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.
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. After his graduation from the Institute Speer began to work as his old professors assistant (Professor Tessenow). By 1930 the Nazi movement was becoming more popular with the German people and many of the students at the Institute where Speer worked had begun to support the party. In December of that year Speer was persuaded by his students to attend a Nazi rally where Hitler himself was present. Hitler delivered a charismatic speech where Speer was drawn into each word he spoke and was evidently carried away with the waves of enthusiasm and emotion which would, in later years, attribute to Speer’s defence at the Nuremburg trials claiming he was a ‘follower of Hitler who drew men in with a magnetic force and had not thereafter released me’ – Speer Speer then caught up in the Nazi frenzy joined the NSDAP Party in March 1931.
Speer’s first introduction to Nazism was in 1930 where he attended a meeting which Hitler spoke at. He admitted that he was swayed by Hitler’s charisma and his speech gave Speer a sense of hope thus, joining the Nazi Party. This led to his first commission of renovating Hanke’s home in Berlin in 1932, leaving the Nazi Leaders impressed. Goebbels offered him his second job to rebuild the Propaganda Ministry with a promise from Speer that it would be completed within seven months. Speer gained a reputation from this commission as not only a creative architect but also an efficient organiser.
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.
In Hitler’s autobiography, Mein Kampf , he states that the use of propaganda is a means and a must for National Socialism. If Nazism was to remain powerful, it was vital to have good public opinion. By controlling the mass media, Hitler was able influence public opinion, implement his policies, and maintain his power. In one of his speeches, Hitler states, “Truth is the foundation on which the power of the press stands and falls. It may be good to have power based on arms but it is better and more joyful to win and to keep the hearts of the people.” Throughout Triumph of the Will, adoration and approval for Hitler is clearly shown on the faces of those in the crowd.
Hanke gave Speer the job of redecorating the headquarters of a district branch of the Nazi Party, Grunewald Villa. Speer’s design of a bright red vestibule and yellow office walls raised a few eyebrows. In the summer of 1932, Hanke offered Speer the job of redecorating Goebbels’ headquarters in Voss Strasse and in March 1933 he again invited Speer to visit Berlin and offered him the job of redecorating Goebbels’ new ministry building. Speer won plaudits for his work and soon his life was entering a new sphere. Speer was quickly beginning to impress the Nazi Party leadership, including Hitler himself.
Albert Speer – Opinion Speech Albert Speer, architect of the third Reich, minister of Armaments, its undoubted that he was a man of great potential & caused great effect during Hitler’s reign & Germany’s ongoing war effort. Though one question still remains, that is, was he honest at the Nuremburg Trials in 1945? Was Speer really honest, when he said that he knew nothing of the holocaust & Nazi death camps? It was at the age of 26 in 1931, in an address to the students of Berlin University that Speer first saw Hitler. Speer admitted he was carried away by Hitler’s unmatched speaking prowess, unequivocal belief in Nazi ideology & the idea of a restored Germany.
This gave Hitler tremendous power within the organization as they knew they could not afford to lose him. The Party Gets a New Name In April, 1920, Hitler advocated that the party should change its name to the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP). Hitler had always been hostile to socialist ideas, especially those that involved racial or sexual equality. However, socialism was a popular political philosophy in Germany after the First World War. This was reflected in the growth in the German Social Democrat Party (SDP), the largest political party in
Albert Speer Albert Speer was a German architect, who played a major part of World War Two. In 1931 Albert Speer joined the Nazi party, after hearing Adolf Hitler speak at a rally. Speer thought highly on the way he spoke to his followers , After Speer joined, Hitler liked his work an appointed him chief architect before assuming ministerial office .His architectural skills made him increasingly popular within the Party and he became a member of Hitler's inner circle in a short period of time. Speer was assigned to design and construct a number of structures, including the Reich Chancellery and the Zeppelinfeld stadium in Nuremberg where the Nazi party rallies were held. Speer also made plans to reconstruct Berlin on a grand scale, with huge buildings, wide boulevards, and a reorganized transportation system.
Adolf Hitler was then hospitalized with temporary blindness from a British gas attack. He returned to his regiment in a short time. Hitler was beginning to realize he wanted to be a leader and believed he could be a great one. In February 1920 he organized a much larger event for a crowd of nearly two thousand. he succeeded in calming a rowdy audience and presented a twenty-five point program of ideas which were to be the basis of the party.