Description:

ALBERT SPEER
(1905-1981) Nazi German architect and Minister of Armaments and War Production, convicted of war crimes at Nuremburg. Outstanding A.Ms.S. 4pp. legal folio, [n.p.], Oct. 17, 1945, an autobiography in pencil prepared for Major Kelley, with very fine personal content. In very small part: "...Most of my ancestors from my father's side hail from Westphalia...they were architects...My father had to start afresh without any financial means...His buildings can still today pass the test of artistic value...I grew up in comfortable circumstances...I was rather weak and susceptible to illnesses (dizziness, to fainting spells, to weakness of the vascular nerves). All this was cured by a lot of sports...I was not an outstanding scholar while in primary and secondary school; only mathematics was a subject that I really liked...but my father decided that I should follow the family tradition and become an architect...In the Fall of 1931, I heard for the first time Hitler speak. Soon afterwards I joined the NSDAP (National Socialist German's Workman's Party). This gave me the chance of carrying out a rebuilding commission for the NSDAP - the district of Berlin in1932. Since it was my first building it became rather expensive, which caused some financial difficulties for the NSDAP of Berlin. There was no further chance of any activity in Berlin, and I returned therefore to Manheim...In 1933 I had the chance to carry but minor rebuilding projects in Berlin. Soon afterwards I began to decorate the big rallies of the Party, and this caused Hitler to notice me. I met him in 1934, and from then on a fast rise as an architect began. He gave us orders for numerous new buildings in Berlin and Nurnberg and eventually his biggest and most important building task, viz. the architectural and artistic reorganization and rebuilding of Berlin was entrusted to me...Hitler liked my designs and a lot and me too so that I belonged to his more intimate private circle. With the beginning of the war this cooperation fell apart, the building was discontinued and the builders...were diverted to the building of factories for the rearmament of the Airforce...The 8th of February 1942 was my day of fate. Dr. [Fritz] Todt crashed with an airplane, and some hours later I was his successor for all his numerous positions of which I did not know anything in the beginning. I was thus responsible for the armament industry, for the building, and for the supply of energy...through these successes I was entrusted in turn (1943) the armament supply for the Navy, the civil production and finally in August 1944, also the armament of the airforce...1944 was the year by far of the highest production and July 1944 was an absolute record...but finally, in Spring 1945, the attacks led to a complete collapse of armament...III. Family and private life. My wife and I shared the financially difficult times until 1934. These years were however in retrospect the most beautiful years of my life...All that ended with the new and big architectural tasks. These required imaginative gifts and again and again new ideas. My wife had to stand back and had to reconcile herself to the fact that great accomplishments...do not mean an improvement of one's own life...The strain of the work from 1937-1941 led to nervous circulatory disorders with stomach and intestinal areas, unstable blood pressure and cramps. I had no chance to recuperate before the war ceased...From 1942-1943 the service load was so hurt, i.e. the fight against the air attacks...Short intervals of 2-3 days did not give much to my wife and children...". Signed "Speer" on first page. With full translation, fine condition.

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October 10, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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