Albert Speer – rise to prominence Albert Speer was a significant figure in German history due to his various architectural projects and his appointment as Minister for Armaments. Although he claimed to be apolitical, Speer joined the Nationalist Social party on March 1st, 1931 and from they’re his career in the Nazi party prospered. Speer’s first contribution to the Nazi party was as a chauffer, as district head of the Nazi Motorist League, where he met Karl Hanke. A recommendation by Hanke to Goebbels, gave Speer his first architectural assignment of decorating Goebbels headquarters in Berlin. Hitler approved the finished result, however Goebbels did not like its simplicity and had it redecorated.
In 1924 the stabilizing inflation rate meant Speer could transfer to the more esteemed Munich Institute of Technology and a year following that he transferred to Berlin Institute of Technology. It was there that he was under the tutelage of Heinrich Tessenow, whom he held in great regard, as he respected and agreed with Tessenow’s philosophies about architectural simplicity – modest forms of architecture and natural building materials. After passing his exams in 1927, Speer became Tessenow’s assistant, and was involved in teaching seminar classes three days a week. Although Speer claims “I was allergic to any political commitments” the students of Tessenow (who never agreed with Nazism himself) apparently coaxed him into attending a Nazi Party rally in a Berlin beer-hall on 5th December 1930. When Hitler entered the hall he was greeted by the applauding students.
Personalities – Albert Speer Albert Speer was born on March 19th 1905 into an upper middle class life in Mannheim. His father was an architect and his family was very wealthy. After qualifying as an architect in 1927, his career didn’t take off as he had hoped. Finding it difficult to get architectural work on his own, he ended up working for his father. Speer was then highly influenced by the architect Heinrich Tessenow and he acted as his assistant for a number of years and taught some of his lessons.
Pugin obtained his inspiration from visiting other European Countries, especially Lubeck in North East Germany where the Roman Catholic Church was the predominant style and enabled Pugin to incorporate their architectural designs into his own work. (St Chad’s and Religious Art, AA100 DVD) St Chad’s took 2 years to build in 1841 and was the first Catholic cathedral since the reformation and Pugin was appointed by Bishop Thomas Walsh to revive the Gothic architectural style. This Cathedral is also extremely unique as had three generations of Pugin architects working on it up to the 1930s. Following Pugin’s conversion to Roman
Outline the main features in the background and rise to prominence of the twentieth-century personality you have studied. Albert Speer Albert Speer was a prominent figure in Hitler’s quest to build support for the Third Reich. Speer was born in Mannheim, Germany in 1905 to a wealthy middle-class family. His father was a successful architect and with his busy lifestyle Speer’s childhood lacked affection causing an emotional distance between Speer and his parents which would later have an impact on relations which Speer created in the ultimate search for a mentor. After abandoning his dream of becoming a mathematician Speer began his career in architecture and in 1923 attended the Institute of Technology in Karlsruhe, finishing his architecture course in 1927.
The rise to prominence of Albert Speer is characterised by the manipulation of relationships to advance his personal ambition. Speer’s rise to prominence was a culmination of his accent in architecture, politics and as an internationally significant figure. Albert Speer’s initial prominence came from ability to adapt his architecture to his temporal context. In 1926 traditionalist architect Heinrich Tessenow tutored Speer at the Institute of Technology Berlin. It was here; at a campus where over 60% of students voted for the Nazi Party in student union elections in 1930 that traditionalist and Nazi ideology began to influence Speer and his architecture.
It was here where Speer first came under the powerful influence of Adolf Hitler. Speer was so captivated by Hitler’s speech, that he claimed he was ‘ so deeply moved by Hitler, he saw no need of reasoning behind needing to educate himself about the Nazi ideologies and policies before joining them.’ As a result, Speer officially joined the Nazi party on the 1st of March 1931. Speer’s first role in the party was as leader of the Nazi motorist Corps. By this point, Speer’s architectural career was going nowhere until an opportunity finally presented itself in
Last but not least Milton Stover Eisenhower born on September 15, 1899, in Abilene Dickinson Country, Kansas. Eisenhower attended Abilene High School and graduated the class of 1909. He when and graduated from West Point college as the class of 1915. A friend urged him to apply to the Naval Academy. Though Eisenhower passed the entrance exam, he was beyond the age of eligibility for admission to the Naval Academy.
He was educated at the Slav gymnasium in Brno until he was fifteen and then he moved to a town of Usti-Nad-Orlici. In here, he came upon and looked at a painter’s decorating work in a church. At that moment, Mucha conceived his plan of becoming a painter. In 1887, Mucha moved to Paris to continue his studies at Academie Julian and Academie Colarossi in 1888. (Brian 1967, p. 6) 2.
In 1893, Kandinsky completes his doctorate degree in Law from the Moscow University, soon after he accepts a job position on the Faculty of Law. It is at this point in Kandinsky’s life that he begins to develop an enthusiastic fascination with art, particularly in the French Impressionists after viewing several paintings. His passion to learn about the arts leads him to quit his current job and start an art educational study at “Munich Academy of Art”. It is at this Academy that Kandinsky develops his interest in decorative arts known today as Art Noveau. In just a few short years in the new field of art, Kandinsky has already made a name for himself by 1901 and is considered a significant figure in the art community for his beloved dedication to the craft since leaving his life of Law and