Albert Speer

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-V00555-3, Obersalzberg, Albert Speer, Adolf Hitler

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1982-1130-502, Nürnberg, Reichsparteitag, Lichtdom

Welthauptstadt germania 11

Bundesarchiv Bild 146III-373, Modell der Neugestaltung Berlins ("Germania")

Adolf Hitler in Paris 1940

Albert Speer (born Berthold Konrad Hermann Albert Speer; March 19, 1905 – September 1, 1981) was a German architect and a key figure in the Nazi Party, serving as Adolf Hitler's chief architect before assuming the role of Minister of Armaments and War Production for the Third Reich during World War II. Speer's close relationship with Hitler provided him with a significant level of influence, making him a major player in the Nazi regime's efforts to rebuild and militarize Germany.

Early Life and Career

Albert Speer was born in Mannheim, Germany, into an upper-middle-class family. He studied architecture at the Technical University of Munich and later at the Technical University of Berlin, where he graduated with distinction. Initially, Speer's architectural career was unremarkable, but his fortunes changed after he joined the Nazi Party in 1931 and was subsequently introduced to Adolf Hitler. Impressed by Speer's architectural skills, Hitler appointed him as his personal architect. In this role, Speer designed and constructed several significant buildings and structures, including the Reich Chancellery and the Nuremberg Rally grounds.

Role in the Nazi Regime

In 1942, Speer was appointed as the Minister of Armaments and War Production, a position in which he was remarkably effective. He was able to significantly increase the production of war materials, despite the Allies' bombing campaign against Germany. Speer implemented a series of organizational and technical improvements to the production process, including the use of forced labor from occupied territories. His work in this capacity has been credited with prolonging the duration of World War II.

Post-War

After the war, Speer was tried at the Nuremberg Trials, where he was one of the few Nazi officials to express remorse for his actions. He was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly for his use of forced labor. Speer was sentenced to 20 years in prison, which he served at Spandau Prison in Berlin. Following his release in 1966, he worked as a writer and published several books, including his memoirs, "Inside the Third Reich," which provided a unique perspective on the inner workings of the Nazi regime.

Legacy

Speer's legacy is controversial. He was often seen as the "Nazi who said sorry," due to his expressions of regret and his attempts to accept responsibility for his actions during the war. However, his claims of ignorance regarding the Holocaust and the extent of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime have been met with skepticism by historians. Speer's role in the Nazi war machine, his use of forced labor, and his personal ambition have led to a complex and often critical assessment of his life and career.