Architects of Darkness:

ALBERT SPEERArchitect of the Reich

PROGRAMME LENGTH

1 hour

SCREENING DETAILSMonday 17 October at 9.30am EDT/ NZ

This program deals with the careers of prominent members of the Nazi regime. As the series name suggests it is directed at exposing the criminality of the leading members of the regime.

The career of Albert Speer, “Hitler’s architect”, is presented in strict chronological order, in a relatively non-judgmental fashion by a “talking head”. Fortunately the material is well presented and well scripted. The narration is delivered on a background of archival footage and supported by a small number of academic experts who cite more explicit documentation of Speer’s complicity in the crimes of the Nazi regime.

This program raises many issues about Speer’s motivation and personality that students may want or need to investigate as they study the “good Nazi”. It could be used in short doses as a stimulus for discussion of his career as it unfolds, or as an initial or summative overview of the career in full.

Dr Denis Mootz NBB: PREVIEWING ESSENTIAL: Some potentially disturbing images.

DATA CAPTURE.

Stop the video programs at the end of each section. Allow students to share and discuss answers to the questions below.

Introduction.

Note the context of Speer’s oath to “speak the pure truth”.Note details of Speer’s family and background.What sports did Speer “take up”? Implications?Why was Speer’s wife not popular with his family?

Part 1.

When did Speer first attend a Nazi rally? Why? Result?Why was Speer in Berlin in 1932? Result?Why was Speer invited to design the 1933 Nuremberg Rally?What does the official film of the rally suggest?When did Speer first meet Hitler? Result?Note Speer’s first commission in his new post. Result?Why did Hitler show Speer preference? Result?How much daily contact did Speer have with Hitler?What does the silent film footage suggest about the relationship?Note Hitler’s comment on his relationship with Speer.Note how Speer’s relationship to Hitler is described. Implications?When did Speer become head of the “Chief Office of Construction”? Result?Note details of the Zeppelinfeld.How does Leni Riefenstahl’s film “Triumph of the Will” portray the area? Result?How many people could it hold?Note Speer’s inspiration for his design.How did Speer modify the original design?What is the context of Hitler’s speech to the SA on this occasion?Why did Speer prefer nighttime for his “displays”? Note details of the “Cathedral of Light” display.

Part 2.

Why did Hitler have Speer modify the stadium for the 1936 Summer Olympics? Result?Note the description of the German pavilion at the 1937 Paris International Exposition. Note Speer’s promotion in 1937. Result? Implications?Note Hitler’s plan for the redevelopment of the city of Berlin.Note the role of Speer in this plan. Result?Note the details and dimensions of the Volkeshalle.Note the size of the planned Arch of Triumph at the end of the Prachtstrasse. Implications?How did Speer’s father react to seeing the model of the planned city? Implications?What commission was Speer given by Hitler in 1938? Result?Note details of the new Reich Chancellery.Why was Hitler so impressed by the outcome? Result?What psychological anxiety did Speer suffer in this period? Result? Implications?

Part 3.

What was Speer attitude to Germany’s invasion of Poland and subsequent events?Why was Speer supportive of Hitler’s plans “dominate the globe”? Implications?Note Speer’s relationship with the Wehrmacht. Result?Why did Speer accompany Hitler to Paris in 1940? Result?What was Speer’s concern about Germany’s invasion of Russia in 1941? Implications?How did the death of Fritz Todt in 1942 change Speer’s life? Result?What did Speer discover about the German economy? Implications? Result?Note the means Speer introduced to centralise the war economy. Result?Note the position of Speer in the Nazi regime in March 1942. Implications? Result?How could Speer’s authority be avoided?What does the promotion of Fritz Saukel indicate? Result? Implications?Note Speer’s 1943 visit to KZ-Dora-Mittelbau underground V-2 rocket “factory”.How did Speer react? Why?What “terrible” things happened to the population of the countries conquered by Germany?Note the reference to Speer’s “easy ride from posterity”. Inference?What became commonplace for Germany in 1943? Result? Implications?How did Speer overcome this challenge? Result?Note the production “figures” cited for this period? Implications?Note Speer’s illness in January 1944. Result? Implications?What helped Speer’s recovery? Result?Why did Speer offer his resignation in April 1944? Result?What was the result of the meeting with Hitler in 23 April 1944? Implications?How did Speer survive implications in the July 1944 assassination attempt?

Part 4.

What was Speer’s challenge after February 1945? Note Hitler’s “Nero decree” of 19 March 1945. Implications? Result?How did Speer get around the “scorched earth” policy? Result?Why did Speer visit Hitler “one more time”? Result? Implications?Note the discussion of the reliability of Speer’s memoir “Inside the Third Reich”. What was Speer’s position after Hitler’s death? Result? Implications?Why did USA military officials interview Speer?Note the events of 23 May 1945. Result?What was Speer charged with at Nuremburg?What was Speer’s main defense line?Note William L. Shirer’s comment on Speer’s court appearance. Implications?Note Speer’s claim that he had planned to kill Hitler in early 1945.Why was there scepticism about this claim?Note the sentiments Speer’s final testimony at Nuremburg. Implications?

Part 5.

What was Speer’s sentence?Why did he avoid the death sentence? Where did Speer spend his sentence?Why was Speer an outcast among the prisoners?Note the conditions of the imprisonment.What did Speer do with his time? Result?Note Speer’s imaginary travels.Note his work in the garden.Why was there a continuous call for his release? Result?Why was his release form gaol a worldwide event?Why did he say little on his release? Implications?Note his publications. Significance?Why was Speer unable to re-connect with his children?What did he do with the earnings from his publications? Implications?

EXTENSIONS.Useful, interesting, challenging, materials can be found at the websites below.These sites are not recommended as definitive sources. They need to be read critically and evaluated before being used for note making.The evidence collected here should supplement and complement the notes made during the video program. Both should be used in the notemaking exercise that follows.

Third Reich: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germanyhttps://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005141http://www.thirdreichruins.com/contents.htmAdolf Hitler: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitlerhttp://www.biography.com/people/adolf-hitler-9340144http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hitler.htmlAlbert Speer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Speerhttps://archive.org/details/Inside_the_Third_Reich_Albert_Speerhttp://www.auschwitz.dk/speer.htmhttp://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Speer1.htmlhttp://economics.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Workshops-Seminars/Economic-History/streb-040929.pdfhttps://nazieconomicpolicy.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/1942-to-1945/http://weimarandnazigermany.co.uk/albert-speer-german-war-economy/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/de-drittes-reich-industry.htmhttp://chris-intel-corner.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/wwii-myths-german-war-economy-was.htmlhttp://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/JudgeSpeer.htmlNuremberg Rally: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Rallyhttp://www.britannica.com/event/Nurnberg-Rallyhttp://www.museums.nuremberg.de/documentation-centre/topics/nazi-party-rallies.htmlZeppelinfeld: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_party_rally_groundshttp://www.scrapbookpages.com/Nurnberg/Nurnberg04A.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2921337/Where-ghosts-Nazi-monsters-lurk-eerie-ruins-Nuremberg-parade-grounds-Hitler-held-propaganda-rallies-goose-stepping-faithful.htmlhttp://www.dark-tourism.com/index.php/15-countries/individual-chapters/216-zeppelin-field-nazi-party-rallying-groundshttp://www.museums.nuremberg.de/documentation-centre/topics/party-rally-grounds.htmlCathedral of Light: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_lighthttp://rarehistoricalphotos.com/nazi-rally-cathedral-light-c-1937/Triumph of the Will: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_of_the_Willhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHs2coAzLJ81936 Olympics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_Summer_Olympicshttps://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005680http://germspeer.blogspot.com.au/2009/03/1936-olympics.htmlWelthauptstadt Germania: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welthauptstadt_Germaniahttp://www.historytoday.com/roger-moorhouse/germania-hitlers-dream-capitalReich Chancellery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reich_ChancelleryChief Office of Construction: http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=519http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/resource/document/DOCSLA1.htm “Nero Decree”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero_Decreehttp://ww2days.com/nazi-minister-to-quash-hitlers-nero-decree-2.htmlCareful: https://www.stormfront.org/forum/t690436/The “Good Nazi”: http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-myth-of-the-good-nazi-1450925793http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/1489793/Wartime-reports-debunk-Speer-as-the-Good-Nazi.htmlhttp://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-candor-and-lies-of-nazi-officer-albert-speer-324737/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/mar/13/secondworldwar.kateconnolly

NOTEMAKING.

This is the collation stage of the activity. Encourage students to compose the suggested summaries and to organise the field of information and begin to explore its context. This activity could be done in teams, groups, or by individuals, or as a class with teacher direction.

1. Draw up a timeline / chronological chart of the events described and discussed in this program.

2. Note details of the regime in which Speer worked.

3. Note details of the stages in the life and career of Speer.

4. Note details of the architectural achievements of Speer.

5. Note details of the contribution of Speer to Germany’s war effort.

6. Note details of the role and position of Speer in the German government of Europe.

7. Note details of the charges against Speer at Nuremburg.

8. Note details of the attitudes towards Speer from prosecutors and commentators after WW2.

9. Note details of the works published by Speer.

10. Note details of the “legacy” of Speer.

ISSUES & INQUIRY.

Address and discuss the key issues and questions that have been raised by the video at this stage.Some are suggested below. Students will probably raise others.

1. By what means did Speer rise to prominence in Nazi Germany?

2. By what means did Speer perform ‘miracles’ in the German economy as War Minister.

PROBLEMS of EVIDENCE.

It is necessary always to address questions of reliability and validity of the perspectives, evidence and sources presented in the documentary and other sources. These need to be considered, tested and researched. Some are suggested below. Students will probably raise others.

1. What evidence is there that Speer opposed Hitler in his last days?

2. How effectively did Speer project himself as the “good Nazi”?

REPORTING.

Use the key issues and inquiry questions as topics for debate, essay writing, reports, historical recount and explanation.

Be imaginative. A report, or debate notes, could be a digital “essay” of slides and text…or any other IT application available.

1. Write a REPORT on Germania.

2. Prepare notes (both sides) for a DEBATE of the proposition that

Speer was willing to do whatever was required to achieve “power”.

3. How did Albert Speer gain “power” in Nazi Germany?