignitaries as they progressed records that the GET required 366 fiats rented byJe along the enonnQusly long gallery to the huge study. be vacated and handed over to nonJews-whose or Hitler coriumented: 'When anyone enters the Reich accommodation the 0131 was . demolishing. ,'11 Chancellery, he should feel that he is visiting the GIIronide records that in Augustjewish occupants ruler of the whole world. '
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might disappro\Ie,
'Speer's Kindergarten'
The speed with which the New Chancellery was completed clearly demonstrated Speer's abi^ty to bring' together a team and make it work extremely efficiently, despite considerable pressure of time. Having been given periliission to pay salaries above the going rate, Speer was able to recruit a g^13up of
another 5000 fiats were being evicted. Duni November, first 1000 and I^ter a further 3000 a: that had been rented by Jews were being made vaca so as to accommodate nonJews whose homes h; been destroyed by Allied bombing raids on BC^rli
The Citronide entry for 2^ October. 1942 contai: the calculation that since February 1939 tl 'Resettiement Department' was responsible f
moving a total of 75 000 people. From the Chrotiid
talented and enthusiastic . architects and tomi
one is left in no doubt. that Jews were beit
planners, who became his construction staff'. With an
deliberately targeted. by the GBl for harsh treattner
average age in the early thirties, they were also known as 'Speer's Kindergarten'. He encouraged an infonnal atmosphere within his Construction Staff
what was going on, and approved, It was he wl personally signed the Tele^Iteviction orders.
and, in return for the hidi he displayed in them, his
Wolters survived the Second World War, as did I
people were prepared to work long hours' Speer was proving to be an enlightened and very capable
Chronicle. During the 1960s, much to the surpri of \\jolters, but more especially Speer, referenc appeared in print that seemed to indicate th
administrator.
Furthennore, Speer must have been fully aware
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co ies of parts of the ChTonicle existed. Speer, in a
beginning of a great rush of urban planning. Ber in
Chronide any references to Jews being evicted om
redevelopment, the others- being NLiremb ~ " 6,
anic, suggested to Wolters tl!at he remove from his
was one of five 'Leader's Cities' targeted for "~I
their flats by the GBl. Wolters chose to ignore Speer. Rather, he deposited the original Chronide, along
Munich, Hamburg and Unz. There were plans for another fifty Gemian cities to be redeveloped too. Each city would have norm-south and east-west avenues, centrally located administrative complexes
January 1983, some researchers have been given access to his papers. )
and facilities such as huge community halls. Hider wanted to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Gemiatis could build bigger and better, than them;
HITLER'S BROADER URBAN PLANS AND
he wanted to make Gennans feel strong and,
with the rest of his papers, in the Federal German Archive at Koblcnz. (Since Wolters death in I, .
THEIR SIGNIFICANCE ;I 11
The remodelling of Berlin was very dear to Hitler s heart. It had been on his mind for many years' His interest in urban planning, however, went inuc
.
further. Speer's appoinunent as GBl marked just the
simul^neously, to intimidate foreigners. The massive scale off{itIer's thinking is mustrat^d b the size of 'the supertrains that were on the
drawing boards in Nazi Gennany-a result of one of
his directives in 1940. They were being designed to
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A16ert Speer, Hitler's Fad@"rite Archit .
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travel at 200 kilometres per hour' and. each carriage
something else that would intimidate visitors t^
was to be large enough to accommodate 600 passen-
capital city
gels. The designers were also to make provision for the carriages to have their own anti-atrcraft guns. Slave labour
Achievements of Fritz Todt
Hitter's urban schemes created a huge demand for
Hider's Minister for Armaments and Munitions f
bullding materials. HimTiller's SS responded quickly.
Match 1940 was the capable EITitz Todt. By train
It set up
new concentration camps near stone
quarries, where inmates were used as slave. labour. The SS mm brickworks. It even estabhshed its Dun
company to cater specifically for the building trade, 'Gemiari Earth and Stone Works'. Some of its work
ms done in 'cooperation with Speer's GBl. In 1942, on the outskirts of Berlin, the GBl established its own large transit camp, capable of
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he w;is a civil engineer. In 1933 ' he had t appointed Inspector General for Natit Motorw^ys, and by 1939 he was 'responsible having laid. more than 3000 kilom, :tr. es of concrete motorw;*y; with a further 1500 kilom< under construction. To achieve this, he had to b
together a workforce of a quarter of a minion in Hitler turned to Todt in nitd 1938 when, with am
processing, daily, up to 1500 workers who had been brought in from Nazi<^CCDpied eastern Europe. Also to become partpf the OBIwas the 'Speer Truisport Brigade', a fleet of thousands of heavy trucks, plus
increasing possibility, he wanted ' Genna fortifications along its border with Finnce-kii,
hundreds of I^arges, that carried stone from all over
Europe - 'to its building sites in Berlin - and
proved them wrong, in the process winning Hit admiration and support He achieved the tasl
Nutemberg. in addition, the 'Brigade' was to work in dose cooperation with the armed forces, - for example, delivering ammunition to the front. Another responsibility acquired by the GET was tile
finns, together with their 430 000 workers. ,
construction of airraid shelters in Berlin-with this
Speer received the additional title of Chief of Defence Construction in 1941. To enable it to
handle its expanding responsibilities, the workforce employed by the OBI grew to 65 000.
.^. .
SPEER's APPOINTMENT As MINISTER FOR ARMAMENTS AND MUNITIONS
as the WestWall-str. en^'diened. Others Said it cc not be done witliin the four months specified, ,
coordinating the efforts of a, thousand busi After the outbreak of war in. 1939, To
workforce became ':front-line workers'-, provic backup for amiy engineers in occupied ax repairing transport systems 'and construc fortifications. Now known as the Todt Organisat it had 800 000 workers at its disposal. After he
received complaints about disorgariisation wi
So enoruious were Hitter's plans for urban
the armaments industry, Hitter put his faith in I
redevelopment that it was not possible to supply the necessary materials-such as stone-from German
again to solve a inznOr problem. He appointed , his Minister for Armaments. and Munitions. In
sources alone. Building materials had to be gained
1941, Todt was appointed Inspector General
from foreign lands, Many more foreign workers
Water and Energy.
would have to be imported also. The whole plan
presumed that Germany would go to war and exploit
Slowdown of the production process
the resources of defeated nations, Indeed, Hitler s
Although he was a capable administrator, ,
schemes were so ginJid that his eventual aim could have been nothing less than world domination. As
could make hale headway in his capacity
regards Berlin, his intention was that it become the capital of Europe and the leading city in the world. NUTemberg was to become the penmanent home for
achieving increases of production for the effort. In large part, this was because of the representatives of the anned forces, especially Army I'rocurements Office, Inayed in the proc
the Olympic Games. After the defeat of Emuce in inid 1940, Hider struck on the idea of lining either side of the southern end of Berlin's new main avenue with
weapons that had been captured from Gennariy s defeated enemies. It was intended as yet another
demonstration of the strength of Nazi Gentiany*
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Minister for Armaments and Munitions tow;
These officers had an inbuilt prt^illdice aga, inst 11
production, because they believed it would resu shoddy weapons. The military engineering offi^ with responsibility for placing orders preferTet deal with smaller firms, which employed ski craftsmen. This resulted in the production
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Quartet Books, London, I 992.10riginally published in German as Memoiren. A1brecht Knaus Verbg and GinbH, Berlin, 1987. ) Riefenstahl, L. The Last of the Nuba. Harper and Row, New York,
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JIBitler bad had. any mends, I wduld Certainly have
Books
beep one of his Gionb friends. - '-, ' . ' " '
Press. Maryland, 2000. Salke!d, A. A Portrait of Leni R'I^fenstahl. Jonathon Cape, London, Sontag, S. 'Fascinating Fascism' in Under the SI^n of Saturn. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 1980. Video
The Wonderfu4 Hornde Life of LeniRiefenstahl, dir. Ray Muller Omega Films/Nomad Films, 1993. ,
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Riefenstahl. Leni Riefenstahl Produktion, Berlin, 1938.
New Jersey. 1986. Hinton, D. B. The Films of LeniRi^fenstah{ 3rd ed. The Scarecrow
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11/1/1111;:;:,:;!::;;-::;:;:;-it'.;'::';:A' L'~"' B. --", E. - 11^.:'-. T
01ymp^a: The Film of the XI Olympic Games, Berlin 1936. Part I: Festival of the People, ' Part 11: Festival of Beauty, dir. Leni
Deutschmann, L. Triumph of the '11/11: The Image of the Third Reich. Longman Academic, Wakefield, New Hampshire, 1991. Graham, C. C. LeniRiefenstahland Olympia. The Scarecrow Press,
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Riefenstahl, L. The Sieve of Time: The Memoirs of LeniRiefenstahl.
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Study guide Within this study of A1bert Speei; students will 'learn about': \-. .
. a survey of political, econoinic and social
problems in the period 19/8-1923 :.
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projects and in his' armaments factories. ;Thousands of'Jewish ,.:. families were'evacuated from their hornes at Speer^directives -'. . -' . . and sent'. to. .ghettos and ;conceitijatiOn co. rips. .Speer's_work, . -
at^hough-impressive;. was tainted by'then. isei. /:and 'death' of, ' _~ millions of people.
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Sp6er was tried and convicted for-" war crime^ at the Nuremberg Trials of 1946. He'se~rv6d 20-y^ars_in Spandau prison. ' ' F1
Yet unlike any of the other Nazis on trial at Nuremberg, Speer
11
pp. 64-65 pp. 63-64
. foundations of the NSDAP and its role, su ucrure.
pp. 66-67
polities and impact . the social, economic and political impacr of the Great Depression
pp. 6667,71-72 pp 70-71.74.75-81,8749
. Hitler^ accesion to power and his role as nilirer . coatorrr, ity, discor and rests"rice to the goal of
PR 70-71
Volksgemei, ,SEhaft ryeople* Cornniuniq, ) . the na, .SIbrmmdon of German social and cultural lite under Nam
. the nature and impact of Nazi propa!pinch, Lemur and rep, CSion \vidii, I Genninny and in occupied reintories
FF. 73-74.75-81 pp. 75-81,83.89-91,94-96. 106-108
pp. 70-71,80-81,83,899i,
. the nature of Nazi racial primey, and-Semidsni
101-104
and the Holoca, EC
. the Nati war machine and its impkatiotrs for the war efort pp. 84-89,944i6 pp 93-96 . military defeat and the comapse OCN, zism
claimed that he was sorry for his war crimes and regretted his ~
11 I
. militarism
involvement with the Nazi Party. -He also maintained that he knew
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nothing about the Nazis' Final Solution.
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. chancreristics of relative stability in the period 1924-1929
I _ How is the historian to assess Speqr? How guilty. Was. he? I Was he truly rerijorsef!. 11.0r was his reinqrse_qontrived?_ Washe- _- - -
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' intionalism
pp. 84-89.94-96 pp. 68-69.75-81
. nCISm
pp. 6869,70-71,80-81,83
, the Jewish community
. the Nazi Party including the SA and SS
pp. 70-71,80-81,83.89-91 pp. 68-71,72-73.82-83.93
. th. W"litmn. ht (G. ,mm fi#lung forces 1935-1945)
p 86
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. 1923: minadon and currency CFtis . 1929; Great Depte^on . 1934:I'dCT becomes ChanceUor of Gennany . 1941: themmmion rifthe Soviet Unton . 1945: the death onliner and the fill of Berbn
pp. 6+65 pp. 66-67.71-72 p70 p85 p96
*!I ill
ALBERT SPEER
ONE
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which lits 'mother Luise developed a alent for devising new turnip
S P E E R, ARC HIT E CTU RE
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AND POLITICS
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61
recipes. Then in Ithd-19/8*Allied air raids began over Mannheim and rubert's father decided to move the farady to their summer house in
Heidelberg, a town south of Marcheim. A1bert excened at school, particularly in mudiematics. Confident of his mathematical abilities, rubert wanted to study . the subject at urnversity, but Iris flitier discousaged the plan and recoinmended that Its son follow in his footsteps and become an architect. So in 1923*rubert Speer conmienced architectuml studies.
SPEER'S EARLY LIFE
MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN
Berthold KOIund HermannNbert Speer was born on 19 March 1905,
G E RMANY
the second of diree sons. His father, rubert Friedrich Speer, was a
successful architect and property ounier, wliile Ills mother, Luise Madiilde
,
I ,; ^
With dimne Hornmel was the daughter of a prosperous businessman.
;, 111
The farmy was very wealthy and lived in a well-appointed apartment in Mannheim, a town near the French-German border. Their apartinent
was lavishly furnished with French and- Indian furniture, handembroidered caratis and crystal charidefiers. The family owned two cars (a touring car for sun^ner and a sedan for winter) and employed a cook,
,I
a kitchen maid, chamber maids, a butter and a chauffeur. rubert and his
brothers were cared for by a French governess and attended an exclusive private priri^y school.
A1bert was nine years old whenWorldWar I began in 19/4. When the e>cpected 'quick victory' of the war did not eventunte, both warring
The early twentieth century was an amazing time to study architecture in Germany; it was a Lime when Germany became a leading centre of modern architectural mmovation, and attracted young architects from all over Europe. Although Albert Speer was interested in some aspects of modern architecture, it was the architecture of the nineteenth century that was to become his main inspiration. Througliout the nineteenth century, European architecture had drawn inspiration from a wide muge of historical styles; Cerium architecture was no exception to tliis trend. Proininent styles of architecture in nineteendi-century Germany induded neo-Classical (particularly the Greek Doric form), neo-Italian Renaissance, neo-Gothic and I ,
sides were faced with a cruel war of attrition. For the German home
front, tliis resulted in serious food and fuel shortages. The food shortages were compounded by poor harvestsiri 19/6 and 19/7, whichiritumled to rtsing prices and a growing black market. City-dwellers, particularly those with no fartn^Ig relatives in the country who could supply them with food, were the hardest hit. Around 700 000 city people died from starvation and hypottierinin in 19/7. Nthotigliwealdi enabled the Speer firmly to purchase what food was avatlable, it could do liede to overcome the actual scarcity of that food, so they too were affected by the food shorts^es. In I'S memoirs, Eri""erringat (1969), robert Speer related how his farmy endured the so-called 'turnip winter' of 19/7-19/8, during
: I .
60
.
neo-Classic. I: a style of architecture popular in Germany dadng the first half of the nineteenth century, based on the Greek. Turkish and Middle Eastern Classical styles of architecture
Greek Doric: a form of neoClassical architecture based on the architecture of Dots. an
ancient region in central Greece. It is a simple and plain style. ", o-11alian Rendss. ne. : a style of architecture popular in Germany during the middle of the nineteenth century. based on the Renaissance style of architecture prominent in Italy from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries.
neo-Gothic a style of architecture popular in Germany dimng the middle of the nineteenth century, based on the Gothic style of architecture prominent in France and western Europe from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries.
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62
INDIVIDUALS IN MODERN HISTORY
ALBERT STEER
63
11
1:1
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neo-Baroqu^ fo"ms. The Brand^ribu, g Gate (1789-1793) designed by K^"I Gotrl"^"d Langans and the S, h, ", pith"", (the, tie) (1818-1820 by Karl Friedrich Schinkel were important examples of the neo-Classical architectural style, while Paul Wallot;; design of the Reichstag 0884-1894) war typical of the neo-Baroque style that donitn^red the newly designated capi^I Berlin. By the end of the nineteenth century, a small number of architects in Europe began to question this rehance on the past for artistic inspiration. They started to look for a wholly new design form that was unrelated to any of the great architectural fortus of the past. This search for new inspiration was encouraged by several social and econonxic developments, One such development was the resurgence of panGerman nationalism, which prompted a concern among some artists
I.
and architects to promote traditional German craftsmanship and cottage industries. another war the emergence of new materials, particularly glass and steel, and new construction methods, which encouraged architects
=;
,I I I.
I"I
to experiment with design, The nineteenth-century industrial revolution, which saw a large number of people moving from the countryside to the cities also prompted architects to experiment with new housing designs. Indeed, some architects began to see a new opportunity for German architecture, art and craft through industrialisation. They argued that to further the prosperity of the German nation, there would need to be improvements made in the level of artistic skill and design. In addition, they proposed that artists and craftsmen would need to orient themselves towards machine production.
In this way, Germany could begin to compete in the expanding world market with biglii quality pref;, bricated housing and furiiislitngs. In 1907, these architects allied thenEelves withindusttial craft finus to form the Deutsche Warkb""d (German Works Organisation). The
Warkb""d aimed to improve craft education and to establish a centre
neo-Baroque: a highly ornate style of architecture popular in Germany dudng the latter
tlnougli which they could further their ideals. One piontinent Warkb", Id architect was Peter Behrens, who desigied the A1!gemei"e ElektrinT"Is Caratlschqji (AEG) Tit, bin, Fad, n, (1908-1909). The factory design un^ based on that of a traditional German farmhouse, and was an attempt to infuse 'the filerory' with the same sense of intrinsic 'Germanness' as peasant agricultural life.
another notable architect of the period wasWalter Cropius. He was associated with the Preykb""d as a student of Belrrens. In 19/9 Cropius became the director of the WeilnarArt College. He aimed to foster an environment where students of all different aTts and crafts could study together aria learn from each other - a 'socialist workshop' where there would be no class distinctions between 'the artist' and 'the craftsman'.
Gropius called his new institution the B@"halts 010use of building), The Banhaus style am characterised by the ideal that art and craft should be
designed with industrial production in mind; it should be simple* LISeftil and easily reproduced. Characteristic features of the Banhaus style include the nat roof, curved corners and horizontal oblong windows The Banhaus influence has been internationaly furious and long lasting In 1925 the Bauhaus school moved from Weimar to Dessau. The
directorship of the Bauhaus school passed from Gropius in 1928 to Hannes Meyet and then co Ludwig Mies van der Robe in 1930. Other important architecturel and artistic movements of the 1920s
include Expressionism and None Sacklichkeit (New Objectivity). E>, prersionism was an artistic movement active in the early years of post-
WorldWar I that mm opposed to the wits of industrialisation and city life. E>Kpressioiiists argued that the war had left hullmmcy emotionally stunted
and in need of spiritual and emotional regeneration. They aimed to show the internal, spiritual world of the emotions througli their art and architecture, using a muge offonus, including stylisation, distortion and
shadow to provoke an emotional response. Hans Podzig's Grosses Sch@"spy^Ih@,, s (grind that".) (1919) in Betli, I with its cmula" stage and , huge dome was an outstanding example of E>
part of the nineteenth century, based on the Baroque style of architecture that developed in Italy in the sixteenth century. Berlin; from 1871. capital of unified Germany. pan-German nationalism: devotion to the advancement of all German States and the recovery of German folk traditions e. g. art, music. prefabricated; to manufacture housing parts in standardised seatons ready for assembly.
stylisticn: to depict an objeci in conformity with a particular style distortion in art. to depict an object as twisted. crooked or otherwise distorted.
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64
ALBERT SPEER
INDIVIDUALS IN MODERN HISTORY
The New Objectivity movement was a reaction against the sentimentality ofE>, pressionism. Emerging in the early 1920s and closely associated with the Bauhaus school* the New Objectivity stood for a
As an astute property investor, Speer'$ futiler was able to sen family property assets for American dollars. Although the properties were sold for an outrageously low price* it made the fitfuly financially viable
functionalist attitude to architecture. Weimar housing projects of the 1920s and early 1930s were often in the New Objectivity style, with
again. Subsequenrly, Speer's monthly allowance, which amounted to 16 American dollars was more than ample for his needs.
matching rows of pref;Ibricated housing, mass-produced flintsimgs, figlit firings and communal laundries, meedng roomy and sporthig focilities. Politically, modern German architecture of the early twentieth
HEINRICH TESSENOW
65
century (such as Bantuus) was left wing in orientation. It was not about
designing grand buildings or mugi^cent homes for the wealthy, It was about architecture for the working class and emphasised design
In 1924, when inflation stabilised, Speer was able to transfer lits studies
e^ciency; a lack of class distinction between craftsmen and artists; functionality; and mass production. T}lis approach provoked opposition from conservative politicians and architects who preforred the neoClassical, neo-Renaissance and neo-Baroque styles of the nineteenth century, and interpreted modern architecture as a promotion of
year, Speer transforred again, to the Institute of Technology in BermnChar16ttenburg, where he came under the tutelage of Professor
decadence and coriumuttism. I
to the more esteemed Institute of TechnologyiriMuriich. The following HeirrrichTessenow.
As an architect, Tessenow was philosophicalIy mid-way between modernism and traditionalism. As a founding member of the De"isclie War^bund, he promoted the native German craftsmanship ideal and advocated simple design suitable for mass production. He invented and patented a wall construction system in 1909 and designed a housing estate for f;ICtory workers at Henerau, near Dresden. But he was also
S P E E R' S A RC H IT E C TU RA L Tl\. A1 N I N G
.
Speer emuned in the School OFArchitecture at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology His decision to study locally at Karlsruhe, rather than at one of the more prestigiousTechnicallnstitutes, was dictated by theirifiation crisis of 1923. Speer recorded mixis memoirs that lits monthly allowance quicldy proved inadequate for his requirements, with a student meal costhig over half a billion marks during the height of the crisis. The crippling price rises, which spelt hunger and destitution for many Germam, didn't prevent Speer from enjoying the finer t!tings of life; he attended the theatre occasionally (with tickets costing between three and four hundred nanon marks). The Speer farmly's wealth rescued them from the di^culties they encountered dunugli the hyperinflation period.
influenced by the monumental neo-Classical Greek style, which he used on occasion.
Tessenow was deeply affected by the horrors of World War I.
Consequenrly, he came to rt^ject the notion of the metropolis, the linchine age and internationalism, and opted for a return to smalltown life. He saw the spirit of the German peasantry as the true untointed life-force of the nation. ArchitecturalIy, Tessenow began to advocate simple, regionalIy-based design, organic forms of architecture and naru^I building materials. He am^ the co- creator with Paul S. hult^^-N^runbu"g oralie Hejamtsti! derig, , (1.0m^land style) fo, mmhousing projects, The Hefindt$!17 house was distinctive for its whitewashed , walls and pitched sloping roof, Termniscent of the traditional German peasant house.
torelage: guidance. teaching, instruction. metropolis: the chief city of a region or state.
internationalism: the promotion of the 'common good' between nations; a style of art or fundionalis. : furniture and housing design that stresses usefulness and plastica!ity. .
architecture that is not specific to any one nation. org. nie forms: designs which make use of shapes and patterns found in nature.
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66
INDIVIDUALS IN MODERN HISTORY
Speer had a high regard for his teacherTessenow and identified with his philosophies about architectural simplicity, Almost as soon as Speer first metTessenow, he planned to work with him. In 1927, Speer passed days a week. During the remaining time Speer hoped to build up his
Propaganda, Speer was disturbed at the way Goebbe!s whipped the crowd into a fanatical fieney, playing on their hopes for econonxic revival and blarntng the Jewish coriumtinity for Germany\; nitsfortunes. Although Goebbels' performance offended Speer's rinddle-of ass sensibindes, he was unable to shake the impression Hider had made on him. Speerjoined the Nazi Party the very next day, and became member
private practice.
number 474481.
his architect:; licence emurvination and, to Ins delight, becameTessenow's assistant. His duties involved teaching Tersenow's senxinar classes three
SPEER AND NAZISM From around the time of Speer!; graduation in 1927, the German
economy began to filter. Accompanying this downturn was the floundering of the SocialD^moontic Party (SPD) andinc, easing support for the Getnnn Coriumunist Party (I^D). This alarmed nuny middle-dass Germane, who beheved that the coriumuriists would instigate a Russian,,
ALEERT SPEER
style revolution. Into tits void of political uncertainty stepped AdolfHirler and his Nazi Party, The Nazis proiriised to revive the German economy, restore Gerinari fudal pride and counter the threat of coriumutiism. These policies found favour with many rinddle-class Germans. After the Reichstag elections of September 1930, the Nazis became the second largest party in the Reichstag, behind the SDR with 107 seats. NthougliTessenow never agreed with Nazism, nuny of Ins students did. They invited Speer to a N^i student rally at which Hitler was to speak. Speer chimed to have been uninterested in politics as a young man. Nevertheless, he attended the student rally, which was held in a BerthL beer-hall, It was December 1930. Hitter entered the hall to the
67
Why did Speer, a well-educated, nitddle-dans inari, join the Nazi Party? Was it their strong stance against coriumunism? Was Hitter's chartsnn an important factor, as Speer clamed? Certainly, in the Reichstag elections of 1930, a significant proportion of the Nazi Party vote came from people with sinnlar economic backgrounds to Speer, people who traditionally voted for the conservative German National P^ople's Pa"ty conyP) or th^ German Pcopl^'s Party cow). By 1930, the jinddle class was be conting Increasingly convinced that Hitler^; anticoriumutiist stance and solutions for Germanyls econontic plight would prevent the possibitity of a Russian-style revolution. The riftddle dass also endorsed the Nazi Party's ttiorougli opposition to the directives of the Treaty of Versailles. Hitter's alliance with A1fred Hugenberg, the leader of the DNVP, to oppose the 1929Young Plan's renegotiation of the Treaty of Versailles proved a highly successful strategy for the Nazis. It made Hitler respectable in the eyes of the nitddle class and encouraged wealthy DNVP-voting industrialists to support the Nazi Party financially. Political credibility; an improvement in the Nazi Parry^ image and Hitler'^ personal ring, Ietism made the Nazi Party appear to be a viable
political option. These factors were enough to override any ofSpeert; concerns about anti-Sentitism or fanaticism, and convinced him to put Inns hidi in the Nazi Parry. ,
applause of the students' To Speer\; surprise, Hider was dressed in a neat blue suit, rather than in the broom uitifi3rm of the Nazi Party posters.
Speer was even more impressed when Hider began lads speech. He did not shout excitedly as Speer had thougllt he would, but spoke persuasively and soberIy about Its vision for Ceriumy. Speer dimed to have been deeply affected, not only with Hider'^ proposed solutions to the direat orconunuriism andl, is renunciation of the Treaty of Versailles
(1919), but also with the mm him^16 Arew weeks later, Speer attended another Nani harry. T}lis dine, the rally was presided over by Joseph Goebbets, the future Naal Minister for
, ~
ALBERT SPEER 69
Two
condemned the modern city as an tramoral wasteland inhabited by Jews and cornmuriists who sought to corrupt the soul of the native German
SPEER AND THE
NAZI PARTY, 1933-1942
peasant. Dart6 denounced urbanisation and urged the 'repatriation' of Aryan Gemmm to the countryside. This racist philosophy soon found a PTOiimnent place in Nazi propaganda and changed the Nazis' oudook towards modern architecture and the industrial city. Nazi opposition to modern architecture was first voiced by A1fred Ros"rib". g. In 1928, h" found, d th" Kami!foundjti, dant, ,h, K"!t",
(I, eagle of Struggle for German Culture), an organisation of mainly right-wing architects and intonectuals who were devoted to arresting THE NAZIS AND MODERN A RC H IT E CTU RE
Germany\; 'cultural aecfine'. Kampi%",, d members gave speaking tours and presented various native German cultural events to the public. As editor of the Nazi paper 1'61ki^cher Beob@chtet, Rosenberg was able to spread the Kirinzi*""d's attitudes about architecture. From 1930,1.61kischer
Beo6@chief contained articles that equated modern architecture with post-
(1925) that architecture was an important measure of a nation^; power and strength. Tmtially, the Nazis did riot pay much attention to architecture and Teijiained silent during the conservative attacks on the
war decadence, 'racial' degeneration and all that was 'wrong' with the Weirnar Republic. The paper also contended that the internationalist style of modern architecture war not Tele^nt to native German culture and that it had become a Inark of rims society and urbimsation. Paul Schultze-Naumbutg, co-creator of the Hetingtsiilhouse, was a
Bauhaus schoolin the 1920s. If anything* as the Nazi paper 161kischer
prominent member of the Ichmpjb""d, and helped it to mount an active
Be@6nchter (Peqple^ Observed attested on a fow occasions, the Nazis Were hitly positive roomds the nat-Toofod prefabricated housing and modern furnishings of the 1920s. They were also open to Germany's industrial development and the Weimar Republic's low-cost public housing schemes. In 1930, this began to change and direct criticism of modern architecture became part of Natipolicy, Nazi opposition to modem adjitectuie was simulated by Richard Valter Darr6, who joined the Nazi Party in 1928. It was Darr6, an agonontist, who developed the Nati concept of 61"t ",, d fuda, (blood and soil) and characterised the debate over 'the city versus the country' in racial terms. Darr6 idealised the Ceriumi peasant and the countryside as the true sources of morality and native spirit. At the same dine, he
and influential campaign against modern art and architecture. Unlike Tersenow, Schultze-Naumburg^ advocacy of the 'traditional Gern^n' pitched-roof house mm not simply rehted to a desire to retreat from the industrial city (and its nat roo^) and return to small-town life and
Architecture held a special place in Hitler's political ideology. Hitler, a
once-aspiring architect, argued in his book Mein Kampf (My Slinggle)
pitched Too^. For Schultze-Namnburg, the pitched roof was the only style of roof fit for the houses of Aryan Germam, because it gave the
impression of being'rooted in the soil'. Like, Dane, Schultze-Naumburg espoused the 61"t ""d 60de, IPIxilOSophy and'equated modem architecture with a 'ToodessJewish urbanisation' hat was at odds with the spirit of the native German. Schultze-Naumburg^; efforts allied other like-nitrided , architects and together they formed a subsidiary group to the
Aryan: in Nazi ideology. a nori-Jewish Caucasian. especially one with blonde hair; blue Richard Waiter Darr, : Reich Minister of Agriculture. 1933-1942. agronomis. : a soil and crop scientist blut undbo, *en:the Nazi philosophy that Aryan Germans should Ilvein close contact with their native soil, i. e. the countryside.
68
eyes and fair skin.
Mired Rosenberg: editor of towscherBeobachterand Reich Minister of Occupied Eastern Territories, 1941-1945. subsidiary: secondary. additional.
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ALEERT SinEER 71
INDIVIDUALS IN MODERN HISTORY
- --. ,...
K"MRIb""of, which am known us ^ Kampfb""d wits'kararthit, kt, " ""d Inge"ie"re (KDAl) (I. .eag"" of German A, .hirerts and Engineers). By 1933, the Nazi Party was clearly advocating a preforence for a native Gemnn style of building, and minimed that modem artistic and
conform to the bint und 60de" ideology as Goebbels f;31t that Nazism should promote rather than restrict creativity. By 1935, Hider decided in favour of Goebbels. The Reichsk"!tark@miner became the only legal
campaign speeches the Nazis prointsed that once in power they would exclude modernist architects from positions of power and deny them any
professional organisation for architects and the unAl subsequenrly lost
In 1932, the Nazis won control of the Dessau City Council and forced it to withdraw its support for the Banhaus school. The school closed doam its Deusau operations and moved to Berlin. The refuge in Berthn was short lived, however, for when the Nazis won power there early in 1933, the Gestapo raided the school and arrested students, allegedIy for possessing'coriumutiist propagandainnterial'. The schoolwas subsequenrly shut down. From the moment Hitler became Chancellor fullanunry 1933, the
Nazis began to impose their will on the architectural profession across Germany, They forced many of the wein-known modernist architects
from their teaching posts, such as Ham Poelzig, RoberrVorhoelzer and Ham Scharoun. Intones thisI}% the less well-kiloum moderntst architectteachers conchued teaching without interference. Moderntst architects I ,I
unlike the unAl the Reichsk"!t"rknmmer did not require architects to
architectural movements were decadent and coriumuriist. In their
influence on architecture.
I I
exdudedJews, coriumuiiists and socialists from membership. Significanrly,
its influence and status. In Tunny ways, tins episode was typical of the
ringlry and power play between Nazi leaders such as Goebbels and Rosenberg. It was also evidence that different architectuml preferences and different understandings of Nazism - were emerging among the Nazi leadership. Given that Goebbels had aisntissed the bl"t ""of both" restrictions,
there were hopes among modernists that he might be more toIemnt of modern architecture. Artistically, the Reichsk"hang"miner merely required
architects to desigibuildin!g; that e, ,pressed'proper architectural design'. Just what constituted 'proper architectural design' was never reamy identified and generally, the Reichsk"link@miner did not interfere with an architect's artistic freedom. But the and-modernist campaign waged by
the K@MRIb""d and the anA1 had done its work, leaving modernist architects unable to obtain new conirriissions. T}lis, combined with anti-
Senfitism and political restrictions, caused many of Germany;s greatest cu^rig-edge architects to leave the country: Ludwig Mies mm der R. ohe
were also removed from adjnimstrative positions in the departinent of public housing. Most significantly; the Nazis merged the Vein^
left for the United States in 1934;Walter GEopiusleft for ETicoinin 1934
Republic's B""d dartsche, /lithit"Aim (BDA) (0"g^in^adon of German Architects) and the Dentsche Workb""dinto the LCDAl. mimembers of the
for Britain in 1933 and then went to the United States in 1941,
and then went to the United States in 1937; and Erich Mendelsohn left
KDAl had to conform to the Kampfb""d architectural style, cl^actorised by b!"t ""of both, ,. Members were forbidden to belong to the Social Democratic Party (SPD) or the Cerium Coriumuriist Party (FCPD). Jews were to be excluded.
A few months later in November 1933, Goebbels set up a rival orgyiiisation for architects under the auspices of his Ministry for Prop^g"rich. The Reichs^"fur^@mine, (R~, ich Chamber of Culture) encompassed all fields of artistic endeavour, such as architecture, radio,
film, music and literature, and aimed to create a new relationship between artists and the state. Like the KDAl, the Reichsk"irurkammer
S P E E R' S EARLY A S S O C IATIO N WITH THE NAZIS , ^
Speer!; pinus to develop lits prints architectum practice on Its days off from teaching proved unsuccessful. The deepening econointc depression of the late 1920s led to a downturn in the construction industry, making it very dimwit for a young architect like Speer to had desigri work. When his assistsnt lecturer^ salary was reduced by the Geni^n government in 1932
as a budget-bahnd, Ig measure, Speer resigned Ins post and moved back to Gestapo: Nazi secret police.
tits boyhood tomm of Mumheim. He planmed to nomge Ins ^then;
72
ALBERT SPEER
INDIVIDUALS IN MODERN HISTORY
73
.
properties and attempt to establish himelf as an architect there. Again, Speer!; efforts to obtain architectuml commitssioris came to nod^Ig in the depressed econointc environment. His only architectural work was the reconstruction of one of Its parents' buildingj. Speer realised he would have
to refiirbish the ChanceUery in collaboration with Hitler^ OBIcial architect, Paul LudwigTroost who had been a member of the Nazi Party since 1924 and was grearly aimiired by Hider. His work for the Nazis included the remodelling of the Patch BathwiriMuntch in 1931 (which
more chance of folding work in a bigger city and returned to Berlin, On his arrival in Berlin* Speerjoined his local Nation 41sozi@lis!tsche
became the 'Brown House' - the National Headquarters of the Nazi
Party) and it, ^ derig, I for d, ^ Han, der dantsch, ,, K",,, t (House of Gernnn
fogj^ahrer-Kops 0.1SKK) (Motorists'Association of the Nationalsocialist Party). As Speer was the first Nazi Party member in Iris district to join,
Art) in 1933.
he became the association's head. His district headquarters were 'WestEnd Bermi'led by Kre^skim^ (Naxi distri, t reader) K^, I Hank^. Hank^
knew of Speer's architecturel qualifications and had him redecorate the inside of Ins new district organisation headquarters. Hanke rose quicldy throngli the mmks of the Nazi Party and by 1932 was a Reichstag deputy and head of the whole Bermn section of the Nazi Party. As an NSKK member, Speer offered I'S car and Iris driving services to the Party for a day in preparation for the UPCoining Reichstag
chad. us of July 1932. The Nazi Party was stunmmgly rug, ^,, fi"I at tt, ^^^ elections, and gained 37 per cent of the vote, which nude it the largest
single party in the Reichstag. The victorious Nazi Party wanted to flaunt its new prestige and power, and purchased several new buildings for parry headquarters and party residences. The day after his driving service, Speer was contacted by Hanke who asked him to Techcorate the new district headquarters on Voss
Speer's efforts on the ChanceUery building pleased Hitler, who *_ ,. -
invited him to dinner. Hider was impressed when he learnt that Speer
had been responsible for the work on COGbbels' mittsterial building and on the 1933 Noremberg Rally. Hider took a liking to Speer. The two men talked about art and building design over lunch and thriller, In
Speer, Hitler saw a young untried architect who could carry the partys ideology and his (Hitler^;) own architecturel ideas beyond his lifetime. Speer soon became part of Hider^; timer circle, He was given a party uniform and appointed to R"dor Hess's staff as Able fungsleiter
co^pa. oment Chief of Public Works) and to Goebb. Is' Ministry of Propaganda, Shoaly afterwards he was invited by Hider to live on his bigli-security mountain estate at Obersalzberg. In January 1934, PaulLudwigTroo$t died. Antile whilelater*despite not having desigied a single building, Speer*received his first major comintsion from the Nazi government: to design and build pern^nent bleachers for the Zeppelin Field in Nunmberg.
Street, Berlin. Eiglit montlislater in March 1933, he received another call from Haul:e. By no\^ Hider had been installed as ChanceUor and the
Nazis had won the subsequent Reichstag elections with nearly 44 per cent of the vote. Hanke had become secretary to Goebbels. This time,
^I
Hanke offered Speer the job of rebuilding and redecoratitig the new building for COGbbels' Minttry of Propaganda on Withehn\; Square. Before long, Speer was being hired for many assigiunents for the new Nazi government, induding the extension of Goebbels' house; decorations for the 1933 May Day Tally at Tempelhof; and decorations for the NUTemberg Party Rally of 1933, where he installed a huge
Reich eagle overlooking the Zeppelin Field. Speer was also called on
Reich o. 91. : a symbol of the Nazi regime. Zeppelin Field: Named after Fednand von Zeppelin 11838-19.71 a German army officer and airship builder
ARCHITECTURE AND NAZI P RO PAGAN DA
I ,
Goebbets' Ministry of Propaganda never specified a particular architecnaral style for the Nazi regime. Despite Nazism^; totalitarian innge, a single prescribed Nazi style was not evident in the realm of archirectum. Rather, there were a number of different architectural styles
R"doll He's: Deputy NSDAPleader 1933-, 940. bleachers: an open^ir stand for spectators.
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74
INDIVIDUALS IN MODERN HISTORY
ALBERT SPEER
. .. ^
75
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in use. This lack of consistency reflected the ideological disagreement
SPEER, THE NAZI ARCHITECT
promoted as a progressive and revolutionary party leading Germany into
S eer set to work making a plaster model of his desig^ for the bleachers
within the Nazi leadership over whether Nazism should be exclusiveI
the future or as a conservative party returning Ceriumy to the 'security'
at the Nutemberg Zeppelin Field. His design strongly incorporated
of its pre-industrial Aryan past.
monumen^I neo-Classical features, but also, thanks to Tessenow s
Essentially individual Nazi leaders opted for an architectural style that reflected their own particular understanding of the party and insaned it with the corresponding ideological signficance. For exam Ie,
influence, contained elements of the simple and abstract form. Hider
approved the design and construction began murrediately in order to
have the bleachers ready for the 1934 NUTemberg Party Rally, The bleachers consisted of along staircase enclosed by a colonnade, with a
Baldu, von Shita. h, reader of the HitlerJ"gund (HiderYouth), argued that HiderYouth hostels and halls be desigied in a modern style, utilisin
steel and glass, in order to convey the impression that Nazism stood fot progress' and youth'. The Ordealsb",:ge, , schools were built in a neo-
Romanesque style, which suggested a traditional and mystical connection with the kingiits of medieval Germany. Buildings collar^stoned by Darr6:; thinstty of Agriculture opted for the bl"I "rid
both" folk style, Others preferred a neo-Classical monumen^I style of
II
platform for honoured guests in the rinddle of the stairs and seating for "
over 100 000 people.
S eer war conscious of Hitter's beherin the thousand-year Reich
and clearly saw himelf as the architect for such posterity, He noted that iron and steel reinforcement, as was used in modern buildings, ulthriately
made a building look unattractive when it deteriorated. Speer flit that construction from stone would lend a quiet inagriificence to his
architecture, which conveyed the ringliit and power of the Reich. Hider never intervened in the ideological disputes over architecture,
builchiigs as they decayed in the discont fixture, like the ruins of indent
As an opportunist, Hider saw the value of promoting the Nazi Party as
The ruin value theory rt:jeered the use of steel or iron reinforcement for
both conservative - conserving the cultural heritage of'the race'. and progressive - pushing Germany into a new era, Nonetheless, Hider had
his ouni preforences. He saw architecture as an e, cpression of the national unity and power of Nazi Germany;'the thousand-year Reich' where the architect worked in tandem with the politician. It was throu h
Hider's desire to impress the Thight and power of the Reich upon Germans and the rest of the world that architecture would attain an
unparalleled political signficance in Germany and propel Speer, Ins new
apprentice, into notoriety.
Greece and Rome. To tills end, Speer proposed a 'theory of ruin value'.
buildings, as was the modern practice. Instead, it proposed that the use of stone aria brick, both for reinforcement aria for construction, would
result in a building that ultimately, in a thousand years' time*would look like the rum of an important site. In keeping with his ruin theory, Speer
designed the bleachers to be made entirely of stone. He even had a drawing done to show Hider what the bleachers would eventually look like as a twill.
I
THE 'CATHEDRAL OF LIGHT
S eer!; next assigrmient was to desigi the decor for the 1934 Nommberg Rail . He made excelrsive use of the Nazi swastika flag; and bamers, and
draped them across buildings and between houses along the streets of Baldur von Shineh: Head of the Hitler Youth, 1933-1940. Hitler Jugond the official Nazi Party organisation for boys,
Ord, "sb"rg. in IC. 3.10 OrderI schools: selective Nazi secondary schools. neo-Romanesque: an architectural style based on the Romanesque style of architeciure of the late tenth to the early thirteenth centuries in Europe.
thousand-year Reich: a Naziideology that the Reich would last for 1000 years.
Noremberg. Speerts most memomble work for the 1934/1. .ally was the desi for the, 4mts, ,niter. The, tintstmlterwas a rally for the middle- and
minorparty dignitaries. Speer created a drainedc scene, and or^litsed the rail participants to march into the stadium in darkness, mumimted by 130 seamhligl, ts pornfu, g toward^ it, . ^kyThe readt mm spdlbinding. British Ambassador Sir Neville Heriderson declared it was like being in
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76
INDIVIDUALS IN MODERN F11STORY
AIR"RT SPEER
";
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a cathedral made of ice, but Speer pref;erred to describe it as a 'cathedral
of lis!It'. It \\^Is'captured oninm by Lent Rie^instahltiiher Till""PI! des Wine"s (1935) (T;jumph of!helm!), ^ documentary, (and prop^gand^) film about the 1934 Nazi Party Rally at Nutemberg. \ I
THE NUKEMBERG PARTY RALLY SITE
a
The Nuremberg I\. allies were central to tile aissenxiitation of Nazi propaginda. It \\, as at these annual assemblies of Nazisni that Hitler \\, as presented to the Getrnnn people as the triumphant national savioLrr gild that Nazi policies were announced, including the notorious Nutemberg Laws of 1935. By 1934, Hider had deterInitTed that more buildiri!;s and stadiums would be needed for filmre NUTeinberg rallies. These buildings \\, ere to be utilised for concerts, lullitary exercises and party speeches atIring the allies. Speer had the idea of building an entire rally complex at NUTemberg on one site, covering over 16 square
* * a
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kiloillerres. Nl buildings v. ,onId be desigiled in tlic monuntental neo-
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it
*
Classical style and use stone for their construction. Hider was hugely,
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impressed \vith the concept. He approved the design in 1935 and established the ZIPecl:perb, Ind Reichspaneitqg$ A1tir, thing (Zl\. PT) 0.1urtinberg Reich Party Rally Ground Association) to oversee coltstr'ucCion and finance for Clte project.
Speer;; design. for the Tally site incorporated a. parade ground where 'the army could perform hintary I, lanoetivres, surrounded by stands for 160 000. specmtors'. and 24 ' rowers; a processional a\, errue over two
kilometres long for the aru, yto Inardt do\^ryi and drive their tanks and equipment; a grand horseshoe-shaped stadium* kn. 0^, 11 as the Gemnn Shadiiiit)'; a Congress Hawand a Culture 'Hall. The entire complex \\^s -.
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designed by Speer, \vith the e. Econtion of tile Congress Hall, which 11ad been designed by Ludwig l
.
A1bert Speqr^'bathed181 of light; 1934
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.,
Leninid. nstahl:internationally famous filmmaker of the Third Reich.
.~ . .
Nuremberg Laws: Nazi laws announced In 1935 that removed citizenship and political rights from Jews and from those with Jewish ancestry. *
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ALUiRT SPEER
I N D I V I D U A I_ S I N M O D E !I. N ! ! I S T O R. Y
7q
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Most staditiiirs of that period seated only 100 000, while Speer's Gentian tt. *
Stadiuin would seat 400 000 people. SPCer\; plans for the NUTemberg site werc subiilitred to the Paris World's Fair of 1937 and won the Grand
43
I
_*.*
Prix. The cornerstone for the sindiunt \\, ariaidin September of that year.
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B E RL I N
$<;a$ {>-*',
Hitler had long held a personal dcsire to redesigri Germany's premier city Berlin. He wanted Berlin to be the greatest city in the world,
$34
surpassiiTg Paris andVieni}a. The new Berlin, Hider hoped, would restore
German confidence and self-esteeiii after the shame imposed by tire Treaty of Versailles. Since the 1920s, Hitler had been drawilIg Ile\\, designs for che city of Berlin, based on \vh, it he admired in Paris and Viei}na. He particularly liked h(^, the Champs Elysees in Paris a ,
a
"
cumiinated in the Arc dc Trioiiiphe. He also adrnired Vieni^;; Ri'jigstr"$3e on whichlay all of Viernia!;important public blindin!gs. .Hitler envisaged a Charnps Elysees~style boulewrd runtxing north~south through Berhn (except longer and \vider). The choice of a north^outh boulevard was
illogical, particuhrly as Berlin's malt nanic now was east-west. Speer^; office claimed chat the north^ouch boulevard would help maintain hatlic order, barit was never e:, platingd exacrly howit \\, ould do this. At ,;
the northern end of the boule\^rd, Hider planned a huge 111eeting hall,
4
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,
5:5t, ..,., *~
capped by all cnoniious dome \virli a diamerer five-and-a~half mes that
of Saint Peter's Basilicain Rome. At the southern end, Hitter wanted a
triumphal arch (over three times higher than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris) that would bear all the names of Gerinaity, ^; war dead. These dimensiorrs were not only designed to inspire and intimidate Genjiam and foreign visitors; they \\, ere also intended to serve the city of Berlin into the distant trainen, mum. Indeed, the expansive breadth of the gnutd boulevard was desigiled co be \\, ide errouglt to arconunodate thousands
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of marching German people at Tallies and parades in the supposedly \, icrorious future:
Although Speer had no forIl}al town-planarntig experience, he was commissioned to carry out Hidcrt; Berlin plans in January 1937 aria
Amert Spee, andAdolf Hitler discussing architectural blueprints at Ober$812berg.
,
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,
millennium: a period of one thousand years' ,
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INDIVIDUALS IN MODERN HISTORY
given an office and staff ofarchitects and adjiiintstrators to f;ICilitate it,
Hitler also made him an honorary 'profossor' and reforred to him as
'Profossor Speer' thereafter. Speer e>:panded on Hider^ ideas, and planned to reor^ruse the Berlin railroad system; instaU an east-west boulevard; a new university quarter; and a new medical quarter. New ministry
buildings, theatres, cinemas and hotels, many of them shotNitig the
ALBER. T SPEER
81
created the Man l\esetdement Division, headed by Dietrich Clades. The task of the Main Resetrlement Division was to make a list of all the
Jewish-occupied aparttnents in Berfin; evictJewish tenants; and allocate Jewish' aparmients to Aryan Germam who were to lose their aparmients because of Speer\; demolition work.
influence of grandiose nineteenrli-century architecture, would line the central avenue. He also planned to have woodlands of deciduous trees
planted on the outskirts of the city centre. His model of Berlin, correct to the last detail, am put on display in the exhibition Toolus of the Berlin
Academy of Arts in 1937. The Bermn project was due for completion in 1950.
Hirler decided that the costs of tramforniing Berfin into a grind metropolis, including architectural philting and demolition, was to be borne by the city itself The city adrninisttators of Bettin were alarmed
by tliis and were ittitially reincmnt to cooperate. Dr. Julius Lippert, lord
mayor of Berlin, particularly tried to have the grandiosity of the designs
restrained. In order to thwart Lippert, Hider made Speer CanonlB, "impelgto, (GBl)I;,, die Reich, hanpt, mat (importor~Goneral of Building for the Reich Capital), a position that made Speer answersble only to Hider and bypassed the jurisdiction of Uppert. Hitler also
indicated that he was quite prepared to build a new capitol city elsewhere. The Berlin city admittstrators quickly capitulated.
The Bermi transformation required the demolition of 50 000
aparmients near the city centre. This meant that nuny people would need to be relocated in and around Berlin. With over 23 000 aparmients ,I
I'
,I
in Berfin occupied by Jewish tenants, the Bermi makeover and its subsequent necessary' resetrlement program went hand-in-hand with the Nazi Party!; anti-Sentitic policy
In April 1939, the Nazis passed 'The Law Concerning the Rental Situation of Jews'. The law stated that Jewish tenants no longer had the
THE NEW CHANCELLERY
In keeping with Its status as leader of the 'thousand-year Reich*, and his liking for grandiosity* Hider instructed Speer to desigi a new, enlarged Chancenery building in January 1938. Hider was anxious for Speer to complete the entire project - from blueprints co construction and furnishing - by early January 1939, so that he could hold a diplomatic reception. Speer agreed and nomediately ordered the demolition of houses on 1.65s Stmsse to linke room for the new building. He had 8000 builders, labourers and craftsmen working day and inglit in two shifts to
get the project completed on time, Speer^ New Chancellery building was desigied to give foreign diplomats and dignitaries an impression of the power and magnificence of the Reich. From the large gates at the entrance, a diplonut had to walk 220 metres dunugli a sequence of ornateIy decorated stately coolin to reach Hideris reception hall. Over Hitler\; o111ce doors hung gilded panels displaying the FourVir. ues -'Wisdom, Prudence, Fortitude and Justice'. It also had a large balcony on the first floor to enable Hider to wave at and greet the adoring crowds below. Underneath the New Chancellery was the most impor^It room of all: Hider\; underground air-raid shelter. According to Speer's memoirs, Hider was again thinned with Speer\; efforts (except that he omited the reception hall tripled in size) and awarded him the Golden Party Badge. *
security of the Tenant Protection Law if a dispute arose between
~
themselves and their landlord and that the landlord could break a lease at
any time if their tenant was Jewish. Regional housing authorities throughout Germany were given the job of'Telocafuig'Jewish people witliin their cities. In Betfin, however, the ongoing construction and demolition work meant that the responsibility for this work passed to Sneer^ onice. Working dosely with it, ^ Schut^satel (SS), who in theory were responsible for carrying out the Nazis' anti-Senittic policies, Speer
Four Virtues: also known as the 'four cardinal virtues'. considered by the Ancient Greek philosophers to be the essential virtues of moral excellence.
^
82
ALBERT SPEER
INDIVIDUALS IN MODERN HISTORY
ARCHITECTURE AND
ECONOMIC RECOVERY Aside from its value as propaganda* architecture also served the economic goals of the Nati Party. Architecture and construction work were central to Germany's economic recovery from the Great Depression, Speer and
Ins o^ce were not the only architects working for Hider. There were at
83
WORLD WAR 11
The outbreak of World War U brought a sudden halt to construction work on the Nuremberg Party Rally site and on Bermiby March 1940. Only town planntng work and stone acquisition were allowed to continue. After signing the truce with Finnce tillune, Hider decreed that construction in NUTemberg, Berfin, Munich, Hamburg and Linz could
least ten others working for him, designing the new city centres of Munich, Hamburg and Linz (Hitler!; boyhood town in Austria).
go ahead (sinaner sites were closed). Hider\; belief in Germany^; imminent victory led him to trustst on speedy completion of the bullchiig
Furthermore, other lulliistries wiimn the Nazi Party, such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the HitlerYouth also coniriiissioned a great number of construction works. Hitler\; monumental building programs at
progranrs at NUTemberg and Berlin, in order to have them ready for victory celebrations. Seven of Germany's best construction funrs formed a cornimttee to ensure rapid completion of the works, and orders for
NUTemberg and Berfin were a tremendous boost to the economy, not only because of the mumense size of the prqjects, but also because Hider assignied the works top priority which meant that a large workforce was needed to get the projects completed quickly. Huge contracts for
stone were increased. HitlerI; call for this swift completion had a direct impact on the lives of concentration camp prisoners' By August 1941, over 10 000 prisoners were quarrying stone and making bricks. Germany\; successful occupation of Poland, Denmark, Nonuay,
construction and materials were awarded 'to German firms and
Belgium, Houand, Luxembourg and France gave access to the building
thousands oflthouring and building jobs were created,
muterials avallable in those countries, and the numbers of prisoners also increased. In 1940, Hemrich Hilumler, leader of the SS, invited Speer to tour the occupied territories to deternitne the location of suitable
THE STONE INDUSTRY
quarries, so that the SS could set up new concentration camps nearby.
The Natzweiler concentration camp in Akace, France was purposely
:.
:11
Hitler^ building program was also responsible for an additional stimulus to the Genreny economy as the Nazis began their rearmament program in 1936. The building works at NUTemberg and Berlin required vast quantities of stone, and did not need iron or steel for Teitorcement. Tliis meant that more iron and steel were avallable for amialnents and limbtary construction work. It also meant that the stone and quarrying industries were able to nuke a considerable profit. The profitability of the stone industry, helped by Hider\; prioritisation and by his continual insistence that the works proceed more quickly, was duly exploited by the SSThe SS controlled all the concentration camps for political prisoners throughout Gemmny. They orgyiiised stone quarrying and stone masonry operations and set their prisoners to work quarrying stone. With an unpaid labour force that they could mercilessly exploit at win, the SS were able to concentrate on meeting litglIler and his1:1er production quotas. T}lis put them at a disthict advantage over German quarrying firnrs tendering for stone contracts. .
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. located near a source of red granite. By 1942, the war had turned against Germany. The failure of their British and Russian campaigns and the en^y of the United Stares into the war mude for a deddedly more desperate situation in Germany; more
resources and- funding were poured into the Thintary effort. A grearly reduced ZR. PT staff continued to place onIers for stone but it was poinrless. By 1945, only two of the five in;!jbr buildings at Nuremberg had been completed. The parade ground was left with only U of its 24 towers completed; the Congress Hall was finished to the third floor; and the Gemnn Stadium was little more than a huge hale in the ground. Apart from the disruption to the building projects, the war also changed Speer!;Jewish rehoustrig program. From the beginiimg of 1941, Speer ordered an increase in the rate of Jewish evictions from Bermi and
allocated their apartments to Aryan Germam whose houses had been damaged by the Allies' air raids. In October 1941, Bermn\; Jews were rounded up by the Gestapo and taken to a Berlin synagogue. From there they were packed onto trains headed for concentration camps in the east,
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A1bert Speer's plan to transform Berlin into the ca ital of a 1,000- R ' h cre^ted a vast monument to misanthropy, as Roger Moorhouse e jams.
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n 1937 Hider's architectAlbert Speerwas given
the task of transforming Berfin from the sprawling metropolis that it was into Germania, the gleaming newtapital of a Greater German *
'World Empire; the centrepiece of the civilised world. It was a vast undertaking. Plans, swiftly drami up
bySpeer's office, were presented to the public on Ianuary28th, 1938. The reaction within Germanywas
predictably enthusiastic, with newspapers carrying detailed e, :planations andconimentaries. DerA?18nff
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stated that the designs were 'truly monumental . . . far exceeding an a, pertations:whilettie yolkischer
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Beo6@chierprodaimedgrandlythat'from this desert'
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of stone, shalemerge the capital of a tt!ousand-year
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Reich{ The foreign press, though less effi. Isive,
nonetheless concurred. The New fork Times, for
instance, described the project as 'perhaps the most
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ambitious planning scheme' of the modern era. The planscertainlydid notwant for ambition. In
,;
accordance with Hitter's originalsketches they centred
.
on a grandboulevard, whichwas to run from north to
south for around seven kilometres through the heart of
the city, linking two proposed new rail termini. Given
carte blanche in redesigning this vast swathe of the city
centre, Speerand his minionshad had afield dayand theirplansreadlike a catalogue of comparatives and
A1bert Speer presents Hitler with a modelof the German Pavilion designed for the World^ Fairin Paris, 1937.
superlatives. The vast Grand Hall, for instance, dose to
April1939 and was erected in aside-Tooni of the Reich Chancenery. Though Hitter's interest in the
project was restricted aimost orclusively to the north-
south axis - and he would often return to muse over the model - the plans were not litiiited to that one
the Reichstag, would have been the largest endosed space in the world, with a dome 16 inner larger than that ofSt Peter's in Rome. Designed to host 180,000 people, there were concerns among the planners that
headline designs into a much more thoroughgoing
the analed breath of the audience might even produce 'weather' beneath the cavernous coffered ceiling. The 1/7-metre tallArch of Triumph, meanwhile, was
First of all, Berlins railnetwork was to be overhauled, with the two new stations replacing three old termim
designed - on Hitter's a:press instruction - to carry the
line that would circle the city centre. Roads, too, were to
WorldWar engraved uponits waris. Similarly massive, it
be redrawn. The two newboulevards-the proposed north-south axis and the east-west axis, completed in 1939-were onlythe centrepieceofa radical redevelop-
names of Germany's 1.8 Twillon fatten of the First
would have comfortably accommodated its Parisiari namesake beneath its arch. Linking these monuments
area. Speer had succeeded in incorporating those
reorganisation of the city's infrastructure.
andwithmanymiles of sidings being replaced by anew
alongrlie newaxiswouldbe aplethoraofnewbuitdings, civic and commercial, flanking broad avenues,
merit. In addition Speer foresaw the city's formerly organic urban growthbeingrationalisedbyftieaddition
ornamentalobeEsks, an artifidallalce and avant'circus' Peppered with Nazistatuary. Opposite: SS sentries guard
the outermost of which would provide a on'eat connect.
The image that win be fulmar to many is of Hitler ' , 'r' entrance of
inspecting the white scale-modelofftiis main axis, builtin, 938 ' 20
which was presented to him on his 50th birthdayin
History 76thy I March 2012
of radialthorouglifdres and four concentric Ting Toads,
ion to the German autobalin network.
Entire suburbs were to be constructed to provide modern housing stock, administrative buildings and
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new coinmerdal developments, which, it was planned, would accommodate over 200,000 Berliners, moved
out of the slums of the city centre. New airports were foreseen, indriding one for seaplanes on the lake at Rangsdorf. Even the city's parks would be revamped, with horticultural studies being commissioned to report on the species that were required to restore the 18th-century flora of the region. Such was the scale of the Germania plans that, when Speer's futiler-himself an architect - saw them, he summed up the thoughts of manyof his contemporaries, saying: 'You've an gone completely crazy. ' Of courseonlyatinyftactionofthese grandiose ~
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was moved to its presentlocation to make way for the projected north-southA>d. s. Most bizarrely, the southern suburb of Tompdhof still contains a huge circular concreteblockweighirig over 12,000 tonnes-the Schwerbel@styfigsk6?per, or'heawload-bearing bodywhich was supposed to help Speer's engineers gauge the abrlity of Berlin\;sandysoilto takeftievastweightofthe proposed Arch of Triumph. Toolarge and too solidto demolish, the block stands to this day as a stent monumerit to Nazi megalomania.
.
More than a piped ream
Given that so little of Germania was ever completed and that onlya fraction of it remains, it is easyto underestimate its significance. Speer's planned rebuilding of Berlin is too readity dismissed as a Nazi pipedream; astill-born manifestation of Hitter's architestural fantasies thankfulIy confined to the drawing board. Yet, inspire of the fact diat Germania never cameinto being it would be aimstakcifwewereto arrow ourselves to viewit merely as an abstract: a foly, or an architectural curiosity somehow divorced from the odious regime that spawned it. For, as we shall see, Germania was in many ways a rather perfect represen-
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tation of Nazism.
First, the issue of its feasibility must be assrssed. .Despite its soaring ambition the plan to re-model Berlinwas part of avertable orgyofbuildingthathad
gripped the later, peacetimeyears of the Third Reich. Much of that, certainly, was relatively small-scale barracks, sealements, schools and so on -but anumber .~
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of projects showed similarly monumental tendencies and were themselves considerable feats of planning and construction. Most famously, perhaps, thereis the erample ofl{met's vast newReich Chancelery, which stretched the entire 400-metre length of the Voss Strasse in Bermiandwas completed in 1939 at a cost of over 90
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was intended as much for poittical as for sporting ends. Goring's Air Ministry meanwhile, also completed in 1936, was once the largest office building in the world,
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offering 2,800 rooms across seven floors with 4,000 windows and nearly seven kilometres of corridors.
Today it is home to the German finance ministry. Elsewliere construction was Do more modest. In
NUTemberg Speer's filmed tribune on the Zeppelin Field was dwarfed by the nearby Congress Hall, modelled on the Colosseum in Rome, which was built
to accommodate 50,000 of the Nazifaittiful. Though it only reached a height of 39 metres - as opposed to the 70 metres that was planned - it is still the largest surviving building of the Nazi period; while at Prora, on the Baltic coast, a huge holiday resort was constructed, which, though unfinished at the outbreak
of war. in 1939, stretched for 4.51un along the seaftont and would have housed over 20,000 holidaymakers. Even Hider's folly above Be rehtesgaden - the Kehlsteinhaus, or 'Eagle's Nest' - was an ambitious
project. Completed in 1938, after lime over a yearin construction, it was sited atop an Alpine ridge at an altitude of over 6,000 feet and was accessed via a
purpose-built seven-kilometre mountain road, which had to be blasted into the mountainside.
When coiTsidering Hitter's plans for Berlin, therefore, one must bearin mind the wider context of Nazi
construction and the astonishing track record that
Hitter's architects alreadyhadin successfiiUy realising his visions. Germania was not mere Nazi'pie in the 22
HistoryTodayl March 2012
The plan for fourconcentric ring roads dissected by the axes of Germania, 1938.
sky. It was a part of a concerted programme to provide Germanywith aportfolio of grand-scale, monumental architecture, which, Hitler believed,
would be seen as the defining buildings of the age, rivals to Egypt, Babylon and Rome, inspiring future generations of Germans. It was certainly not merely a dictator's architectural wish-list.
Quarries and camps
Given its central importance to the Nazivision, the
building frenzy-of which Germaniawas part-was thoroughly integrated into the Third Reich's economy and terror networks. Indeed it is not widely understoodjust how close the relationship was between the
building programme and the concentration camps, The vaste>:pansion of the camp system from 1936 onwards had, in fact, been fuelled primaritybythe
demand for labour and materials from the burgeoning construction sector, with Nbert Speer - and Germania - in the vanguard.
Consequently, many of the most infamous CODcentration camps of the Naziera- Mauthausen, Gross
Rosen and Budienwald among them - were established close to quarries. The camp at Mauthausen, for instance, was set up in 1938 alongside the granite
quarry that had supplied much of the stoneusedto
pave the streets of Vienna, while the camp at Sachsen-
hausen, outside Berlin, was close to what was intended to be one of the largest brickworks in the world. The camp-quarry at Flossenbtirgin northern Bavaria, .. ".,.,, ,. a. *"., , - J -_ . _ _ ..,
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meanwhile, was the source of much of the white-
necked grqpite that was going to be used in Berlin, some of whichis still stacked inside the Congress Hall in NUTemberg. Thus Germania was not only central to the Nazi aesthetic, it also played a vital role in the
In addition the construction and demolition costs
establishment and maintenance of the concentration
camp network. Nazi architectural planning, it seems, had synchronised perfectly with themterests of the SS. German^s thandngwas also not as utopian as one mightiniagine. Speer estimated the total cost of the project, perhaps optimistically, at six billion Reichsmarks, five per cent of Germanys GDPin 1939. Yet such was the Byzantine nature of economic relationships in the Third Reich that only a fraction of that figurewould have to be paid directly by the Reich government. For one thing, the vast majority of the building materials that were prepared fortheproject came from the concentration cornps dotted across Nazi Germany, while the quarries and brickworks themselves were owned or leased by an SS-owned company, The building of Germania beginsin the Tiergarten
were to be spread across the annual budgets of numerous ministties, organisations and Nazifiefdoms. And there was no shortage of willing donors, with some, such as the Nazi Labour Front, being denberately kept at arm's length for fear that they might wield too great an influence. The cityofBerlin was required to shoulder much of the financing, witlivarious appeals for donations and contributioirs to mate up any shorttall. It also would not have escaped Speer\; attention that his projected costs equated eractiy with the total estimated value of Jewish property in Nazi Germany. By these measures, Speer recalled, the costs of the project could be divided (and effectiveIy concealed), leaving central government directly liable only forthe Great Hanand theirch of Victory, Hider, , \5' ,$, :.
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the south, by the end of 1939 the project's first building, the Foreign Travel Office, was already
completed in its essentials. Beneath it all, meanwhile,
the complex of underpasses that would take through-
traffic away from the new centrepiece of the Reich, had already taken shape.
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Tile human cost
In an this demolition and construction countiess
thousands of people were direcrly affected in the
German capital. Foremost among them were pris-
oners of war and forced labourers, who were housed in often substandard conditions and made to work
around the clock and in an weathers. Despite his later protestations of innocence, Speerwas never shy of
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construction of the 'new Berlin! Hitler acceded to the
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meanwhile, tended to wave away any complaints from his ministers by stressing the large numbers of wealthy tourists that- one day-would visit the newcapitolof the Greater German Reich.
So, although little of it was actually constructed,
Prisoners at Marthausen
concentration camp are forced to carry granite blocks up the stone'stairs of death: c. 1943.
around 130,000.
Civilians, too, faced considerable disruption. Those Aryans' who found themselves living in the way of
Speer's plans were rehoused, either in modern, purpose-built accommodation in the suburbs or else,
owners hadbeen evicted. Alreadyin1938 Speer had suggested that the capital's Iewish community should be moved into smaller properties, thereby freeing up larger buildings for the use of thoseAryan Berliners displaced by the ongoing demolition works. By 1940 this process was weU under wayand manythousands of Jewish properties were being vacated. Those displaced Jews, however, often found them-
selves -perversely- being moved into the path of Speer's bundozers. As the housing crisis in the capital worsened, many of them were unable to rent property and were forced into so-called 'Jew-houses: which
were often those sub^tandard blocks, alreadyslated for
Germania was not merely theoretical, it was veryreal.
demolition, that stood alongthe route of the
d it would have felt an the more real to those concentration camp inmates at Mauthausen or
construction works. There, amid chronic over-
crowding and poor sanitary conditions, with as many as 200 farmliesinhabiting a single block, they were effectiveIy stripped of their few remaining legal rights as tenants. They could have had littte inkling that
Flossenbtirg, who had to quarry the granite slabs for Berlin s new Reich Chancellery or the Soldier's Han. Even sites that never saw thenght of daywere prepared for; stone was cut, brid:s were fired and men
died. It is reasonable to assumedIat, of the 100,000 or so concentration camp inmates who perished at Sach-
worse was to come, but in October 1941 many of
senhausen, Flosseilbitrg and Manthausen, alarge
In this way the Germania project, despite being largely stillborn, had profound consequences,
them would be aboard the first transports that would leave Berlin, destined for the ghetto at 1.6dt.
proportion of them died preparing the stone for the rebuilding of Berlin.
becoming a catalyst not only for the evolution of the
Germania was also very real for ordinary Berliners. From 1939 to 1942 the areas of the city earmarked for
the project were being cleared and existing properties demolished. Even the nocturnal visits of the RAFin
1940 were welcomed by Speer's staff as providing
valuable preparatory work' for the demolition programme. Preparations elsewhere were similarly thorough. The district of the Spree-bend to the west 24
request, thereby bringing the total workfo^ce overseen bySpeer s staff and working directly on Germania to
as was more usual, in properties from which Jewish
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after the opening successes of the war against the Soviet Union, he petitioned Hider with a request for
HistoryTodayj March 2012
concentration camp system but also for the develop-
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merit of Nazi policy against the capital's Jews. Speer s plans for Berlin are fascinating. In an archi-
rectoral sense, they are -if nothing else - a potent display of the astonishing extremes that can be
reached by sycophanticarchitects. Yet anyassessment of the Germania plans must reach beyond the narrow sphere of architecture, even if only a fraction of those WWW. histn rv*rina\, min
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. designs ever graduated from the drawing board. Speer's plans cannot simply be viewed from the archi~ tectural perspective alone: in examining them one is morally bound to consider not onlythe designs them~ selves but also the brutal methods by which they were brought into being. Germania, thoughlargely unrealised, nonetheless projected its malign influence into many other spheres of Ii^ - and death-in the Third Reich. Its contempt G6ring^ Air Ministry building, now the headquarters of the German federal finance ministry
for mankind was demonstrated not'only in the treatmerit meted out to those doomed to cut its stone in
the concentration camps or those who found themselves living in its path; it also attended to those who might one day have walked those granite-clad boulevards. It is notable, for example, that in all the plans a human dimension is aimost completely lacking. Hider, it appears, had absolutdy no interest in the social aspects of the planning that he oversaw; his passion was for the buildings themselves rather than for the human beings who might one dayinhabit them. Indeed it has been plausibly suggested by ETederic Spots that the plans for Bermn's reconstruction were themselves simply a manifestation of Hitter's desire to reduce cities and even individuals to the
status of mere playthings. When one recalls theirnages of the Fobrer stooped like some malevolent deity over his architectural models in the Reich Chancellery this
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is an interpretation that becomes instanU. y and chillinglypersuasive. lust as rubert Speer was never just an architect, therefore, Germania was never merely an architectural
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programme. It was, in fact, a perfect reflection of the dark, misanthropic heart of Nazism. Roger Moorhouseisthe author of Berm at War:LifoondDe@thin Hitler^ Capitol1939-45 (BCdley Head, 20/01, ....
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*; Hans ReichhaTdt and Wolfgang Schache, Von Berlin noch ;; Germonia (Transit Buchverlag, 2005j. ..
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I; A1bert Speer, Inside the ThirdReich (Sphere, 1971). :;
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March 20121 History7bd@y 25
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ALBERT SPEER -,. 942
Revision Questions Q, .
Is fair to say that the early life of A1bert Speer was characterised by a life of middle-class privilege? Yes or No?
q2
Is it fair to say that Speer's relationship with both parents was governed by detachment and coldness that led to him being quite emotionally detached and indifferent as an adult to the misfortune and plight of others? Yes or No?
Q3 Is it true that Speer pursued his career in architecture largely at the insistence of his father s wishes? Yes or No?
q4 Up to his appointment as a teacher at the Berlin Institute of Technology in 1,930, had Speer shown any inclination to engage in the politics that had been gripping the thoughts and sentiments of most middle-class Germans? Yes or No?
Q5 Would it be true to say that up to this point he had displayed what might be characterised as political indifference and a lack of commitment to politics? Yes or No Q6
Where and when did Speerfirst encounter Adolf Hitler?
Q7
How did he react to this first encounter?
q8
As a consequence, what critical moment in the life of Speer arrived on I March 1931?
q9
What is it about this moment that sits at complete odds with the fact that Speer by this time was an undoubted aesthetic? tintsllectual, educated and lover of the fine arts)
Ql. O What did Speer clearly regard as the worst possible consequence for Germany and German
politics in the early 1,930s, which helps to explain his leanings towards the Nazi Party as the best solution to the problems that be set Germany? Q, .,.
Faced with redundancy as a poorly paid assistant professor in the depression and the
prospect of returning home to be financially dependent on his parents, Speer's fortunes changed dramatically in 1932 when he made the acquaintance of whom? Q1.2
In what regard did this meeting change his life irrevocably, even acknowledged by Speer himself as such?
This was the luckiest turning point of my life. I hnd reached the junction, q, .3
What was Hitler's reaction to Speer's self"proclaimed turning point?
Q1.4
What was Speer's next commission which proved his ability to integrate visual motifs into his design as propaganda?
Q, .5
What motif was used here by Speer on gigantic vertical banners each the size of ten storey building that had a stunning visual impact?
Q, .6 As an outcome of this event what position was he appointed to in early 1,933. Q, .7 In July 1933, Speer was given the job of design for which major event.
Q. .8
In 1933 for whom did Speer find himself commissioned to do lots of private work which brought even more prominently to the attention of the party hierarchy?
Q1.9
1933 Speer was given what significant appointment by Hitler?
Q20
This appointment was motivated by the similarity that Hitler undoubtedly saw between him and Speer on what issues and matters?
Q2i.
This appointment also brought Speer into direct contact with Rudolph Hess and ence projects that involved the enlivenment and improvement of worker's conditions across t e country. What was it known as?
Q22 Q23
Whose death in March 1934 irrevocably changed the life of A1bert Speer?
Identify 4 key features and points about the 1934 Nuremberg Rally and site for future rallies that clearly identify that Speer's involvement would clearly far surpass anything he had ever done before.
Q24
Articulate Speer's philosophical position and thoughts about Nuremburg and its value an use and role
Q25 Q26
How did Speer's vision for the site at Nuremburg fit in with Hitler's on a personal level. What was the name of the architectural theory espoused by Speer that argued that one a to envision a future were all architectural features of a regime would inevitably be in ruins
but stilllasting and therefore serving theirfunction as enduring visual metaphors, Q27 q28
Why was this theory espoused in 1,934 heavily criticised? What was Hitler s reaction to it. Hitler's reaction was coloured by his hopes to link National Socialism in the very distant future with which two ancient empires whose legacy still endured in 1,934. W to o ese
two played the critical role in forging Hitler s architectural vision? Q29
Hitler's principal architectural dream had always centred round the rebuilding o w at.
Q3o
Primarily he wanted this dream and vision to rival and surpass the architectura egacy no which three cities?
Q3, .
Proof of his obsession with this vision can be identified how?
Q32
The name for the grand vision that Berlin was to become and transformed into.
Q33
Identify four key architectural features of Germania
Q34
How would Germania immortalise and remember the victims of WWl.
Q3s
When was Germania to be completed by?
Q36
Would it be fair to conclude that Germania was clearly an expression o i eo ogy.
Q37
Which architectural style did it very closely modeland approximate.
Q38
What position was Speer given in January 1,937 that confirmed his position o impor ance that also allowed him to not have to report to Goebbels or the Ministry o e n erior o communicate directly with Hitler?
Q39
What project did he immediately commence work on after this appointment?
Q4o
What act of subterfuge was he involved in with this project that confirms his singular drive and ambition?
q41.
Given the fact that Germania was never completed what must surely be regarded asspeer s greatest triumph as Hitler's architect?
Q42
When was the brief given to Speer and when was the expectation that it be completed?
Q43
How was this achieved ahead of schedule?
Q44
Hitler's major concern with the building and the design was centred round what?
Q4s
Identify a design feature of Speer's that reflected this?
Q46
How was Speer rewarded for this project?
Q47
In spite of his elevated status by 3,937 with Hitler and his growing closeness and proximity to Nazi politics and party intrigues, Speer always claimed that the only matters he and Hitler ever discussed were 'artistic'. True or false?
q48
After the outbreak of war and long before his involvement as a player in the position of
Armaments Minister, Speer was involved in proceedings/activities that certainly speak way and above and beyond his claim that he was a simple technocrat or architect only involved in artistic pursuits. What were they? Q49
In 1939 what legislation was passed that would become the most controversial issue surrounding him up to 1942?
Qso
Who was the driving force behind this legislation that was undoubtedly a direct outcome of the infamous pogrom of 1,938 known as the 'Night of Broken Glass ?
Q5. .
Frustrated with the slowness of the solution he sought to the Jewish question Goebbels
decided that the flats of how many Jews in Berlin needed their immediate eviction and relocation from their flats to the cities of Losz, Riga and Minsk? Q52
Goebbels whilst not afraid to publicly espouse his anti-Semitism nor enforce measures to
achieve his end, couched and therefore sariitised the eviction of the Jews from their flats under the umbrella of which department created by him? Q53
Speer's department although primarily involved in construction activities early in the war was involved in the early stages of Jewish re-settlement, albeit in a purely administrative
capacity, of this there is no doubt and therefore he knew of the policy used by Goebbels and the brutal tactics used by the SS to enforce the law. Identify some key points that acknowledge and confirm his understanding of the issue Q54
If Speer was not an anti-Semite as he always maintained, then how is it possible to explain and rationalise his involvement in the Jewish Flats issue?
,
Qi.
yes
Q2
yes
Q3
yes
Q4
nO
Q5
Yes
Q6
4'' December 1930 at a Nazi rally in inner city Berlin
Q7
I wos ^inpressed by his shyness, restroint grid his conviction
Letter from Speer to his daughter published in Sereny, G. A1bert Speer: His Trouble with Truth
Q8
Joined the Nazi Party as member No. 474481.
Q9
That he fell under the spell of a leader of such an anti-intellectual movement and organisation
QIO
That Germany would fall to the rule of communism
Ql. ,.
Karl Hanke the leader of the Nazi Party's District Headquartersin Kreisleitung West (Berlin)
Q, .2
Received the commission to redecorate the headquarters of Goebbels in the Voss Strasse
QL3
Exceptionally impressed
Q, .4
The design for the 1st May Tempelhof Field Day rally
Q15
Swastika
Q1.6
Commissioner for the Artistic and Technical Presentation of Party Rallies and Presentations
Q, .7
Party rally at Nuremberg
Q, .8
Goebbels and Goering
Q1.9
Assistant to Troost the party architect
Q20
A shared interest in architecture and the philosophical issues that underpinned its role and importance
Q2L
The Beauty of Work Program
Q22
Troost
Q23
*Immortal ised in Triumph of the Will *Mass displays of Zeppelins *The Cathedral of Light *Thirty Four Flag platforms
*The use of the Blood Flag Scene involving Hitler, HiminIer and Lutze *The use of the massed ranks
.
Q4s
Hitler's study table had an inlaid sword on it half drawn from its sheath. He believed this would result in visiting diplomats been scared of him
Q46
The Gold Party Badge
Q47
True
Q48
*He managed to secure the position of overseer for the rocket site at Peenemunde where he had a staff of 26,000 workers who built army buildings, aeroplane factories and air raid shelters for Berlin. By late 1941 his construction staff had built 30,000 air raid shelters. *He set up several transport units of thousands of trucks with 300 barges to remove the debris from bombing raids Following the invasion of Russia in 1941 he had the task of fixing railways in the Ukraine that had been deliberately destroyed by the Russians. This brought him directly under the authority of Fritz Todt, the munitions and weapons minister.
Q49
the 'Law on Renatal Contracts with Jews'
Q50
Goebbels
Q51
20,0000
Q52
Resettlement department
Q53
*a chief aide of Speer's by the name of Clahes attended the conference held by Adolf Eichmann in Berlin in 1941 to work out strategies to enforce the evictions. Sereny contends that it is impossible that Speer was not informed of the proceedings and the outcomes. *a long-time friend and colleague of Speer's Rudolf Wolters dismayed by Speer's penitential attitude about his war involvement, produced some diary extracts that he had never disclosed out of respect for Speer. He lodged them with the German government archives and they tend to confirm with their detail, that whilst Speer was not directly responsible for the issuing of the orders and therefore his participation was low, he was none the less involved and certainly knew of the whole issue and cannot have failed to understand that the fate for most of the 75,000 in total who were relocated ended up in the camps.
*Plans for Germania that were totally under his control and authority were clearly labelled and marked with 'Jew Free Zones'. Q54
Sereny contends that their fate simply did not concern him as the fate of the millions of slave workers who later came under his control would likewise not concern him. She claims
that the human cost did riot matter if it stood in the way of his ability to achieve the end he was instructed to achieve, or the end he desired.
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2)
Explain how Speer came to join the Nazi Party in 1931.
3)
Make a detailed list in
chronological order of Speer' s
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4)
Make a brief note about Speer's architectural style. s) What was the Cathedral of Lights and why did Speer consider it one of the highpoints of his career? What was the nature of Hitler' s relationship with Speer? 111 what ways did Speer' s role undergo a drastic change in 1942? What was Speer' s achievement in this new role? What happened to Speer at the NUTemberg Trials? Why do you think Speer was treated more leniently than many of his colleagues? What was the most controversial feature of A1bert Speer' s defence? Make a list of the major primary sources that have fueled debate about Speer. Make a list of the major studies that have exairiined Speer' s contribution to
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