At the Nuremberg Trials, ALBERT SPEER was convicted of 'war crimes'  and 'crimes against humanity' and sentenced  to 20 years' imprisonment.  His expressions of regret and acceptance of responsibility for his part in the German war effort, allowed him to narrowly avoid the hangman.  However, he has created much historical controversy, claiming  total ignorance of the excesses of the Nazi  regime while, at the same time, being one of the most influential men in the Third Reich.  Was he really the "Good Nazi" as he portrayed himself?

 

DURATION:  28 minutes

 

KEY LEARNING AREAS

The Rise of the Nazi Party

The Nazi State 1933 -1945

 Background - Albert Speer's early life

Significance & Evaluation of Albert Speer

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Historical Context - Rise of the Nazi Party; the charisma of Adolf Hitler; Nazi State after 1933 and its policies and progression to war

 

Background -  Family background and his reason for joining the Nazi Party

Rise to Prominence - Early work for the Nazi Party and rapid advancement to the position of Inspector-General of Construction; the Germania Project and the new Reich Chancellery;  appointment as Minister for Armaments and Munitions

 

Significance and Evaluation - Relationship with Hitler; the Germania Project and the question of  the 'Jew Flats' and anti-Semitic activities; the significance of Speer's work as Minister for Armaments and War Production to the overall German war effort; use and abuse of forced labour; the Posen meeting  and knowledge of the concentration camp system; reaction to Hitler's 'scorched earth' policy; Historians' evaluation of him as the 'good Nazi'.

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 SUBJECT AREAS

SENIOR:  Modern History, Humanities, Society & Culture, SOSE

JUNIOR:  History, HSIE, SOSE