Comments on: The Candor and Lies of Nazi Officer Albert Speer

By: Charlie in NY

Charlie in NY — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:30:15 +0000

The article quotes Himmler as saying the Nazis would “wipe the Jews from the face of the earth.” Over the past several years, the Iranian President has used, at least according to the translations, almost the precise same formula about the Zionist regime, by which is meant Israel by which, needless to say, is meant its Jewish population. The effect of Nazi propaganda in the Muslim world has long been established as was their particular focus in what was then Persia, now Iran. Can these similar statements of genocidal hatred be written off as a simple coincidence or might they not be a frightening example of the confluence of Nazi anti-semitism and Islamic Judenhass?

By: Jalmer Osmth

Jalmer Osmth — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:01:45 +0000

There were no small fish in that kettle, quite a few of those S.O.B.s escaped because they knew what would be in store for them if they stayed. I had the unfortunate experience of riding next to one of those damnable critters in 1983 to and from work. He was an electrician I was a painter same seat I sat in the middle of the bench seat of a pickup. I would have never been the wiser excpept the S.O.B. toched me on the shoulder one day as something really weird went through my body, as he gave out such a horrendous shrill of laughter…. I just had a flash back from reading this article. To say the least, I raised some HELL back then and was incarcerated for tearing up their driveway in my uncles car whom was a WW1 veteran.

By: BrokenSymmetry

BrokenSymmetry — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:06:38 +0000

Great article but one quibble. Speer is commonly referred to as a brilliant architect but has anyone ever bothered looking at his architectural plans? Stodgy and clunky would be kind…. As for his organizational prowess, he did perform logistical miracles in the final 3 years of WWII but much of this was based on the organizational genius of Fritz Todt and his Organisation Todt.

By: DaveM

DaveM — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:57:30 +0000

I recall reading Speer’s book (and possibly another he wrote) about his time in Spandau. Certainly it was interesting, but it shows a certain amount of sanitizing, of “I was not there”, which did not ring true. Yes, Speer was an architect and a bean-counter, not an SS guard. But…so was Adolf Eichmann. As with many Nazi leaders, the entire story may never be known but Speer must by no means be regarded as a saint.

We must remember that the Nazi leaders rose to their positions through unquestioning loyalty and for the most competence in doing their jobs (I’m not so sure about Rudolf Hess, but that’s another matter). Some at least appear to have been conflicted. Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, for example, kept Jewish officers on his staff and there is film of him refusing to give Hitler the Nazi salute (he was replaced by Karl Donitz in 1943). On the other hand, he oversaw (and was certainly aware of) the use of slave labor and as a result, served a length term in Spandau.

History should not be reconstructed. Only contemplated.

By: Will

Will — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 04:09:57 +0000

Fascinating stuff. I have read his book and read up a lot about Speer but this is the first I’ve heard of the letters that he admitted he was more culpable than he led on. Time to look this up I suppose…