Albert Speer Notes PDF

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Albert Speer Summary Notes...

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1. Historical context! Rise of the Nazi party and the personal charisma of Adolf Hitler! ○ Hitler attempts beer hall putsch on the 8th December 1923 but fails and is put in jail for 18 months.! ○ Albert Speer finally sees Hitler at a speech at Munich University: “Finally, Hitler no longer seemed to be speaking to convince; rather he seemed to feel that he was expressing what the audience, by now transformed into a single mass, expected of him” - Inside the Third Reich. Albert Speer later joined the party based on Hitler’s power and the charisma in his voice.! ○ ○

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Hitler announced Chancellor on 30th January 1933. Hindenburg dies in August 1934 and Hitler then becomes Fuhrer of the Third Reich.! The unemployed saw him as the man to end the depression and who would restore economic prosperity and Germany’s middle class lost faith in the Republic and believed Hitler could restore Germany and stop them from falling into the ‘proletariat’.!

Development of the Nazi state after 1933! ○ By August 1934, Hitler’s power was absolute and gave the appearance of a totalitarian state. ! ○ Germany had only one political party, led by a charismatic dictator, with control placed on all aspects of society and propaganda attempted to convince the population of the benefits of Nazi rule. The use of the Gestapo and concentration camps was to stop opposition ! ○

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Gleischaltung (co-ordination); be seen through the Reichstag elections, the Enabling Act (23rd March), banning of all political parties and trade unions (14th July) and the Night of the Long Knives (30th June 1934)!

Nazi war effort to 1945! 1939 to 1942! ○ Limited rationing was introduced to conserve food and other supplies, the economy was functioning as it had during peacetime.! ○ Regime faced opposition when measures were introduced (increased working hours, cut overtime pay and holidays) and were overturned! ○ No immediate switch to total war, no use of women in the industrial workforce and production of non essential products continued.! ○ Propaganda was promoted easily and up to 35% of German food supplies came from newly occupied territories.! 1942 to 1945! ○ German propaganda became more harsh, with the Soviet war atrocities exaggerated to encourage greater German sacrifice. ! ○ Goebbels called for the civilians to accept total war and the Gestapo/SS faced no restrictions with law, justice disappeared completely.! ○ Nazi regime chaos revealed various centres of power sought to build up their individual empires. Gauleiters hoarded materials and the SS empire was developed by Himmler! ○ Speer appointed as Minister of Armaments in February 1942, improved German war production and co-ordination!

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Nuremberg War Crimes Trials! ○ The trials were seen as important to make the Germans realise the scale of destruction that had occurred, the atrocities committed by the Germans were part of official government policy, the idea that if it was shown that this behaviour would not go unpunished then such evil would not be repeated and the hope that International Justice would be a good sign for the future of the United Nations! ○ 21 leading Nazis were put on trial and charged on 4 counts: conspiracy to commit crimes against peace, crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The trails were run by legal representatives from main allied powers: USA, USSR, Britain and France.! ○ ○

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Trial opened on 20th November 1945 and verdicts were given October 1946.! Albert Speer used foreign policy ideas (Volksgemeinschaft and Lebensraum) in his defence during the Nuremberg Trials. In his closing speech he mentioned that the blame should not be put on the German people as they were led like sheep to the slaughter. Because Speer was a leader of Volksgermeinschaft, he should take the blame for what it had contributed to.!

2. Background! Family background and education! ○ Born in 1905, into a wealthy and affluent German family in Mannheim. ! ○ His father was an architect, and his mother independently wealthy and socially wealthy! ○ Lutheran Protestants, un-interested in politics, and “love and warmth was only shown to [him] by [his] French governess”. ! ○ Speer was not physically strong; “weakness of the vascular nerves”! ○ Married his wife during university without the approval of his parents! ○ Wanted to study mathematics but became an architect (family business), studying at the Institute of Technology at Berlin.! ○ During his early years, Speer had no great architectural commissions, he only designed a house for Gretel’s parents.!

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Introduction to Nazism and his reasons for joining the Nazi party! ○ The middle class (Speer) had lost faith in the Weimar Republic, believed their status and position in society was under threat. ! ○ The Treaty of Versailles, the French occupation of the Ruhr 1923, the political instability of the Weimar Republic, and finally the depression – the middle class wanted a return to stability. Looking around, Speer saw inflation, a decline in moral values, and an ineffectual government. Hitler offered an escape from the economic crisis, and presented an image of strength and order, unlike that of the Weimar politicians. Speer was the typically middle-class, protestant German who the Nazi party attracted. They had suffered a loss of status, and the Nazi party provided a solution of which an ineffective Weimar government was unable to offer. ! ○ “I was not choosing the NSDAP but becoming a follower of Hitler…I continued to associate with Jewish acquaintances.”!

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Speer’s students convinced him to attend one of Hitler’s speeches in a local beer hall 5th December 1930. Speer was carried away with the emotion and nationalism:! - “Magnetic force [of Hitler] reached out to me”! Although Speer worked in Berlin, the centre of political activity for Nazis, he described himself as disinterested in politics; “Allergic to any political commitments” even though he had “strong nationalistic feelings” during “French occupation of the Ruhr” in 1923.!

Speer later joined the party on 1st March 1931 and stated that he was completely under the influence of Hitler, and rarely spent time with his wife and family. This led to Speer becoming a member of the Nazi motoring Corps and the ‘Fighting Group of German Architects and Engineers’. His decision to join the party was hypnotic, and he was unaware of the party ideology (politically naive).! ○ Believed that he had to choose between Nazi or Communist Germany! ○ Believed Hitler intended to remove Jews from key positions, not extermination.! ○ If he had known Hitler’s violent, ambitious, and original political agenda he would have resigned from the party. ! ○ Speer later made a statement of his guilt as a party member:! - I was “already a criminal…for being in a position to know [about these] direct responsibilities”.! - “By entering Hitler’s party I had already assumed a responsibility that led directly to the brutalities of forced labour, to the destruction of war, to the deaths of those millions of so called undesirable stock”.! - “I will never be rid of the sin”! 3. Rise to prominence! Early work for the Nazi party! ○ Speer’s only contribution was to drive members on official business; was not involved or a member of the SA and its violent activities.! ○ Hanke offered Speer the task of redecorating the headquarters of the Nazi party on an unpaid basis. ! ○ Due to the Depression, Speers salary reduced and moved back to Mannheim. The only project he had was to rebuild a store owned by his parents. His career seemed to be going nowhere. ! ○ However, in 1932 Hanke offered Speer to redecorate Goebbels’s headquarters. Speer cancelled his family holiday immediately, and described this as “the luckiest turning point of my life”. ! ○ In 1933, Speer was also commissioned to redecorate Goebbels’s new Propaganda Ministry in Berlin. ! ○ When Speer saw the design for the 1st of May night rally to be held at the Tempelhof Field, he was offered by Hanke if he “can do better [than the original design] then go do it”. Speer’s design was accepted, and he had “moved a step ahead”. ! ○ The Nazis and Hitler loved Speer’s work, so they made him ‘Commissioner for the Artistic and Technical Presentation of Party Rallies.’ In July 1933, Speer was given his first assignment of designing the first party rally of 500,000 supporters at Nuremberg. ! ○ In 1933, Speer became building supervisor refurnishing the Chancellors Residence in Berlin. Hitler took interest, and visited the site everyday, Speer accompanying him. After a month, Hitler was asked to eat with him, and Hitler realised for the first time that he had ○

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designed the May 1st and Nuremberg decorations. Speer described himself as having been “dizzy with excitement”.! This was the beginning of Speers career within the Nazi party, he was determined to achieve his ambitions:! - “After years of frustrated efforts I was wild to accomplish things… to do a great building I would have sold my soul”.! Speer was appointed Paul Troost’s assistant in 1933. ! Kershaw states “Probably the closest Hitler came to friendship was in his relationship with Joseph Goebbels and, increasingly, with his architect and new favourite, Albert Speer…Hitler frequently sought his company”!

Appointment as ‘First Architect of the Reich’! ○ Hitler tended to avoid social ties with his intellectually superior leaders of the party such as Goering and Hess due to suspicion, yet he was in constant close contact with Speer from 1933, regularly eating lunch and dinner. Speer wrote:! - “There were very few persons besides myself who had been so favoured. Hitler had taken a special liking to me.”! ○ In 1934 Paul Troost died, and Speer became Hitler’s personal architect. Hitler saw imposing buildings, the classical Roman and Greek designs would provide a lasting symbol of greatness and glory. He wanted to beat the great buildings of history to glorify his rule, “your husband is going to erect buildings for me such that have not been created for a thousand years”! ○ Speer said that he was treated as an architect with respect, “as if I were his equal”. Hitler would not interfere in Speer’s work.! ○ In 1934 Speer created a giant stone eagle 400m long and became responsible for building a permanent site for the Nuremberg rallies (Cathedral of Light). The Nuremberg Stadium held 400,000 people, a large stadium hall for Hitler’s speeches and a field for military exercises. It cost 3 billion marks and showed Hitler the designs as ruins for the future, “The effect was solemn and beautiful, it was like being in a Cathedral of Ice” - British ambassador.! ○ Speer also worked with Robert Ley (head of the Labour front) to improve the presentation of mines and factories!

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The ‘Germania’ project and the new Reich Chancellery! ○ In 1936, Hitler have Speer his greatest architectural assignment, to completely rebuild the city of Berlin: “we must surpass Paris and Vienna”, as Berlin would be the new capital of the new German Empire. Hitler’s plans included a 5km central avenue, a triumphal arch that would dwarf that of Paris, the Fuhrer’s palace at the end of the avenue and dozens of major cultural buildings. This new capital was to be called Germania and was to be opened in 1950.! ○ At this time Speer also redesigned the plans of the 1936 Olympic stadium and designed the German Pavilion.! ○

Speer was placed in charge of the project on the 30th January 1937, with the title ‘Inspector General of Construction for the Reich Capital’ (GBI). Speer was given extensive power and became Hitler’s direct subordinate. He did not have to seek approval from Gvts.!

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Speer’s major architectural achievement was the building of the new Reich Chancellory. In January 1938 Speer was given the job of designing and building it, demanding completion by January 1939. It was place for all high-level meetings, and to highlight the “grandeur of the Reich”. Speer had 8000 men working on the project, and finished the project 2 days early which impressed Hitler.! The Reich Chancellory was Speer’s greatest architectural achievement. Hitler awarded Speer the Gold Party Badge.! Speer was also to create an Arc of Triumph the size of the Eiffel tower, and a dome, 5x bigger than St. Pauls Cathedral at the Vatican. ! Speer was willing to take Hitler's megalomania seriously and planned for buildings of vast dimensions; “Speer expanded on his patron's plans, increasing the dimensions of the great dome and other features” - Joachim Fest (German historian).!

Work as Armaments Minister! ○ 1939 – As WWII progressed, there was little need for Speer’s architectural skills, but his organisation skills were needed. ! ○ When the Germans invaded Russia in 1941, the Russians adopted a ‘scorched earth’ policy, destroying anything that might be of value to the Germans. Speer organised a Construction Staff to repair the railways in the Ukraine, easing the transporting of troops and supplies. ! ○ In 1942, when Fritz Todt, ‘Minister for Weapons and Munitions’ died in a plane crash, Speer was appointed by Hitler as his “successor in all capacities”including the massive Todt Organisation (roads, military projects, water, power). ! ○ As Minister for Armaments and Munitions, Speer realised that Germany was ill prepared to fight a war, as up until this time, the Nazi leaders did not have a clear military strategy, and did not take into account the effect of war on the economy. They believed any war would be fought as a series of fast, mobile campaigns. As a result, only weapons with a limited production were designed and produced, creating bottlenecks, waste and delay making mass production impossible. Speer faced significant problems when he came to the position of Armaments Minister; he had to assume responsibility for war production and had to solve 3 key issues:! • The concept of Blitzkrieg collapsing! • Overlapping responsibilities! • Shortage of labour! ○ Speer introduced the Central Planning Board to increase economic production, he did this by centralising, and standardising specialist factories and armament models, and controlling the allocation of raw materials. This increase economic productivity, as items could be assembled quicker and more effectively.! ○ “Without my work the war would perhaps have been lost in 1942-43”! ○ Within 6 months, Speer had increased the production of guns by 27%, tanks by 25%, and ammunition by 97%. By 1944, he had increased armaments production of tanks and aircraft by 300%, with only an increase of 30% in the labor force, compared to 1941. ! ○ Speer achieved success by organising factories to produce one thing, groups and individuals were assigned to work on particular weapons and businesses were given more freedom.!

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4. Significance and evaluation! Relationship with Hitler! Speer suggested that he and Hitler had developed such a close relationship because:! 1) Hitler always wanted to be an architect – “How I wish I had been an architect”! 2) Hitler felt he could confide in Speer, unlike his politicians Boring and Hess who felt suspicious of due to their ambitious agendas.! 3) Speer was also young, and did not have a high professional reputation, so Hitler did not feel inferior to him. ! ○ “I was completely under the Spell of Hitler”. Speer began to develop a relationship with Hitler, “If Hitler had actually had friends, I would have certainly been once of his close friends.” (Speer, Nuremberg trials, 1946).! ○ Speer’s illness at the start of 1944, removed Speer from the inner circle for a long period, breaking the close bond with Hitler.!

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Involvement with anti-Semitic activities in connection with the Germania project – the question of the ‘Jew-flats’! ○ Jews were removed from their flats 1937-1942 and relocated in concentration camps. Their homes were demolished to allow for Great Hall and new Reich Chancellery; all done by Speer’s office. They were then sent to small towns in Poland/West Germany like Auschwitz and Bergen-Belson. Thus, it’s debatable when Albert Speer states that he had no knowledge of what was happening at these camps.! ○ Criticism is made of Speer concerning his work during his planning of the rebuilding of Berlin; Speer authorised the demolition of 50,000 flats in central Berlin, half of which were owned by Jews; these Jews were ‘resettled’. This supposed ‘resettlement’ in reality equated to the Jews being deported to concentration camps in Eastern Europe, and eventually to death camps such as Auschwitz. ! ○ Speer denied all knowledge of the deportations; in reality, Speer almost certainly knew where the Jews would end up, and he authorised their removal with this knowledge. Also lying about his knowledge at the Nuremberg trials. Speer claimed to ‘be overcome by an unbearable feeling of failure and inadequacy’ because he was blind to their fate as a result of burying himself in his work!

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Use and abuse of forced labour! Knowledge of and links with the concentration camp system! ○ Speer faced a shortage of labour when he came to the post of Nazi Minister for Armaments. Most of the labour that Fritz Sauckel (Speer’s deputy) ‘recruited’ was from foreign countries; however, concentration inmates also provided labour.! ○ Much of the increase that came in the armaments production under Speer came from the exploitation of foreign workers and prisoners of war. Speer shifted responsibility for the maltreatment of these workers onto his deputy, Speer relied heavily on slave labour.! ○ Speer knew of the awful conditions the workers endured, and ignored reports of genocide/work conditions (his worst crime), as opposed to lying about the Holocaust. Speer managed to blame Sauckel for conditions the workers endured, a crime which Sauckel was hung for. !

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Speer made a visit to Mauthausen in early 1943. However, he would not have seen much as he was part of a sanitised VIP visit. Speer expressed the view that the conditions he encountered at Mauthausen were much better than he had expected and complained that the SS was using too much of the Reich's scarce resources in its lavish building projects in the camps (Sereny). ! At Nuremberg, Speer claimed that he did not know about the conditions; this contradicts the fact that he visited the Dora Missile Factory, which housed workers in appalling conditions. 60,000 workers came to Dora, and only 30,000 survived. Speer’s visit to Dora in December 1943 meant that there was no way Speer was unaware of the conditions of those in forced labour.! Speer complained about the inefficiency of undernourishment (e.g. in Dora after his visit there), rather than the actual suffering that came with it; this showed the lack of empathy that Speer possessed, and how human suffering did not affect him. ! Significant as it shows the degree of knowledge that Speer held regarding the treatment of forced labour and what Nazi meant to the captured. Sereny argues further that the fate of the Jews was of no concern to him, any more than was the fate of the millions of slave workers who would work for him later in the war. When Speer wanted something, he went after it, and the human cost did not matter. ! After two advisors visited Auschwitz, Speer wrote a letter to Himmler stating he would provide materials for its expansion a thousand tonnes of steel, iron and water pipes this suggests he was aware of the conditions of the camp however cared more about production! Newly found evidence has shown that he did know about the final solution. Speer was at a meeting at Posen on 6th October 1943 when Himmler explained the Final Solution; outlined the policy of eliminating the Jews and the ‘need’ to eradicate the Jews.!

Reaction to Hitler’s ‘scorched earth’ policy in 1945! ○ Despite advice from various figures in the Party, including Speer, Hitler wouldn’t accept defeat. He ordered a ‘scorched earth policy’; ordering retreating German armies to destroy everything of value (e.g. f...