Albert Speer was born in Mannheim, Germany on the 19 March 1905, he was the son of an architect. He grew up in the town of Heidelberg in his early years, it has been said that his childhood was not one of happiness. Following in his father’s footsteps, Speer studied architecture at the Institute of Technology in Berlin-Charlotteburg. He attained his licence in 1927 and became the assistant to Professor Heinrich Tessenow. Speer went on to marry his wife, margarete Webber, without consent from his family, as she was of lower class than him.Speer’s affiliation with the Nazi party did not begin until 1931 when he became a member of the NSDAP (National Socialist German workers Party). Recognising his talents, not only as an architect but as determined man, he was offered a succession of tasks for the party, such as the redesigning of Joseph Geobbels’s official residence and the planning of the Citizens of Berlin celebrations on the 1st of May. News of his great skill reached the party leader, Adolf Hitler, who soon personally, began to give Speer assignments.Speer, after becoming acquainted with Hitler, became close friends, and he was accepted into Hitler’s inner circle. In 1934, Speer succeeded Paul Ludwig Troost, Hitler’s architect, who had died early in the same year.Shortly after Speer was given two major tasks: Draw up a plan for a new Berlin and create a centre for conventions in Nuremberg. Both Hitler and Speer, jointly planned the building of the new capital, and in 1937, Speer was officially appointed the Inspector General of construction of the Reich’s capital. His department was responsible, among other things, for the apartments, for which the Berlin Jews were evicted from in 1939.Speer also achieved his goal of building the new Reich with tremendous success. The new Reich was drawn up and constructed within less than a year. Through finishing this project with such speed and efficienc...
