Albert Speer played a prominent role in Germanys history.

His role during World War II as

Armaments Minister and Hitlers architect helped to define the greatness of Germany and further
its ability in maintaining the war effort until 1945. Albert Speer has often been described as the
Good Nazi, the Nazi who said sorry and as claimed by Joachim Fest, an apolitical technocrat.
Born on the 17th of March in 1905 in Mannheim, Speers upper middle class family were part of
the German haute bourgeoisie. It was this cold childhood that Dan Van der Vat believes trained
him for emotional indifference. Educated at the Institute of Munich, it was here that Speer found
his first job as Professor Tessenows assistant in 1928. It would not be until over two years after
he joined the Nazi Party, following an attendance of the Neue Welt Rally, that he would meet his
initial power base, Karl Hanke. Hanke offered him the job of redecorating headquarters of a Nazi
branch and soon thereafter a similar job at Goebbels headquarters in Voss Strasse. It was this
that Speer regarded as the luckiest turning point in my life and would prove to initiate his
rise to prominence.
Speer proved his ability as an able organiser and architect and was employed to design plans for
1st of May Tempelholf Field Night. His powerful display of imperial flags, powerful search lights
and a raised platform for Hitler awarded him the position of Commissioner for the Artistic and
Technical Presentation of Party Rallies and Demonstrations. In July 1933, he designed a gigantic
Eagle with a wingspan of 30 metres for the Nazis Massive Party Rally at Nuremberg. This
design was seen as so amazing that he was eventually sent to show the design to an impressed
Hitler.
In 1933, Hitler ordered the renovation of the Chancellors residence in Berlin. This job was
awarded to the Chief architect at the time, Paul Troost, Speer was appointed as Troosts assistant
and was observed avidly by Hitler, who held a hidden passion for architecture, his role was thus
being determined.
However it was not until early 1934, following the death of Troost that Speer started playing a
major role in Nazi Germany. Speer was appointed at the age of 29 as the First Architect of the
Reich. It was at this point that he started to use his architecture to help drive the propagandist
ways of the Nazis. He organised the Nuremberg Rally to be more spectacular and
accommodating for a larger crowd, adhering to Hitlers megalomaniacal obsession. His massive
anti-aircraft lights against the night sky and the 34 flag platforms gave the impression of being in
cathedral of ice according to the British Ambassador, Henderson. His megalomaniacal
aspirations and assertions of nationalism through architecture were also evident in the German
Pavilion designed for the Paris World Far. The large building was purposely made to dwarf the
neighbouring Soviet Pavilion, bearing a large, aggressive eagle and the Nazi swastika.
Speers role was clearly prominent in Nazi Germany; evident through being the sole architect
awarded the honour of building Hitlers principal architectural dream, Germania. Although never
finished, its designs demonstrate both Speers and Hitlers megalomaniacal obsession, with
Speer even expanding on his patrons plans. (Fest) It was at this point that his role became
blatantly paramount, being appointed Inspector General of Construction for the Reich Capital
(GBI), making him answerable solely to Hitler. Perhaps his greatest architectural achievement
lay in the rapid completion of the New Reich Chancellery. The 8000-manned project awarded

Speer with a Golden Party Badge, proving his prominence in the Nazi circle and undeniable
architectural and organisational ability, the brilliant improvisational genius with which both
followers and opponents always credited him. (Joachim Fest.)
Speers rise to GBI proved to be a step from the supposedly apolitical sphere of architecture
into the executive sphere. (Van der Vat) due to his eviction of thousands of Jews from their
homes. Speer also contributed to the war effort through means of reconstruction of air raid
shelters and repairing roads and facilities. This period was transitional, with the final step in his
career following the Armaments Minister Fritz Todts death.
Appointed Armaments Minister in 1942 after the death of Todt, Speers role became undeniably
political. Van der Vat claims that unlike Speer, Todt had been first and foremost a technician. It is
undeniable, however, that Speers work extended the war as increased production numbers
through his organisational skills. He limited the amounts of models made for aeroplanes, tanks
and trucks, allowing production to rise and for easier repairing. It was towards the end of the
war, when all had realised defeat was immanent that Speer made one of the most controversial
decisions of his career, countermanding his Furhers orders towards the Scorched Earth Policy. It
was the refusal to carry out this action that would earn Speer much empathy in years to
come. As stated by Sereny Speer was being courageous
Speers role did not end with the war. He was imprisoned for 20 years following being found
guilty in the Nuremberg Trials on counts three and four. He admitted collective guilt, to assume
the responsibility in a general sense. (Speer.) He assumed the role of the penitent and the Good
Nazi. There are historians who agree with this representation, and those who
Believe he was a real criminal of Nazi Germany. It is undeniable, however, that Speers role was
important to the Nazi Regime and his apology in the Nuremberg Trials will maintain him as a
powerful figure of penitence in the Nazi Germany Regime.

INTRO
- Speers nature & workings in Nazi regime division of opinions and beliefs surrounding him
Claims of Speer Apolitical Technocrat (KING) juxtapose the egocentric opportunist (VAN
DER VAT) Many present History