I recently had the opportunity to read this book already published in the years 60 and has been re-edited by the Ed Cliff, written by Albert Speer on Adolf Hitler's favorite architect and Minister for Armaments during the Second World War.
Albert Speer was one of the few people trusted the dictator, was his confidant and one for whom he had a real friendship and admiration. The only time that Adolf Hitler went to Paris once invaded, algido decided to savor the moment of his military triumph sharing with two architects Albert Speer and Herman Giesler, discriminating against military generals and party leaders, as surprising as if George Bush invaded Iraq once did accompanied by Michael Graves and Frank Gehry in his triumphal visit.
It was an efficient technocrat and a brilliant organizer who gave form to the Fuhrer's visionary dreams. Speer was primarily a means to an end, the more pleasing to his patron. greater would be the rewards. It suited the extravagant tastes of Hitler, if this would have required an abstract style Speer would have given, but what I liked was ancient Rome and Speer did his best to give it.
In the decade of the thirties both Speer and Mies Van der Rohe were willing to work with the most abominable character of all time, the difference is that Speer was devoted entirely to meet the architectural ambitions of their master, while Mies was able to compromise on political issues but was adamant when it came to Architecture.
In the late thirties Hitler and Speer wanted to reorganize Berlin called Germania Pharaonic project that developed along a central boulevard five kilometers. In the North end Speer based on sketches drawn by Hitler in the years 20 thought in a building with a huge dome inspired by the Pantheon, this dome height would 200 m and a diameter of 250 m, that is a real exaggeration, When the father saw the model of Speer (architect also) just came to say you are crazy!. At the southern end of the boulevard would a bow like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris being almost double in their dimensiones.Esta intervention would obliterate almost all existing.
I particularly while reading the book about what surprised me was his ability to manipulate, with a very engaging personality that impressed those who knew him, acting like a real snake charmer, both in the Nazi period and in the Nuremberg trials where with his oratory and their justifications were able to escape from the gallows. In the memories of the few that is described in a clear way what happened in that bunker during World War II .
What a great customer, the Führer!
If they had left would have changed the face of Berlin and Europe.
Anyway got its purpose in the first case. They did the Allied bombing that devastated the city to the ground. Too bad works of Schinkel.
At bottom, some architects do anything just to have a customer who built their megalomaniac visions. Even, although this has to sell his soul to the devil.
I believe that Albert Speer was not as bad architect and put in your post,about the book to charm me,I liked this book you've rescued.