A1bert

Speer

1,942 +

Historiography

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Webb, K. , (2008) ^.!^^. Kiinberley Broadbridge: St Ives pp. 69-73

Chapter 9:Responding to questions on the HSC

Section 4 . A1bert Speer and the HSC

General advice

. 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.

. 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

five minutes reading time before the examination and this time is best spent reading thesources, This means they will be ready to immediately tackle the Core questions.

. The 20th century study question is best done next. Students will still be fresh and ready toattempt a complex essay response.

. Then the personality question should be attempted.. The personality question is: Question I3.

. It is worth 25 marks, the same as the other questions on the paper.

. Thus, it requires 45 minutes, the same as the other questions on the paper,

. 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.

. Each part of the question should be answered separately. Do not start part (b) on the samepage as part (a). Begin a new page.

Question I3 - Part (a)The Part (a) question is worth I O marks (out of 25) :. Answer this question first.. 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.Part (a) questions require simple descriptive, narrative responses. Questions for this part will oftenbe 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 69

SECTION 4 . Abert Speer and the HSC

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.. This requires accurate, relevant, factual detail.. 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 servedby not using historiography here.

Students should avoid making some of the following common errors often present in HSCresponses 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 surethey 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

CHAPTER 9 . Responding to questions on the HSC

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?c. should students take the story to the end of the war?

d. the syllabus takes rise to prominence' to mean Speer's work as Armaments Minister sostudents should go this far and include detail from this period of Speer's life,

4. Students should avoid falling into the trap of getting carried away with lengthy descriptions of'pet interests':

a. a page and half on "Germania" is not a good idea;

b. a detailed page and a half account of Speer's work on the new Reich Chancellery is similarlyunlikely to be required.

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Question 13- Part (byThe Part (b) question is worth 15 marks (out of 25):. Answer this question second.. 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

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SECTION 4 . A1bert Speer and the HSC

Part (b) questions require complex, anal^ICai responses.worded as follows:

. "Assess the role of. ,..."

. "Evaluate the role of. ..."

. "To what extent was. ...."

. "Assess the impact of. .."

. "Assess the significance of. .. "

Part (by questions may well be preceded by a quotation. Students will then b k dthe idea(s) contained within the quotation as they affect their personalit . Q t t' fmight be similar to these:

. Great people in history attract their critics as well as thei d "

. "People shape the events of their time more than the events h th "

. The importance of the role of the individual is often real "

. The significance of the role of the individual in the life of t' "Questions that follow quotations like these might be in the form of:. In the light of this statement, assess the impact of the ers I't ". How accurate is this statement as it applies to the personality you have studied?". "To what extent does this statement accurately reflect your personality?"Students should avoid making some of the following common err ftresponses to the part (b) question.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. 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 It is quitepermissible to challenge ita. 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;the normal "to what extent" rules apply - students must make sure at I t 50-6 Oresponse is dealing with the quotation, even if it is to ar ue a ainst 't.

CHAPTER 9 . Responding to questions on the HSC

Questions for this part will often be

I

C.

I opyright. No more than 10% is permitted to be photocopied 71

SECT10" 4 . A1berl Speer and the HSC

3. Quotation or no quotation, students must understand that part (b) questions require analysis; anargument 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;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 flowsrather 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 syllabuspage on A1bert Speer says nothing about the views of historians. However, one of the outcomeslisted for the personality section is :

H3.4 explain and evaluate differing perspectives and interpretations of the pastStudents are therefore strongly advised to make sure that the views of historians are included in apart (b) response. However, students should note:. It is a waste of time throwing in the names of twenty three historians and dropping names every

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.. 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 notadvised for a part (b) response.

. 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 aresponse look rather ridiculous. 2

CHAPTER 9 . Responding to questions on the HSC .

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Finally, should students quote directly? Learning piles of quotations is a waste of time; it merelyshows you can remember quotes. It is much better if students 'paraphrase' what a historian issaying 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, p382 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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1905/9 MarDate

,. 923

A1bert SpeerChronology & Significance (,. 905-1990s)

Born in Mannheim into an upper middle classfamily. Father was a successful architect.Leaves School. Speer has a desire to pursuemathematics but his father insists his son studiesarchitect

1,924

Began his architectural studies at Institute ofTechnology in Karlsruhe.

Event

Transferred to Institute of Technology in Munich.Came under the tutelage of Professor Hein rich

promoted GermanTessenowTessenow.craftsmanship, architectural simplicity and wasinfluenced by the monumental neo-Classical Greekstyle. Ideals that Speer to was influenced by.

,. 927 Qualified as an architect.

Married Margarete Weber, from a lower classfamily.

19304 Dec

gal.~.. .

After graduation, worked as Professor He in richTessenow's assistant,

, ,;' ', **lit\- .jilt,^:\. .. 1:1

Attends a political meeting at Neue We It (beer hall),in an inner city area of Berlin, where Hitler isspeaking to students at the Berlin Institute ofTechnology. Speer was impressed with Hitler'sshyness, restraint and Yet his conviction.

Significance

" \..,

A few weeks later Speer went to hear Goebbels atthe Berlin Sportzpalatz. He was unimpressed withhis strident tones and claims "I felt repelled; thepositive effect Hitler had upon me was diminished,though not extinguished. "

,. 931. I Mar1,932

Joined Nazi Party. He was member number 474481.Joined his local Motorist Association of the NationalSocialist Party (NSKK) and he used his car to driveNazis dignitaries to functions. He meets Karl Hanke,Nazi district leader.

June

1933 March

Received the commission to redesign PartyHeadquarters in Berlin by Hanke, (By now, wasReichstag deputy and head of the whole Berlinsection of Nazi Party)Asked to renovate the Propaganda Ministry(Goebbels' Office) in Berlin by Hanke (who is nowGoebbels' private secretary). He completes this injust two months!

Renovates the private residence of Kar! Hanke, NaziOfficial

April Speer criticises the design plans for the I MayTempelhof Field Night Rally whilst in Hanke's office.Hanke invites Speer to come up with somethingbetter.He designed a large raised platform with speakerso0king down on the masses. Behind the platformwere three gigantic banners - two vertical swatiskabanner each ten storeys high. When Hitler stood tospeak he was picked out by a spotlight whilepowerful spotlights used elsewhere.

July Appointed the Commissioner for Artistic andTechnical Presentation of Party Rallies andPresentations - events manager for Nazi rallies.

SeptDrew up plans for the decorations for the 1,933Nuremberg Rally. His plans included a 30 metre higheagle and two 1.0 storey high Nazi bannersdominating the Zeppelin Field. Speer met Hitler forthe first time.

Placed in charge of supervising the renovation workof the Chancellor's Residence, under Hitler's ownofficial architect Paul Ludwig Troost. This led tomany informal meetings with Hitler. Hitlerimpressed by Speer's work invites him to dinner.Later, he spends time at the ObersalzbeTg (Hitler'shigh-secu rity mountain estate)Appointed the head of the building Department ofDeputy Fuhrer, Rudolf Hess' staff.

1934 Jan Placed in charge of the Beauty of LabourMovement, whose aim was to improve the physicalworking conditions of German workers'

21 Mar First major commission to build the permanentstand for the Nuremburg Rally. Hereviewing

designed a massive stone structure 400 metres longand 24 metres high.

September Troost, Hitler's longstanding architect dies. Speer- Firstappointed as Hitler's personal architect

Architect of the Reich

October Construction of Nuremburg Rally reviewing standcompleted. He created his 'Cathedral of Light' forthe Nuremburg Party Rally - 1.30 anti-aircraft searchlights. Filmed by Leni Riefenstahl in Triumph of theWi".

Appointed to build a permanent complex ofbuildings at the Nuremberg Rally site. These plansincluded a huge horse-shoed Great Stadium

(Deutschland Stadium) which was to be three timesthe size of the Great Pyramid and seat 400,000spectators the equally Impressive glass domedCongress Hall designed to seat 50,000. Nearby thenew Marching Field would have a two kilometreparade avenue with seating for ,. 60,000 people.

a. 935

1936

Redesigned the Olympic Stadium to overcome someof Hitler's objections to modernist elements of theoriginal design.Designed the German Pavilion for the World TradeFair to be held in Paris in 1937. (Speer managed toget hold of the plans for the Soviet pavilion whichwas to be built opposite Germany's pavilion. Speerensured that he increased the size of the Germandesign so that it dwarfed the Soviet structure. )(The German Pavilion shared the Gold Award (withUSSR) for his design for the at the World Trade Fairin Paris in 1937, )

1,937 ian Appointed Inspector General of Construction forBerlin (GB! - Inspector General of Buildings forConstruction). This effective Iy made Speer a StateSecretary with a place at all high level Nazimeetings.

In this role Speer was to design Germonio-the newBerlin. The emphasis was on colossal architecture.The railway stations were to be moved so thatvisitors arriving at the South Station would beconfronted with a six kilometre North-Southavenue-longer and grander than the Champs Elysee.At the southern end the skyline would bedominated by an Arch of Triumph- a stonemonument higher than the Eiffel Tower on whichwere to be engraved the names of the 1.8 millionGermans who had died in WWi. ,At the northern end of the avenue over SIXkilometres away would stand the Great Hall whichwould boast the world's largest dome over 200metres in diameter. The intersecting East-WestAvenue would contain government buildings,offices, theatres and residences. Germania was dueto be completed by 1950.

1,938 Jan Commissioned to build the new Reich Chancellery inthe neo-classical style. It was designed andcompleted within a year!

Over 4,500 men on site worked around the clockwhile 3,500 men worked preparing materials,

The building was designed to impress andintimidate. The impressive entrance was called theCourt of Honour and the doors were flanked by twostatues by Arnold Breker representing the Army and

the Nazi Party. Visitors would then pass through aseries of halls each one longer than the previousone' To reach Hitler's reception visiting diplomatshad to work over 220 metres! Hitler's office was 400square metres with 9 metre high ceilings. Thenearby Cabinet Room were designed for meetingbetween Hitler and his ministers. The chairs wereembossed with swastikas and eagles although nocabinet meeting were ever held there.

It was beneath this building in a bunker that Hitlercommitted suicide In April 1,945. Ironically this wasthe only new building Speer completed in hiscareer I

,. 939 Jan Reich Chancellery completed.Awarded the Gold Party Badge from Hitler for hiswork on the Reich Chancellery.

April Speer's Germania plans required the demolition of50,000 flats near the city centre. With 23,000 flatoccupied by Jewish tenants the Berlin project andthe resettlement plans went hand in hand with theParty's anti-Semitic policies and passing of 'Law onRental Contracts with Iews'. Speer created the MainResettlement Division which together with the SSmade a list of all Jewish occupied apartments, evictJewish tenants, and organise the reallocation ofUewish flats' to Aryan Germans who were to losetheir apartments because of Speer's demolitionwork.

1940 MarAugust

World War 11 breaks out.

Halt to construction on the Nuremberg site andBerlin

June armistice. ConstructionFrench signed anrecommenced on NurembeTg site and Berlin.

1940-,. 941

Appointed Department Chief of Public Worksoversees building projects for the army and airforce. His early projects included three Junker 88bomber factories and several air-raid shelters.

,. 942 7 FebSpeer approves the use of forced labour

1.3 Feb

Appointed Minister for Armaments and Munitionsafter Fritz Todt's is killed in a plane crash.

Speer has top bureaucrats and army suppliers sign adocument giving him full power over armamentsdecisions. Hitler told Speer If he had any difficultieswith anyone, they should bring them to face him.

He set up the Central Planning Board to control theallocation of raw materials to industry.

He requested women join the workforce, DespiteHitler's initial opposition due to ideological reasons,German women entered the workforce as the warworsened.

In his first 6 months, Speer had increasedarmaments production by 55%.

April

Mar -July

1943 Mar Visits Mauthausen Concentration Camp near Linz.Claimed only shown the positive and 'sanitisedview of the camp.

Speer had increased armaments production by afurther So%,

Appointed Minister for Armaments and WarProduction

Attended Posen Conference, major conference forNazi leaders. In morning, Speer made a stingingattack on Nazi gauleiters, arguing they were selfishand hurting the war effort. Bormann reported thisback to Hitler in order to weaken Speer's position.Later in the day, Him in Ier made explicit the 'FinalSolution'. Speer claims that he left the conferencebefore Him in Ier's speech.

Hitler seeks armament information from Speer'sdepartment al head, Karl Saur, rather than Speerhimself

Visits Dora missile factory in Harz Mountains, whereV2 weapons were produced. Speer witnessed theharsh SS treatment of prisoners, who worked inpermanent semi-darkness, no medical support, poorventilation, high death rate (60 000 men sent toDora, 30 000 died). He demanded conditions beimproved, for economic reasons rather thanhumanitarian. He never checks to see if they arecarried out.

May

September

6 Oct

Autumn

1.0 Dec

1944 Feb Speer falls seriously ill, spends 3 months recovering.His enemies make moves to try and discredit him

Speer visits Hitler at Berghof to discuss differenceson policies. Their relationship is beginning to crack.

War production reached its peak. 7 million foreignlabourers and 400 000 prisoners of war working aslave labour.

April

September

,. 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 toassassinate Hitler using poison gas.

23 April Speer flew back to Berlin. Visits Hitler in his bunkerand tells him he counter inarided his orders. Lasttime he sees Hitler (Hitler commits suicide a weeklater).

1,945-1,946

8 May World War 11 ended.

Imprisoned by the Allies and then put to trial atNuremburg.Speer denied knowledge of mass murders of Jews inEastern Europe, but unlike other Nazis who claimedthey were merely 'following order, Speer acceptedresponsibility for the actions of the regime. Heargued he was not involved in the politicaldecisions, that he was a technocrat, carrying out theduties he had been given.

1946-,. 966

Found guilty of two counts of four counts, crimeagainst humanity and war crimes. Avoided thedeath penalty and was sentenced to 20 Years'

1,969

Served 20 Year in Spaudau prison. Write hismemoirs.

1981.

Meets Georges Casalis, the French prison chaplain.He helps Speer work towards acknowledging hisguilt.

1983

Published German version of Inside the Third Reich(Speer's memoirs of life In Nazi Germany)Died on a visit to London at age 76.The full and unedited Wolter's Chronik was releasedto the Bundesorchiv after his death. Rudolf Wolters,Speer's assistant, began keeping a daily writtenrecord of the work done by Speer from 1941to1944. Despite Speer's effort to have parts of theChronik changed for fear of incrimination it wasreleased unedited. Within it were references to themeeting held by Goebbels on Berlin Jews attendedby one of Speer's representatives, Dietrich Clahes.

Late ,. 980sand a. 990s1,989

Speers is the subject of a number of booksexamining his life and war guilt.Matthias Schmidt, German historian, publishedA1bert Speer: The End of o MythCondemns Speer unequivocally. He criticises Speer'swriting as too much myth and little truth.

1995

(Schmidt gets access to the Chronik and writes histhesis in early 1980s)Gitta Sereny wrote Abert Speer: His Bottle withTruth after numerous interviews and meeting withSpeer.Critical of Speer's behaviour, she believes that heundoubtedly knew about the murder of the Jewsand his constant refusal to face the issue was thegreatest lie of his life. However, Sereny was willingto believe that after the Nuremburg trial Speer hadmade a genuine attempt to repent.

1,997 Dan van der Vat, Dutch historian, The Good NoziArgues that 5peer saw enough to know what washappening and in fact was a 'liar, a fraud and ahyocrite'.

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

A1bert Speer:Architecture representing Nazi Ideals

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 inParis 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

Role in Nazi Architecture

Technocrat

A1bert Speer: An Assessment

t:. , Technocrat -'Evidence ";Aichit^dural' Mega16fiidi11ab',"^vtdej^;ai':\\*;;.!'Architectural Megalomaniac

ind^merit e 4!.,;.-.- . ':",. 11; , ,t. *(,.;t;*,.,, ... . .. . . '4'/' ';. :. ,. 1.1. .' I ,I. ." .t. .I",\.' ,I ,,

I. Historical Context. Of considerable interest to historians are thereasons for the support Hitler undoubtedly rectaivedfrom much of the Gennan public, especially the middleclass. Speer 's decision in 1931, as a member of thatclass, to join the Nazis constitutes a useful case study.. How the members of the Nazi elite interacted, andthe parts they played in the exerci^e of power, areespecially of interest. In his role, first as Hitler'sfavourite architect and especially, from 1942, asArmaments Minister, Speer provides an importantstudy of the contribution made by one of the keyplayers' Hitler was, and remained, by far the mostpowerful person in the Nazi regime - but he did notseek to monopolise power for himself, He allowedconsiderable latitude to key individuals such as Speer- and, like the others, Speer worked towards achievingwhat he understood Hitler desired.

. With the fall of the Nazi regime, the Allies usedmeans such as the Nutemberg War Crimes Trials toidentify and punish co- called crimes against humanityWhen Speer was brought to trial in 1946, the Courthad indisputable evidence of his involvement in theexploitation of slave labour - for which he wassentenced to 20 years imprisonment. However, at thattime, evidence had yet to be discovered of Speer'sinvolvement in anti-Jewish activities and so he escapeda death sentence.

Personalities in the 20th Century

in 1933. Forexample, as 'Coriumissioner fortheArtisticand Technical Presentation of Party Rallies andDemonstrations', it was his responsibility to arrangethe Nuremberg rallies. They became spectacularsuccesses, thanks in large part to his organisation andimagination^;tlis use of 130 anti-aircraft searchlightswith their vertically pointing beams produced a'cathedral of light' effect, and, together with giganticstylised eagles and swastika"bearing flags, helpedcreate a monumental sense of occasion.

f

;

19051927193119331934

Born in Maimheim.

Qualified as an architect.March: Joined the Nazi Party.May: Redesigiied Goebbels' office.Placed in charge of Beauty of Labourmovement.

Created his 'cathedral of light' for theNuremberg party rally. Filmed by LeniRiefenstahl in Triumph of the 17/11Appointed Inspector General ofConstruction for Berlin.

Feb: Appointed Minister for Annamentsand Munitions to replace Fritz Todt,Sept: Appointed Minister for Annamentsand War Production.Oct: Attended Posen Conference where

Himruler made explicit the 'FinalSolution'March: Began to resist Hitler's 'scorchedearth' policy.

1945-19461mprisoned by the Allies and then put ontrial at NUTemberg.

1946-1966Served 20 years in Spandau prisonPublished Gennan version of Iris^de Ihe1969Third Reich.Died on a visit to London.Subject of a spare of books examining hislife and war guilt.

295

2. BackgroundA1bert Speer was born into an upper middle class familyin 1905. After qualifying as an architect in 1927, hiscareer did not take off as he had hoped. Finding itdifficult to get architectural work on his own, he endedup working for his father. Thus, while Speer did notexperience material hardship like so Inariy otherGennans in the 1920s and early 1930s, as a young manhe was probably frustrated with his lack of professionalachievement.

A1bert Speer Chronology

I

1934

1937

1942

3. Rise to Prominence

1943

Soon after hearing Hitler speak at a meeting in Berlin,Speer joined the Nazi Party in March 1931. And incontrast to his previous lack of professionaladvancement, Speer was soon appointed to a successionof increasingly more important positions within theNazi Party and Nazi regime after Hitler came to power

1943

1945

*

I ,SE:*

19811990s

On 21 January 1934 Hitler's chief architect, PaulTroost, died. Speer replaced him, One of the projectson which Troost had been working was thedevelopment of a pennanent site at NUTemberg for NaziParty rallies. Speer took over the project. Amongstother things he was the designer of its 'Germanstadium' intended to hold 405,000 spectators (andwhere it was also intended the Olympic Games wouldpermanently take place, once Germany had achieved aposition of world domination), Speer secured hisreputation when he oversaw the reconstruction of

It,

,

*

296

I;4:

Hitler's Reich Chancellery in less than twelve months, Hitler provided undreami of opportunities inarchitecture and, eventually, at the highesi levels ofbetween late January 1938 and 10 January 1939.government. In return, Speer offered uncritical service

The key positions Speer held were those of (a) General and in the process became what he describes as theBuilding Inspector fortheNationalCapital(GBD from ' closest thing to a personal friend Hitler had30 January 1937, and then (b) Minister for Armamentsand Munitions from 8 February 1942. In these Redevelopment or Berth,positions, Sneer had considerable power at his disposal. Hitler's long-standing interest in arebitecture producedThe crucial question is, how did he use that power? jin him a desire 10 rebuild German cities, in particularAccording to Speer, he conducted himself in an Berlin, on a grand scale and in a manner that wouldextremely efficient and - by any obieciive standards - endure a thousand years, To this end, Speer'shighly professional fashion. Indeed there are solid suggestion that the main construction material begrounds 'for agreeing with the claim he made in his nanaral stone was adopted. The particularresponsibilitylast 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 European-would perhaps have been lost in 1942/43'.wide network of quarry sites was established overthe

On the other hand, Speer's ministry was also implicated next eiglit years. This involved a pomership with thein the use of slave labour - for which he was found SS andexploitationofthelabourofconcentrationcampguilty at the Nuremberg inals in 1946 and sentenced inmates. In 1942 the GBlorganisation also constructedto twenty years imprisonment. Since then, however, a large reception camp on the outskirts of Berlin.more information has been uncovered raising Ihe capable of processing up to 1500 conscriptsd workerspossibility that Speer's crimes against humanity were per day from Eastern Earope.more extensive than at first suspected

Hitler's original scheme was expanded considerablyby Speer 10 involve most of Berlin. As part of theRein, io"ship willI Hitler

Unlike millions of o111ers, Speerjoined the Nazi Party process, -Speerordered the eviction oftens of thousandsbefore Hitler came 10 power. This suggests he was of inhabitants from apartments in the inner city, ofaciing out of conviction rather than simply jumping whom 75 000 were Jews according to records compiledon 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 theexplanation, given in his memoirs Inside Ihe Third war Speer made Era"Iic efforts to suppress thisReich. gives an insight into why so many middle class information, and it did not become widely known until

after his deathGennans voted for Hitler:Here it seemed to me was hope. Here new ideals ...The perils orcommunism which seemed inexorably Armaments Ministeron 111e way, could be checked, Hitler persuaded us, In the last three years of the war, SPCer made a minorand instead of IIOPeless unemploymeni, Gentiany contribution to Germany's mintory effort in his capacitycould Inove lowards economic recovery. .. h must as Minister for Annaments and Muniiions. He bolsterednave been during these moriihs Ithat my mother saw Germany's defence to such an extent that the waran SA parade in the streets of Heidelberg. The sighi probably lasted at least two years longer than wouldof discipline in a lime of universal chaos. the otherwise have been the case. Before Hiller'simpression 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

In the first two years of the \\, ar, output per \\. orkerliadHitler caprured11isimanination. Given Hitler's artistic/ actually declined by 24 percent. Mass production wasarchitecturel pretensions, it is no surpriseihaiihe young noi a priority - rather, the military authorities demandedarchitect became a \\, elcome member of the Nazi weapons of the highest possible quality. To achieveleader's dose circle of acquaintances. And nothing what they wanted, military officers continuallyensured advancement in Nazi Germany more Ihan inIerfered in Ihe manufacturing process, demandingHitler's personal support. Again in IF, side file naild numerous design changes. Forexample, production orReich. 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 lateindispensable 10 me. Not yet 111irty, I saw before me I 942, numbered 18,000.tile niOSi exciting prospects an axiliteci can dream of

HTA Modern History Study Guide

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So shocked was Hitler when he discovered what was organisations when he visited theirfactories: near Linehappening that, in order to rectify the situation, he gave in Austria in March 1943; at Nodiausen in the HanSpeer the type of backing that Do other leading Nazi Mountainsin Central Gennanyin December I943; andhad ever received. For his part, Speer lacked any at Landsberg in Bavaria in February 1945. Followingdetailed knowledge of the amiamenis industry but he the first visit he complained about the 'luxurious'was a very talented organiser, ever ready to recruit accommodation he saw and went on to recommendexperts, listen 10theirrecommendaiions and to delegate that savings could be made by using cheaper buildingauthority. Consequently. the influence of the inilitsry materials. On one occasion he was so appalled that hewas replaced by that of industrialists, who Ihen did intervene to improve the living conditions of theachieved the desired eruciencies. In general, they did inmates - in order that production could be increasedthis by limiting production as much aspossibleto thoseweapons models best suited to mass production, and Speer always maintained he had rin knowledge of theconcentrating their production in the most efficient Holocaust. However, from line text or a speechfactories. Construction of the Me 109 fightsr aircraft, delivered at Posen on 6 October 1943 by SS chierfor example, was concenimted in three factories rather He innch Himinlet it appears that Speer was in thethan the previous seven, and monthly production audience when a lengthy explanation was given forincreased from 180 to 1000. Overall, between 1942 the on-going extennination of the Jewsand 1944, labour productivity per worker in Ihearmaments industry increased by more than 100 In 1946. during his NUTembern. trial, when it seemedpercent. (Butaner January 1945 production plummeted certain he would he found guilty and executed, Speeras a result of Allied strategic bombing. ) delivered this dramatic statement

I have something fundamental 10 say ... This warhas brought an unimaginable catastrophe on the

Personalities in the 20'' Century

Reaction to Hi"er's 'Scorched Earth' directiveThe ediiorial of the Nazi Party newspaper P61kiscl, e,Beoboeh, er of 7 September 1944 called upon allGehnans 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 ofnothing but dealli, annihilation and hale will meet him' government ti. e. Hitler, who had committed suicidalIt was Hitler who inspired this 'scorched earth' policy. 11as escaped his responsibility before the GermanDespite the enormous danger involved, Speer set about nation and Ihe world. As an important member ofopenly couniennanding \\, harm referred to a colleague the leadership of the Reich I therefore share in theas being 'these insane plans or desiruciion'. Apparently, genemliesponsibilicy from 1942 onwards ... Irisolbrhe even eniertained the idea of filling Hitler's bunker as Hitler gave me orders and I carried Ihem out. Iwith poison gas. What were his motives? Perhaps it was bear responsibility for them. ..purely for the good of Germany: so that, after niiljinrydefeat, 11is nation still Ichined some infrastructure that This admission of gum by association \\, as sufficientwould be needed to begin a recovery, OJ. perhaps, he 10 enable 11imio escape the hangman. But ho\\. genuinewas 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?war Germany - possibly becon, ing its leader. IF it were

RESOURCESthe latter, his sclTerne came badly uusiuck: Ile wasFest. J. SPC"', Tile F1'""! ladit,arrested on 23 May 1945,10 be put oiitrlal by the Allies

London, \\Einen!bld & Nicholsoii. 2001us part of their 'denazificaiioii' campaign filcht id""If in Am del"i HisIon. .' Lull

Rig/',,,$1,111 & 4thu'I Spar, '4, Significance and Evaluation Melbourne. Macmillaii. 2002Sureiiy, G. A1be, '1511eeJ': His Bafflei, ill, 71'111h

Involvement in the crimes of the Natzi re"jinc? London. Picador. 1996There was a serious downside 10 ho\\, Speer was able SPeer, A hayM* Ihe 71/11dRe, 'c/I

London. PIToenix. 1995to achieve increased output in the armTameiits industry. Van der Vat. D. 71, " tilt, fir, d Lic$ 44the, ',.$11eeJMore and more use was made of coilscripied foreigners, me GadN, ,=i. London, Phoenix. 1997prisoners of war and concentTatioii camp in males'Soeer: TlIe Archiieci'. an episode in

working under SS supervision. \Viih Hiller's direct the 1996 SBS series Hille, .$support, at one stage Speer imponed 200,000 niineTs Ile, ,cm^^e, Ifrom occupied Russia. On at least three occasions, :liee, tind Hille, U Gennariia -111eMadness.

11 Nu, eniburg - rite Trial. 1/1 Spandau - TheSpeer witnessed at first hand Ihe conditionsPunish ritent)experienced by slave labourers \\. orking for his

297

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German nati and caused a world catastrophe. Itis therefore ^y obvious duty to answer for this

Frappe;. S

\'ideo/Film

Student Number: 12027850Modem 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. Itwill 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 willconvey 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 hisarchitectural license which he obtained in 1927.

Following this Speer was witness to one of Hitler's speeches at the student rallies in Berlin inDecember 1930, and became "captured by the magic of Hitter's voice". This inspired him to join thesocialists three months later.

Speer was asked by Josef Goebbels to redesign his official residence in 1932, which he didefficiency and skin, impressing Hitler, This was the beginning of a long, active relationship betweenHitler and Speer.

A1bert Speer in Hitter's Inner CircleThrough 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 consistedof Hitler's close friends which acted as advisors towards him. Hitler's trust of Speer is supported bythe fact that Speer was petrixitted to enter Berkoff with his wife Margarete Weber. This emphasisedthe relationship that Hitler and Speer shared as this was a privileged activity and serves todemonstrate 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 Speerthe task of designng the Noremberg rally sites for May 1st, 1933. Hitler hintselfwas an enthusiasticarchitect but he lacked the skills of architectural action which became the role of Speer. He surpassedHitler's expectations which impressed Hitler.

in January 1934, Paul Ludwig Troost, Hitler's architect, died and was replaced only six hoursfollowing his death by Speer hilliself. A1bert Speer then became the first architect to the Fuher. Thismarked the beginning of Speer's active involvement in the Nazi Party.

Student Number: 12027850Modem History: A1bert Speer

Speer was initially given two tasks, The first was to redesigi the NUTemberg rally sites, thesecond was to create a penmanent headquarters for the NSDAF Speer carried both of these tasks outefficaciously and brought further respect to his name.

in 1937 Speer became the subsection leader of the realm propaganda, inspector General ofthe construction of the Reich's capital, which meant that he was a part of the department that wasresponsible for evictions of the Jewish in 1939.

1938 Trunked Speer's debut as an active yet silent participant in the violence carried out by theNazi Party against Jews. This was due to the intense racism of the Party and Hitler's aspirations tobuild an entirely new chancellery (Gennania). In order to achieve this, Speer was given unlinxitedfinancial assistance and was periliitted and supported in demolishing 52 000 flats and renting 23 000of these Jewish flats the Aryan people of Gentruiy,

in 1941 Speer was selected as a representative of the electoral district of Berlin West, thusincreasing his decision junking power within the Nazi Party. It was also in this year the deportation ofJewish people from Gennany began.

Speer conducted his architectural duties througli the Fuller and his support, providing newpremises for the Nazi Party, as Hitler's riglit hand man.

A1bert Speer as nunister of ArmamentsOn 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 armamentsproduction and this was accomplished through the use of concentration camp labour. Speer hadindirect 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 thisarea of the economy.

in September 1943 Speer was rewarded for his efforts with the Fritz Todt ring of honour forhis work.

Speer continued his work for the Nazi Party as Minister of Aimaments and in 1944 hecreated a series of underground factories, which were 20 kiri in length and he used 600 000 slaves tocarry out further demands of the war effort. These slaves worked 13 hour days and one in three ofthem 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' schemeexecuted 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 themanagerial revolution". This is useful to show that Speer's part in the Nazi Party was to act based on

Student Number: 12027850Modern History: A1bert Speer

the wishes of Hitler hintself. Speer fellill in this year and was moved to the countryside where Hitlersent 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 thewar by approximately two years, Hitler developed his ' ' scorched earth" policy which Speer disagreedwith and future disagi. Gements such as this eventuated in severe deterioration of the relationshipbetween A1bert Speer and Hitler.

Therefore, as the Minister of Armaments within the Nazi totalitarian regime, Speer waseffectiveIy in control of the Gennari economy.

Deterioration of Speer and Hitler's Relationship1945 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 ofGennany that were destined to fall into Allied hands,

Historians learn from Speer's own evidence that Speer planned an assassination of Hitler inApril, 1945, which failed. Speer was arrested after the conclusion of the war and was transferred toNUTemberg where he was to be held until a court trial. He was later charged and sent to the 'BGrlinSpandau' for 20 years,

A1bert Speer's Role in the Nazi Party - HistoriographyMany 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 suggestsan almost puppet-like role in the early years of Speer's service. Hemy King, a prosecutor atNoremberg states that "From 1942 to 1945 not only was he one of the men closest to Hitler, but hewas also one who influenced Hitler's decisions. ..". King's statement shows that Speer's role was asHitler's advisor.

Conclusion:

Throughout the period of 1931 - 1945 A1bert Speer acted within the Nazi Party as Hitler'spuppet - the man who carried out Hitler's ideas. He was also Hitler's personal architect and theMinister of Armaments and War Production where he was effectiveIy controlling the Germaneconomy.

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Chapter 4:First Architect of the Reich (, 934-42)

Rallies/Germania/'Reich Chancellery/'Jew-Flats'.

It has already been noted that luck played a significant role in the career of A1beit Speer. Luckentered his life again in a macabre way with the death of Hitler's leading architect, Paul Troost inMarch 1934. Speer now stepped into this role at the tender age of twenty nine. Hitler's fascinationwith architecture and Speer's talents in this area combined to bring Speer and Hitler closer andcloser. Speer said at his trial at Nuremberg in I 946 that had Hitler had any close friends, he wouldhave 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 Tempelhofdisplay and the 'Day of Victory' party rally in 1933. His efforts for the party rally in Nuremberg in1934 were to far surpass his achievements of the previous year. Speer's ideas would forever beimmortalised 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-aircraftsearchlights. 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 itsthirty four flag platforms. The pseudo-religious ' Blood Flag' scene in which Hitler, SS leaderHimin 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 theembarrassing sight of so many 13avarian beer bellies amongst Hitler's supporters - not good forthe youthful party image.

. Riefenstahl had to refilm some rally scenes after the completion of the rally. Speer relates theamusing story of Julius Streicher and other Nazi luminaries pacing up and down trying to learntheir 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 tootired 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 matterhow dramatic, was transitory. Speer understood that Hitler wanted something that was going tolast, in the way that the ancient Egyptians and the ancient Romans had a lasting legacy. Hitlerenvied Mussolini his collection of Roman monuments which could be used to inspire his people toa 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 fromnow. In advancing this argument Hitler also stressed the value of a permanent type ofconstruction. 3

\*

I Span, A, Irisde the Third Ra'of I, Phoenix, London, 1995 edition. PIO52 Van der Vat. D, The Good Nazi: The Life and Ues of Abert Sneer, Honghtori Mirin Company. New York. 1997. p653 Speer. p97

This bookis subject to Copyright. NO Innre than 10% is permitted to be photocopied.@ Keri Webb, Kiinberley Broadbridge 2008

25

SECT, 0". a . Rise to prominence

Whenever Hitler was shown architectural drafts or models by his architects, he invariably rejectedthem and demanded revisions. However, he rarely behaved like this with Speer. Speer always feltthat in architectural matters, Hitler always treated him as an equal. When in 1934. Speer showedHitler his model for the permanent site for all future party rallies in Nuremberg, it was acceptedimmediately. 'Speer^s gtand vision in these matters always seemed to match the megalomaniacalhopes of Hitler.

The Nuremberg site was to be a massive complex, including a stt^Iium capable of holding 400 000people-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 beencompleted. Speer's design -showed that he had finally deserted the simplicity of his earlier mentor,Tessenow, and had fully adopted the -classicism of the late Troost.

To appeal to Hitler's need for an architectural legacy, Speer' went'one stage further.eal to Hitler's need for an arc itectural Ie ac S eer' went one sta e further

. He showed Hitler designs of what the buildings would look like as ruins, covered in Iw, . hundredsof years into the future.

. Speer was at first berated by other Nazi leaders because his designs implied that Nazism wouldnot last forever. However, it appealed to Hitler's sense of history.

. Speer referred to this notion of lasting monuments as "the theory of ruins". A building was ofvalue if its ruins lasted into the future. For this reason, materials had to be used which wouldpredate the modern age as it was believed that' modern materials would not last.

Germania and - other projectsHitler'S principal architectural dream involved his hoped for rebuilding of the city of Berlin. Hitler'sfuture empire needed a capital that would rival and surpass cities such as Paris and Vienna. Hisobsession with this idea can be judged by the fact that even during the war when Berlin was underattack, Hitler still insisted on continuing with the project. Even when the Russian campaign wasshowing signs of lagging behind, Hitler was still insistent that granite purchases from Norway andSweden increase. '

CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich (1934-42)

,

Hitler had toyed with grandiose plans for Berlin as far back as the early 1920s when he was just anunimportant Southern German politician. These were to provide the basis for Speer's own plansand models,

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. Hitler envisioned a five kilometre avenue stretching through the centre of the city leading to adomed hall several times the size of St Peters in Rome.

. There was to be a triumphal arch that would -dwarf that of Paris.

. At the other end of the avenue would be the Fuhrer's Palace.

. In addition there were to be dozens of major cultural buildings, including a mega-6000 seatcinema 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 thatideology was clearly having an impact on art; the vastness of Germania represented the will toconquer. in an attempt to impress Hitler, Speer was willing to take Hitler's megalomania seriouslyand he planned for buildings of vast dimensions.

4 Sneer. p259

26 This bookis subject to Copyright. No more than 10% is permitted to be photocopied@ Ken Webb, Kiinberley Broadbridge 2008

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. , . Speei; granted the closest approximatibn to a carte blanche ever given to anyone by Hitlerexpanded on his patron ^ plans, increasing the dimensions of the great dome and other features 5Fest 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 hisson 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 wasdirectly subordinate only to Hitler. This meant that Speer did not have to go through city officials,the Ministry of the Interior or Goebbels. IAnswerable 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 themodernist 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 beenplaced next to the Soviet pavilion. By chance, Sneer came across the designs for the Sovietpavilion and he was able to ensure that his design dwarfed that of its neighbour.

The new Reich ChancellerySpeer's major architectural achievement was the building of the new Reich Chancellery. In JanuaryI938, Hitler gave Speer the job of designing and building this new edifice and demanded itscompletion by January 1939. Hitler said that he wanted a building which would impress diplomatsand overwhelm overseas leaders with the power of the Reich. Speer had 8000 men working in theproject, 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, whoprovided 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, asSpeer had not worked out a schedule, instead:

"he displayed the briMant improvi^;ational genius with which both followers and opponents havealways credited him. re

The Reich Chancellery was arguably Speer's greatest architectural achievement; it certainlyimpressed Hitler who awarded him the Gold Party Badge and added a personal touch by givinghim one of his own watercolours from the very early days. ' Hitler seemed particularly pleased withhis study table, with its inlay of a sword half-drawn from its sheath. Hitler was amused at how thiswould result in visiting diplomats shivering and shaking, 10

CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich (1934-42)

5 Van der Vat. p706 Fest. J. Spear: The Final Verdict. Weldenfeld and Nicolson, London, 2001, p937 Fest, p648 Fest, PIO39 In his youth, Hitler had salously hoped to become an adjsi and had twice med to gain entry into the Manna Academy of Fine Ansto Speer, PI72

This book is subject to Copyright. No roore than 10% is pennitled to be photocopied.@ Keri Webb. Kiinberley Broadbrldge 2008

27

SECTION a . Rise to prominence

Exercise 4.1

Using the words and phrases in the box below, complete the f 11Speer's big chance came with the death ofappoint Speer his chief architect., which was filmed by S e '^ y _,_,,. $peer's great innovation at theseevents was his ,_,_ effect. Speer was 'Iven the ' b f I,_, site for future rallies but these plans were never realised. Sdeveloped the , the idea that monume t h Id ' 'continue to exist well into the . Hitler^; principal architect I dof _, to rival cities like Part^. He intended namin his new 't I .many projects, this one remained a dream. Speer redesi ned the 01Hitlers objections and in 1937 he desi ned the G ' '

He played a major role in planning the party rally at

which opened in January 1939.

CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich (1934.42)

future

Hitler

. Speer's greatest success was the building a new

in March 1934 and

permanent

Germania

Gold Party Badgemodernist

Leni Riefenstahi

Paris World Fair

Party intriguesSpeer stated that he always tried to remain aloof from the 'intr' ' ' 'Hitler tended to discuss only 'artistic' matters with him. Howe , S ' 'meant that he was forced into the political whirlpool whether he 11k d ' ,shy exterior that Speer presented publicly, there lurked a ruthle '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.

Speer had faced opposition early on from the likes of Goebbels, hHitler. ' s oHowever, Speer's main party opponent was Martin Bormann. Bor 'but as time went on he moved more fully into Hitler's orbit and as thbecome so close to Hitler, that no one could get to see the Fuhrer Ih t fBormann. '. 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

For this project, Hitler awarded Speer a

s decision to

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SECTION a . Rise to prominence

. Bormann resented Speer because at this stage Speer could see Hitler without Bormann beingthere. This was a challenge to Bormann's power.

. Speer was be coin. ing'jealous of another architect, Hermann Giessler, who had been given the jobof redesigning Munich and Linz.. Speer sought to lessen Giessler's influence by issuing a decree that all building requests had

to go through him.. 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

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, andits 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, ' Speerinari';^gad' to get- himself put in

,. charge. of-the rocket. constructionSite at i>eerierlionde. I' ' ' ~

CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich 0934-42)

,.. ,

Speer Was but in ' charge'of 26I"000 wojker^. wh^seibb"was. to'' build army buildings; aeroplane '.. ft^qtorie$ andaiiraid*, shelters. in. .

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S 6r Set U' ' Several trans' dirt ' 'Sped Set Up Several transport 'units of thousands of trucks and

'-'a transport'fi66f of'^Oof6ighf. .'barges for the movement ofmaterials and removal'of bombdebris.

*. .

The issue of the 'Jewish Flats'

Until his appointment as Armaments Minister in 1942, the most controversial issue with whichSpeer was connected was that of 'The Jewish Flats'. In April 1939, the ' Law on Rental Contractswith Jews' was passed. This allowed the ejection of Jews from their homes if alternativeaccommodation could be found. A resettlement department was later created. However, this wasnot enough for Goebbels who was very keen on dealing with the Jewish issue. It had beenGoebbels who pushed hardest for the nationwide pogrom against the Jews during the 'Night ofBroken Glass' in November 1938.

Goebbels decided that the 20 000 flats still owned by Jews in Berlin were needed as a reserve incase allied bomb damage meant that German citizens had to be relocated. He was tired of thehesitancy towards the Jews and ordered their deportation to Lodz, Riga and Minsk. Goebbe!s washappy to use terror tactics to achieve his aim.

:

SPEER ANDTHE WARI939-4 t

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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

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 ' ' thurry things along. Houses were searched and Jews were herded onto t k . Mcommitted suicide rather than be forced east. By this time, ' S ee ' dits administrative function in resettlement matters. Fest ponderswheth th'was too big or because Speer could not stomach the work * It*Debate has continued amongst historians about the connection between S d. hFest 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 , - hhis r's"'st"Ityin this field, 14 , , , , ,In his S andau diaries and h' 'In his Spandau diaries and his memoirs, Speer never mentions his 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 15However, 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 thwhen Adolf Eichmann had been told to work out the plan for reinov' thIt I^ impossible that Speer was not informed of the substance of this in t ' - ththe, Jews from Berm. ,6

Speer^s long-time friend and colleague, Rudolf Wolters, kept a detailed ch ' I fthe war. When this chronicle was later published, certain sections r d' homitted - Wolters stated later he had done this out of consideration f Sgo along with this. However, later on Wolters became ang with S e ' Itowards his Nazi career and so he broke with Speer, and placed thewith the (West German) government archives. Speer's participation and knowled e f th JFlats business was now out in the open.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 Hlive 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 bHowever, he seems to be a inari totally without emotion. He felt nothin b t ththese 75 000 people; it was merely an administrative issue. A s h I ' tback 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, hfate of the millions of slave workers who would work for him later in the w Th Iwas, says Sereny, that when Speer wanted something, he went after it, and th hnot matter. ,7

CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich (1934-42)

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15 Soreny, G. Nbert Speer: His Battle with Truth. Picador. London, I995, p22016 Sereny. p22117 Sereny, p223

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SECTION a . Rise to prominence

. 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 separatefrom the work which Speer did for the regime which in turn was quite separate from thepersonality 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 appliesto the statement.

I . Speer was not the sort of metn to become involved inparty intrigues to even understand these mechanisms.

2. Speer was able to develop a ^lose and effective workingrelationship with Martin Borm^Inn.

3. Speer saw Hermann Giesler as a threat to his privilegedposition,

4. Speer managed to establish a complex and extensiverange of organisations during the early stages of the war.

CHAPTER 4 . First Architect of the Reich 0934-42)

5. The main driving force behind. the takeover of the BerlinJewish flats was Goebbels.

6. Speer was intimately involved in the detail and planning ofthe eviction of the Jews from Berlin.

7. Though Speer did not intervene on the Jews' behalf inBerlin, he was deeply emotionally troubled by the events.

8. Speer's personality was such that he was to able tocompartment allse his life which enabled him to overlookunpleasant aspects of the Nazi regime.

THIS Is TRUERHis Is FALSE

THIS Is TRUE/PHIS Is FALSE

THIS Is TRUE/rHis Is FALSE

THIS Is TRUE!'rHis Is FALSE

THIS Is TRUERHis Is FALSE

THIS Is TRUE/THIS Is FALSE

THIS Is TRUE/THIS Is FALSE

THIS Is TRUERHis Is FALSE

This bookis subject to Copyright. No more than to% is perrnitted to be photocopied.@ Keri Webb, Kiinberley Broadbridge 2008

31

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~ a" *" :press any remorse for his war crimes. Butas more information has surfaced about Speer^; lifeduring World War 11, historians. have questioned hissincerity in tins regard.

Speer, the Penitent NGziDuring his trial at NUTemberg, Speet^ claimedresponsibility for his actions as Minister of Armamentsand e, ;pressed sorrow at the nitsery nazism had caused.He also denied any 1

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' with Nazi racism;that'he was-simply a technician, . at first interestedonly in calTying out architecti!ral commissions. andlater in achieving increased industrial production.Was he ternng the truth? How was it possible for aninsider, with an extremely:detailed knowledge of theNazi leadership, not to'1

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1928, A1bert married Margarete, his childhoodsweetheart. They were to have six children.

At School, Speer. was a hardworking student whodid well in his final exams. Although he most likedmaths and wanted to. pursue his sindies in thatfield, his parents persuaded him to become anarchitect, In 1923, he began ^tudying architectureat the Technical 'University -at I^arlsruhg. Hetransferred to Munich's more prestigious TechnicalUniversity in 1925 and then, the following year, toBerlin, to study under Professor Hemrich'Tessenow.When Speer graduated in. 1927, . at twenty-three years of age, Tessenow made him his graduateassis^It-the youngest ever to be appointed to theposition. It involved . some teaching of under-graduate students and brought in a . modestincome. While' contin\Ling teaching until 1932, heattempted to build up his own private architecturalpractice. Because of the Depression, however, andwit!I the building trade particularly badly affected,there were fewjobs to be had.Speer joins the Nazi PartyThe ruming point' in Speer's 'life came when heattended a political meeting, along with 5000 Others,on 4 December 1930, Adolf'Hitler addressed it Itms because many architectore students were goingthat Speer followed. Hitter made quite an impact. In

art, his speech was about the First World War, abouthow it had left Germany in a very rundown statewhich had continued throughout the Weimar

eriod a second-rate power divided - by classconflict. According to Hitler, Gennariy had lost manyof its'brightest and bestiri the war, and been left with

1978-1945

'inferiors'. If the nation was to have a future, these .had to be ^ 'eliminated'. Gennany needed' to bereawakened and this required a return to traditionalvanies. (Because his audience 'was fined withuniversity' students and also their professors, Hitler

. g:;ve an unusually restrained and measured deliveryq:uite academic in tone-Ile was anything but the'shrieking and gesticulating fanatic in uniformSpeer had expected. 'Everydimg about him bore outthe note of reasonable modesty* Furthermore,antis6mitism failed to - get ' a .meritiqn. ) What sojin^ressed Speer was ai^ feeling he got, that Hitlercared enonnously about the German'people.

So appealing was Hitter's message that, the verynext day, Speer applied to join the Nazi- . Party,be conitng member number 474481 on I March1931' 'I was not choosing the NSDAP, but becominga' follower of Hider, ' whose magnetic force hadreached out to me. ' But he reassures the reader ofhis . memoirs that 'I continued to associate 'Jewish acquaintances'.

Subsequenuly, Speer. also joined various b^Ichof^amisations of the Nazi Party, including that forarchitects. One of the' benefits for Speer was to becommissions, the first for the red!*sign of the interiorof the Nazis!- district headquarters for the westernregion of Berlin, located at Grunewald. Next, in July1932, his was asked to redesigri the interior of theparty's Berlin headquarters on the VossStraSse in thecentral administrative district, Adolf Hider House.And because he was one of the -few Party memberswho owned a car, a small BMW, he became head ofhis local Warinsee branch of . tile Nazi Party'stransport division, the NSKl;..

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A SHARED INTEREST IN ARCHITECTUREHitler was very much a frustrated artist andarchitect. When at school, he liked to draw, and,early on dedded he wanted to become an artist Hispoor academic perfonnarices at school, however,did not provide him with the necessary qual-ifications to enrol for training in the fine arts at an.institution of higher learning. This did not stop himtrying his hand at painting, and dreaming abotithow he would redesigri his hometown, Nor was hedeterred from applying to enter the General Schoolof Painting at the \7ienna Academy of Fine ms.Failure Of his application in September 1908 struckhim like a bolt 'out of the blue', .Discontent, heasked for an explanation from the Academy's rector,whom Ile recorded, in Mein K@millias saying that histrue talent lay in architecture-according to therector, it was 'incomprehensible . .. that I had neverattended an architectural school or received anyother training in architecture'. He adds that in a

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

few days I myself knew that I should some^ dEbecome an architect'. In later years, he claimed hhad, the pot^ntial to . become one of Gennanyleading architects, but the I First World WEinterrupted that careet path, Because he w{motivated to help the nation's cause, so he argueiIle g;*ve up the idea to become a politician.

Hitler was to maintain -aji interest in architectruthroughout his life. Apparendy, after his failed 192'Beer Hall Putsch' he read architecture books whi:serving his brief prison sentence. Dating from ill;ume were a number of sketches of monument

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buildings, including one of a triumphal arch, th;later was to serve as a model in the planneredevelqpment of Berlin, The success of tliNUTemberg Rallies 'in 1927 and 1929 prompted. hiito start on sketches for a penmanent site for tti;event. Often in conversation he would speak aboiarchitecture, frequendy astonishing his listeners witthe details Ile had memorised abotLt farnot

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buildings, such as .the opera house in . ans.Sometimes he would illustrate these discourses bydrawing on a piece of paper. He liked itI^ companyof architects. In 1945, his personal library inclu ethirteen books ^bout architecture and city planning,and found in the bedroom of his bunker was a set oarchitectural, magazines.

More than a h^ridred searchlights ,S eerls work' first came to the attention of Hitler inrind 1933. After conxing to power, the Nazis Itataken o'ver orgariisatioii of May Day, and it was Spe^rwho volunteered to design the PIad'onn for BentrL. $celebration ,at the Tempelhof Field. Around it hehad hung, in groups of three, large flags; the CGnthree being 15 metres high. Floodlights illuminatedthe ' whole scene and, adding - enormously to thedramalic effect, over allundred. searchlights pointedupwards into the 'night sky. . .Apparently Hitler was much impresse . atIGOebbels claimed credit for the spectacular, notmentioning speer. Nevertildess, Speer was giye!I eoEficial ^^OSition of "Comintssioner for the Artisticand Technical Presentation of Party Rallies andDemonsti. atipns'. Four months later, - the Nazi?at^,'sTally was held in Nuremberg and Speer, in his newOSition, arranged the background for the

ceremony. This dine, in addition to flags, he placedbehind the podium a huge golden eagle wi . athirty-metre wing span. Searchlights were also againused to dramatic effect. On this occasion he camebriefly into contact with Hitler, who personally

- approved bis ariarigement. In the meantime peerhadesi^ried the Propaganda Ministry. Then, in justt!vo months, he Tenovated Goebbels s new privatea atonent-by having teams of tradesmen worcontinuously, in shifts around the clock. This cameto Hitter's notice: he requested. that Speer join ateam, led by Professor Palul Troost, whose task it wasto redesigii his own official residence in the ReichChancellery-in quick time, so that the apartmentcould be used to impress visitors'

'A building-person like meFrequently, Hider made midday visits to inspect ework in progress, and it was sometimes Speer w ohad to answer bis questions. One day, totallyune, cpectedly, he said '\^jin you come to dinner wime today'? had although- a group of leading 1.1azis,including Goebbels, sat around the table, it was toS eer that Hitler spoke. Because of his keen interest

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in att and architectute, Hider er^joyed enonnouslythe- company of someone such as - Speer. Accordingto Speer, architecture was a 'magic wqrd for Hitler;it was his '}lobby'. Consequently; their conversationflowed freely.

piovided Speer with theThat luncheonopportunity to make the type Of impression thatcould result in an enonnous boost to .one s career

ToSI, ects in the Nazi regime, so vital ms the roleplayed by the Fiihrer. Speer made . the best of t!IeOPPqrrunity. It marked the beginning of an origqingassociation with Hider-which would lead' to Insap^ointment to some vety' powerful positions. OfSpeet, Hitler would say later: 'He is an artist and hasa spirit akin to mine . . . He is a buildingperson likeme, intelligent, , modest, and nQt an obstinateminta. ry 'head. ' He himself told Speer- that he hadtaken not^ce of him on' his inspection visits. He. saidhe had been 'searching for a young architect to

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Speer uses the tenn 'the mountain disease' to, referto the unchanging, monotonous, boring routine heand other guests had to endure there. Hitler wouldsleep in until about 11 a, in. After getting out of bed,he would. be briefed on what had appeared in thedaily, .press. . and. abo^t. .current .political issues. ._}lisguests would then join him for a long lunch

wherefollowed by a half-hour walk to a techouseHider would t^Ik on and on until abqut 6 p, in. Thegroup would then be driven back to the. Berghqfwhere slipper was served at 8 p. in. Later; a movie was

' 'shown, latter which the guests would gather aroundthe fireplace until early in the morning. When inresidence at- the Berghof, Hider seems to have gotvery littte work do!Ie; One of the few things he didwas write speeches, and even that he wouldcontinually put off until the last nitnute

As to the power Hitler exercised, Speer observedthat .'There was something fantastic about theabsolute authority Hitler could assert over his dosestassociates'. and 'Hitler .reserved all importantdecisions for himself'

BUl'LDlNG A PERMANENT SITE FOR THENUREMBERG RALLIESNUTemberg was one of the best examples in Europeof a late medieval d^,. Hider greatly adulted itsarchitecture, 1111ariuary1923, the Natis chose alarge

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What was its significance for Speer^ career?massive pylon at either end, each decorated with aabi^q, ' . . . The design went far beyond the scope of large swastika, and on top of .which was a giantmy assignment'-^Id won Hider s approval. Having brazier. In the centre of the grandstand was themade the right -impression on- Hitler, subsequently speaker's platf'onn, behind and high above whichhe 'respected my ideas and treated me as an was another giant swastika. Within the grands^ridarchitect, as if I were his equal .were a 'Hall of Honour' and a chapel .. TheOne of the bright ideas Speer came up with was Zeppelin Field complex was completed in time forwhat he ternied his 'law of ruins'. According. to this,the 1,935 Rally.ina^jor structures should be built from the types of

material that would enable them to last thousands of Plans for the Marzfield and the 'German Stadiumears. Even if they fell into disuse, their architectLiral

lines should continue to impress--:just as Romanruins did. Hider was so taken with the idea that heordered that the 'law of ' ruins be corne a guidingprinciple for all the Nazis' monumental buildings.He also ordered that granite should be used toconstruct major buildings-because it would allowthem to last at least 4000, and possibly even 10 000,years'

Spectators at tile Zeppelin Field were to be seatedon stone terraces located on three sides of a squareparade ground, 290 x 3/2 metres. Behind theterraces were sixty-six massive stone towers, eachwith six flagpoles. On the north-eastern side was themain grandstand, a fortress-like stoicture. It wasclassical in style, backed by severitytwo pillars, with a

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military mmnoeuvres -in front of half a millionspectators. In 1938, work commenced nearby onconstruction of a 60-hectare field kiloam as theMarzfeld, in honoiir of the Roman god of war, andalso the month of March, in whichllitler announcedthe reintroduction of conscription. It was to beenclosed by a 3-kilometre-long, 30-metre-high fencemade from 960 red swastika flags.

Also planned for the site was the ' GermanStadium' to accommodate 405 000 spectators. It wasto be horseshoe shaped, made from granite andcovet 20 hectares. There were to 'be five massivebanks of seating, rising -150 steps to a height of

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Expansion of Speer's organisationHitler had earlier provided furttier proof of hisbacking of Speer when, in February. 1937, heordered that the Academy of Arts be evicted ^. omthe building' alongside his own o^lidal residence, theChancellery, so as to provide Speer's organisationwith .onin. co space. Iaige Tooliis that. had previouslyserved for public exhibitions in the building werethen used to display the evolving project inninjature. Cabinetojakers were employed to in^!lay^xing. Guards were posted, and itwas only with his perilii^ion that visitors were alloweentry. He had a doorwayspedal