Spoiler
It is not common for individuals to be truly selfless. Nor is it common for them to expose their own flaws. Albert Speer, a human, yet a Nazi, was no exception. HE embodies the hurdle between character and circumstances that ALL individuals face. However, unlike others: HE took every opportunity as this character, HE took every opportunity to manipulate HIS circumstances and HE took every opportunity to invest in HIMSELF. If this is a presentation, I really like the way you have made it engaging while also blending a thesis into it, that being that Speer took advantage of circumstance to gain influence.
Albert Speer was a self-invested opportunist. HE possessed the ability to craft his own history and mould his opportunistic character to any circumstance- whether it be as an architect, an armaments minister or as a guilty defendant. However, further insight has been gained through contentious historiography, affirming the statement, ‘history IS the record of an encounter between character and circumstances’. Like the first sentence but unsure what you mean by the second.
Evolving historical records have revealed that Speer’s opportunism enabled him to enrich his circumstance as the FIRST ARCHITECT of the Third Reich. (1934) Speer was recognised by the Nazi elite through his efficient redecoration of Nazi headquarters. It was these circumstantial encounters that Speer manipulated to impress elite Nazi officials… and HITLER.Well done, nice link. In his initial year as First Architect, Speer captivated the Nazis at the 1934 Nuremberg Rallies, through the renowned ‘Cathedral of Lights’. Consequently, as an admirable technocratic, Speer assumed control of the Germania Project in 1939. Controversially, Speer was directly subordinate to Hitler alone in this project which Fest documents as, “a kind of dictatorial status” . This account certifies that Speer was involved in the reallocation of 23,000 Jewish apartments. Yet, it is still debated; Was Speer responsible for the deportation of Berlin Jews in 1941? Sereny sides with Speer’s historical art, “the early resettlement work…was purely administrative and it is unlikely that Speer himself knew much about the details involved.” Yet, Sereny’s record has neglected to explore beyond Speer and is contradicted by Van der Vat’s evidence from a removed part of the Wolter Chronicles, “in accordance with Speer’s order, a further action was started to clear about 5000 Jew-flats.” Let me say that again “in accordance with SPEER’s order…”Evidently, this reveals Speer’s knowledge of Jewish deportation, and his uncanny ability as a technocrat to deceive Sereny. Hence, history has recorded that Speer’s opportunism enabled him to flourish through circumstantial encounters. I don't think the historiography necessarily adds to your argument. Here it just confuses me as to how this shows that Speer took advantage of circumstance. If anything, you would argue that Speer took advantage of the anti-Semitic values at the time in the clearing of the Jew Flats to further his position within the Nazi regime.
History has documented Speer as a manipulative character who cultivated his career as the MINISTER FOR ARMAMENTS. I would avoid using the world manipulative to describe him. Words such as intuitive or perceptive more accurately answer the question. Speer was left as Hitler’s fitting accomplice to fuel the Nazi War Machine in 1942, after Fritz Todt’s death. As Armaments Minister, Speer prolonged the war for at least a year through increased armaments production, however millions of innocent Jews consequently died. Circumstantial? Unfortunately, not… Speer manipulated this encounter, turning it into an opportunity to achieve the Nazi goal of “destruction through work.” Speer attempted to manipulate his record in history after inspecting the Dora Camp, claiming “I pressed the SS… to improve sanitary conditions and upgrade the food” . Yet, Speer failed to end the use of slave labourers, which Sereny verifies, “when Speer wanted something, he went after it, and the human cost did not matter. This record is further supported through Howell’s documentation, “By 1945 he [Speer] controlled a workforce of 14,000,000 that included forced labour…and Jewish slave workers.” Ultimately, these records expose Speer’s manipulative ability to consistently please Hitler through extending the war AND the Final Solution. Evidently, history has recorded Speer’s egotism as the Minister for Armaments. Yet, how is it that such an influential opportunist can escape the death penalty, unlike so many others? I am interested to hear what others think about this. Personally, I think this is delving into too much of an expose about revealing how Speer was manipulative and evil, which I think doesn't really relate to the question. I interpreted the question to be whether personalities are swept away/influenced by events/context or if they shape their own outcome.
Ultimately, as contentiously debated through the records of history, the Scorched Earth Policy saved Speer. It is questioned; Was Speer’s opposition to Hitler’s Nero Decree for his OWN benefit, or for the benefit of the German people? King documents Speer’s nationalism, “the second and succeeding world of Albert Speer… was a world of ethical and cultural value, a humanistic world.” However, King has focused on Speer’s narrative in history, neglecting his opportunity to defy Hitler’s policy to ensure his power is maintained with the infrastructure. In contrast, Schmidt accurately documented Speer’s skilful manipulation to, “prevent the destruction of these bastions of his power" . As such, through the developing records of history, further insights of Speer’s volition to preserve HIMSELF are revealed. Van der Vat documents Speer’s intelligent foreshadowing, preparing his defence as early as April 1944, “From now on Speer’s own agenda would be paramount… in a campaign for the preservation of Albert Speer” . With 9 months to prepare his ‘contrite’ demeanour at the Nuremberg Trials, Speer was able to live, when so many others died, was able to prosper, when so many others struggled. However, Trueman exposes that characteristics instilled in Speer from childhood guaranteed his survival as, “his lack of emotion and education… spared his life; full of contrition and apologies” . Van der Vat supports Trueman stating Speer “only escaped the death penalty at Nuremberg because he was a good liar”. Evidently, this reveals that history has recorded Speer’s notorious ability to manipulate circumstantial encounters. Too much historiography here! You lose your own voice which is really important in history! You want to use historiography a bit but use it essentially as a springboard to agree or disagree and further your argument.
Skilful and opportunistic- ALBERT SPEER manipulated the circumstance for his OWN benefit. As an enigmatic character in the records of history he has dominated debates through the construction of his own history. Yet, ultimately, through interpreting insightful historical records, his success relied on the encounters between character and circumstance. Thus, it can be confirmed, Berthold Konrad Hermann Albert Speer benefited HIS character notoriously through circumstantial encounters.
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