Albert Speer as Hitler's Architect
Speer was held in high regard by Hitler, and it was this respect that led Hitler to give Speer the task of designing the Nuremberg rally sites for May 1st, 1933. Hitler himself was an enthusiastic architect but he lacked the skills of architectural action which became the role of Speer. He surpassed Hitler's expectations which impressed Hitler.
In January 1934, Paul Ludwig Troost, Hitler's architect, died and was replaced only six hours following his death by Speer himself. Albert Speer then became the first architect to the Fuher. This marked the beginning of Speer's active involvement in the Nazi Party.
Speer was initially given two tasks. The first was to redesign the Nuremberg rally sites, the second was to create a permanent headquarters for the NSDAP Speer carried both of these tasks out efficaciously and brought further respect to his name.
In 1937 Speer became the subsection leader of the realm propaganda, Inspector General of the construction of the Reich's capital, which meant that he was a part of the department that was responsible for evictions of the Jewish in 1939.
1938 marked Speer's debut as an active yet silent participant in the violence carried out by the Nazi Party against Jews. This was due to the intense racism of the Party and Hitler's aspirations to build an entirely new chancellery (Germania). In order to achieve this, Speer was given unlimited financial assistance and was permitted and supported in demolishing 52 000 flats and renting 23 000 of these Jewish flats the Aryan people of Germany.
In 1941 Speer was selected as a representative of the electoral district of Berlin West, thus increasing his decision making power within the Nazi Party. It was also in this year the deportation of Jewish people from Germany began.
Speer conducted his architectural duties through the Fuher and his support, providing new premises for the Nazi Party, as Hitler's right hand man.
Albert Speer as Minister of Armaments
On the 7th of February, 1942, Fritz Todt, the Minister of Armaments, was killed in a plane crash and Speer was appointed by Hitler himself as the succeeding Minister.
Under his new title, Speer was given "free reign" over his district with the goal of reorganising armaments productions. He immediately demanded the increase of armaments production and this was accomplished through the use of concentration camp labour. Speer had indirect control of the German economy and his dedication to war efforts was vast. As a result, armaments production had doubled by 1942 and continued to rise throughout Speer's control of this area of the economy.
In September 1943 Speer was rewarded for his efforts with the Fritz Todt ring of honour for his work.
Speer continued his work for the Nazi Party as Minister of Armaments and in 1944 he created a series of underground factories, which were 20 km in length and he used 600 000 slaves to carry out further demands of the war effort. These slaves worked 13 hour days and one in three of them died partly as a result of their hard labour ordered by Speer.
It was also in this year that Speer was asked to declare his part in the 'final solution' scheme executed by the Nazi Party. He denied any knowledge of this policy.
Himmler stated to the 'Observer', a British newspaper, that "in him is the epitome of the managerial revolution". This is useful to show that Speer's part in the Nazi Party was to act based on the wishes of Hitler himself. Speer fell ill in this year and was moved to the countryside where Hitler sent him the best doctors in the country.
In May 1944 Speer returned to work and immediately pleaded for the completion of the war. Speer appeared to be unaware that his armaments production efficiency had delayed the end of the war by approximately two years. Hitler developed his "scorched earth" policy which Speer disagreed with and future disagreements such as this eventuated in severe deterioration of the relationship between Albert Speer and Hitler.
Therefore, as the Minister of Armaments within the Nazi totalitarian regime, Speer was effectively in control of the German economy.
Deterioration of Speer and Hitler's Relationship
1945 brought further disagreements between the two former friends, and the most significant of these was Speer's violation of Hitler's direct orders to permit the destruction of industrial areas of Germany that were destined to fall into Allied hands.
Historians learn from Speer's own evidence that Speer planned an assassination of Hitler in April, 1945, which failed. Speer was arrested after the conclusion of the war and was transferred to Nuremberg where he was to be held until a court trial. He was later charged and sent to the 'Berlin Spandau' for 20 years.
Albert Speer's Role in the Nazi Party - Historiography
Many historians argue that Speer was aware of the atrocities of the Nazi Party and followed Hitler's orders regardless of the repercussion of this.
For example, Hugh R. Trevor argues that Speer "ignored the political implications of the regime and served with absolute loyalty the real criminal of the Nazi regime [Hitler]". This suggests an almost puppet-like role in the early years of Speer's service. Henry King, a prosecutor at Nuremberg states that "From 1942 to 1945 not only was he one of the men closest to Hitler, but he was also one who influenced Hitler's decisions...". King's statement shows that Speer's role was as Hitler's advisor.
Conclusion:
Throughout the period of 1931 - 1945 Albert Speer acted within the Nazi Party as Hitler's puppet - the man who carried out Hitler's ideas. He was also Hitler's personal architect and the Minister of Armaments and War Production where he was effectively controlling the German economy.
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Student Number: 12027850
Modern History: Albert Speer
