Demystifying Hitler’s Favorite Architect. Review of: Magnus Brechtken, Albert Speer. Eine deutsche Karriere

Albert Speer (1905–1981) undoubtedly occupies a special position in archi­ tectural history; his biography differs from that of all other 20th­century architects. The importance we attribute to him today is due not primarily to his work as an architect but to his role as one of the leading protagonists of the National Socialist regime, about which he spoke as a firsthand witness after World War II. At the Nuremberg Trials, Speer, despite his tireless commit­ ment to the machinery of death and his central role in Nazi crimes, received only a 20­year prison sentence, which he served until 1966. In the Federal Republic, he became a bestselling author and one of the most cited witnesses of the Nazi era. Speer’s portrayal of the Nazi regime and Hitler’s circle shaped post­war historiography, a contribution that has been almost unchallenged.

This review of »Albert Speer. Eine deutsche Karriere« by Magnus Brechtken tries not only to highlight the achievements of this biography and to provide an overview over the current state of research on Speer, but also to discuss the historiographic dilemma of Täterforschung in architectural history.