Albert Speer
Albert Speer
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Albert Schultze was born as Albert Emil Johann Friedrich Speer on March 19, 1905, in Mannheim, Germany. He is often referred to simply as Albert Speer.
#### Birth and Death Dates
March 19, 1905 – September 1, 1981
#### Nationality and Profession(s)
German architect, engineer, and politician who served as Adolf Hitler's chief architect and Minister of Armaments and War Production during World War II.
Early Life and Background
Albert Speer was born to a Catholic family in Mannheim, Germany. His father was a successful art dealer and collector, which exposed Albert to the world of art from an early age. He grew up with a strong interest in architecture, encouraged by his parents, who saw it as a suitable profession for their son.
Speer's academic achievements earned him a place at the Technische Hochschule (Technical University) in Stuttgart, where he studied architecture. He graduated in 1927 and soon gained recognition for his innovative designs.
Major Accomplishments
As Adolf Hitler's chief architect, Speer was responsible for designing several key structures, including the Reich Chancellery and the Zeppelinfeld, a massive stadium in Nuremberg. His work on these projects showcased his skill and attention to detail.
Speer's appointment as Minister of Armaments and War Production in 1942 gave him control over Germany's war production efforts. He played a crucial role in mobilizing resources for the German military, which enabled them to wage war on multiple fronts.
Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works by Speer include:
The Reich Chancellery: A grandiose structure that served as Hitler's official residence and office.
The Zeppelinfeld: A massive stadium in Nuremberg built for Nazi Party rallies.
* The Autobahn: Germany's highway system, which was expanded significantly under Speer's direction.
However, it is essential to note that these accomplishments were also closely tied to the Nazi regime and its ideology. Speer's association with Hitler and his party led him to become embroiled in their atrocities.
Impact and Legacy
As a key figure in the Nazi regime, Albert Speer played a crucial role in the implementation of their policies. His involvement in the war effort and his control over resources directly contributed to the devastation caused during World War II.
After the war, Speer was put on trial at Nuremberg for crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison but served only 21 years due to good behavior.
In his post-war writings, Speer grappled with his past and the harm he had caused. His memoir, _Inside the Third Reich_, provides a unique perspective on the inner workings of the Nazi regime.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Albert Speer's story is a complex mix of talent, ambition, and complicity in one of history's most infamous regimes. His quotes and writings offer a glimpse into the mindset of someone who was deeply involved in shaping the course of World War II.
Today, Speer's legacy serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind loyalty and the importance of accountability in the face of evil.
Quotes by Albert Speer
I am writing this as a profession of faith: I believe in a divine providence; I also believe in God’s wisdom and goodness; I trust in his ways, even though they may seem matters of chance. It is not the mighty of the earth who determine the course of history. They think they are the movers, and they are moved.
Hitler’s dictatorship was the first of an industrial estate in this age of modern technology, a dictatorship which employed to perfection the instruments of technology to dominate its own people. By means of such instruments of technology, eighty million persons could be made subject to the will of one individual. Telephone, teletype, radio, made it possible to transmit the commands of the highest levels directly to the lowest organs where they were executed uncritically.
All sensible Army people turned gas warfare down as being utterly insane since, in view of your superiority in the air, it would not be long before it would bring the most terrible catastrophe upon German cities, which were completely unprotected.
All I know is that these two gases both had a quite extraordinary effect, and that there was no respirator, and no protection against them that we knew of. So the soldiers would have been unable to protect themselves against this gas in any way.
I assert that a great number of the foreign workers in our country did their work quite voluntarily once they had come to Germany.
I knew that the National Socialist Party was anti-Semitic, and I knew that the Jews were being evacuated from Germany.
Hitler's dictatorship differed in one fundamental point from all its predecessors in history. It was the first dictatorship in the present period of modern technical development, a dictatorship which made complete use of all technical means for the domination of its own country. Through technical devices like the radio and the loud-speaker, eighty million people were deprived of independent thought. It was thereby possible to subject them to the will of one man.
He was highly annoyed by the series of triumphs by the marvelous colored American runner, Jesse Owens. People whose antecedents came from the jungle were primitive, Hitler said with a shrug; their physiques were stronger than those of civilized whites and hence should be excluded from future games.
The Americans had not played a very prominent part in the war of 1914-1918, he (Adolf Hitler) thought, and moreover, had not made any great sacrifices of blood. They would certainly not withstand a trial by fire, for their fighting qualities were low. In general no such thing as an American people existed as a unit; they were nothing but a mass of immigrants from many nations and many races.