Describe the Personal Background and Historical Context of the Life of Albert Speer
Describe the personal background and the historical context of Albert Speer.
“The only motive that can keep politics pure is the motive of doing good for one's country and its people”- Henry Ford
Albert Speer was born in 1905 into an upper-middle class family. His family’s wealth provided the opportunity to extend his education at a university level despite the depths of the depression in 1930. After graduating with a degree in architecture, Speer was introduced to the policies of the Nazi Party; however, it did not leave a great impression due to his liberal upbringing. It wasn’t until December 1930 that he attended a party rally and saw Hitler speak; he was instantly mesmerised by his presence and confidence during a time of political instability. The following year, Speer joined the Nazi Party in order to become a ‘follower of Hitler’.
It was from here that Speer’s career as an architect began to take off as Karl Hanke, a Nazi official, gave him several small projects revolving around the reconstruction of many department buildings. His most famous work, the ‘Cathedral of Lights’, in 1933 led to a promotion to the First Architect of the Third Reich. Hitler soon took a personal interest in him as he considered himself an artist, and previously was also an aspiring architect. He took particular interest in, and admired Speer’s architectural talent, often regarding him as his ‘personal protégé’ and later stating that “his soul is close to mine”. Robert Hughes describes Speer as Hitler’s younger, unfulfilled self. Once this friendship had developed, Speer was entrusted with major works, such as the Germania Project, as he was able to materialise Hitler's image for the party and Germany. Hitler became an inspiration to him, and Gitta Sereny describes that it was this that blinded him from the suffering that they would cause.
In 1942 Speer reached the most significant point of his career as Minister for Armaments and Munitions during WWII. He made incomparable
“The only motive that can keep politics pure is the motive of doing good for one's country and its people”- Henry Ford
Albert Speer was born in 1905 into an upper-middle class family. His family’s wealth provided the opportunity to extend his education at a university level despite the depths of the depression in 1930. After graduating with a degree in architecture, Speer was introduced to the policies of the Nazi Party; however, it did not leave a great impression due to his liberal upbringing. It wasn’t until December 1930 that he attended a party rally and saw Hitler speak; he was instantly mesmerised by his presence and confidence during a time of political instability. The following year, Speer joined the Nazi Party in order to become a ‘follower of Hitler’.
It was from here that Speer’s career as an architect began to take off as Karl Hanke, a Nazi official, gave him several small projects revolving around the reconstruction of many department buildings. His most famous work, the ‘Cathedral of Lights’, in 1933 led to a promotion to the First Architect of the Third Reich. Hitler soon took a personal interest in him as he considered himself an artist, and previously was also an aspiring architect. He took particular interest in, and admired Speer’s architectural talent, often regarding him as his ‘personal protégé’ and later stating that “his soul is close to mine”. Robert Hughes describes Speer as Hitler’s younger, unfulfilled self. Once this friendship had developed, Speer was entrusted with major works, such as the Germania Project, as he was able to materialise Hitler's image for the party and Germany. Hitler became an inspiration to him, and Gitta Sereny describes that it was this that blinded him from the suffering that they would cause.
In 1942 Speer reached the most significant point of his career as Minister for Armaments and Munitions during WWII. He made incomparable