Albert Speer

[Jim O]

I mentioned a few days ago that I would post my thoughts on Mr Speer so here they are. These are opinions based on a fair bit of reading and study over the years.

The very first "historical text" of World War II that I read was Mr. Speer's Inside the Third Reich. At the time I was about 16 years old (that would be about 30 years ago) and I found him believable. I have since come to the conclusion that he was less than truthful with respect to his knowledge of the atrocities committed under the regime of Nazi Germany and its allies. Knowing what I do know now, I would ask how someone with so high a position in government and knowledge in buildings, munitions, and engineering of the Reich not know? Simple. He either winked and looked the other way, or he lied. Either way, he "knew". Add to that his close personal relationship with Hitler and it becomes nearly impossible to believe otherwise.

Of course no one knows for sure what exactly he knew, and he took that information to his grave with him. As for punishment, well, he did plead guilty and admit to at least some of his crimes.

Here he is in Paris, on the left, with Der Führer and Arno Breker on June 23, 1940.
Adolf_Hitler_in_Paris.jpg

[Jack the collector]

Jim,

Inside the Third Reich is a good reference work for students and scholars of WW2 Germany.As I have stated before,I have had the good fortune to interview several of the prominant 3rd Reich individuals.Albert Speer I actually spoke to twice.Without exception,they all had very selective memories.Without exception,they all expressed remorse but did not show it.
I was young both times we met and I found Albert Speer very likable yet very aloof.He made sure I knew my place throughout both visits.Yet he would answer any question as ask him.His sense of saying the right answer to "sensitive" questions was uncanny(truth or not).It wasn't until much later that it occured to me that he in many cases told me what I wanted to hear rather than what was correct.All in all,he seemed honest in his answers the majority of the time.

[Ingsoc]

Albert Speer was a very smart man, he used Hitler artistic asperation to get close to him and throught him to gain a position of power in the TR, after the war, at the Nuremberg trials he understand that the allies don't want to hear excuses like "I didn't know" or "it's was all Hitler and Himler" so he confess as a way to save his own neck, it's should also be mention that Fritz Zauckel, who worked under Speer was hanged while Speer got only 20 years in jail.

Contrary to his claims, he did know about the atrocities, he was present at the Posen Conference and was responsible to the expell of Jews from Berlin to concentration camps in Poland.

The only thing that could be said to his favour his that he disobey Hitler order to destroy Germany inferstracture and the he influence Doenitz in his appial to the German to cooperate with the occupetion force.

[Sarge]

I think Igsoc has hit the nail on the head here.

Was Speer a dedicated Nazi - well yes when it suited him.

Did Speer try and save the Reich - undoubtedly, both by his production change around and by his defiance of Hitler.

Was Speer a pragmatist - of course, being practical, he would want Germany to win the War. being loyal to his country, he wouldnt want to see it destroyed for nothing.

Human nature being what it was and if Germany had won the war - Speer would have been one of the select. However I believe that he was a realist and the Nazi ideal suited his ambitions when he wanted it to and when it became obvious that the Nazis were doomed, again the pragmatic Speer did what he thought would be best for him and his country. I cant blame him for being human and can realise his point of view.

Perhaps he should have been executed, but even though he may have said what we wanted to hear, he has given us a first hand insight into the Nazi inner circle, albeit his slanted view.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Ingsoc

he was present at the Posen Conference and was responsible to the expell of Jews from Berlin

He claimed that he left at mid-day and and was therefore not present for Himmler's closing speech which described the final solution. He never denied knowing about deportations to the east. He claimed he did not specifically know the fate of the deportees once they got to their destinations.

Call it selective memory or knowledge if you like, I call it falsehood.

[Klaus]

For saying, that he knew of the atrocities and that all the accused were to blame for what happened, he was being mobbed by the other inmates of Spandau. Especially Dönitz didn't ike him very much.

[Klaus]

87510720_78d50bd97e_o.jpg
The model for the "future" Berlin.
Would have looked nice.

[Jim O]

Looks a bit like the US Capitol...

IMG_1383%20US%20Capitol%20&%20reflecting%20pool%20(+).jpg

[Klaus]

Albert may have thought: "Better a good copy, than a lousy original."