Lot 4130

Description

Carbon copy of the report typed in large characters on the document typewriter with hand written additions/corrections by Albert Speer in blue copying pencil, the last page also signed and dated in blue copying pencil "Albert Speer - Berlin, den 15. III. 1945".In the first four pages Speer describes the drastic decline of coal production due to the shifting of the frontline to the Rhine river and the loss of Upper Silesia as well as the consequences of the lack of coal for the economic sectors and the (tr.) "arms industry which is already in last place". He predicts the collapse of the German economy within the next "4 - 8 weeks" and the subsequent end of the military continuation of the war. He begins his conclusions with the statement that the German people (tr.) "has fulfilled its duty and has executed its tasks according to the circumstances, which were more difficult than in any other war". He says that (tr.) "regardless of its fate" the administration has the duty to (tr.) "support the people in these dark hours".Speer's conclusions are a skillful mix of appeals to reason and cautiously phrased command-like instructions. He writes that (tr.) "For the area of German production and traffic, which has been assigned to me", nobody is authorised to destroy industrial facilities or to blow up bridges, and he describes the consequences of such actions for the German people, but permits exceptions (tr. "as long as the enemy's advance can be prevented") before using the more drastic phrase (tr.) "A strict order must ensure that neither the Wehrmacht, nor the Party incl. the Volkssturm have the right to arbitrarily destroy bridges in its own country". He also orders the preparation of a distribution (tr.) "on cue" of a stock of (tr.) "clothing and objects of daily use" as well as food from Wehrmacht supplies to the population and concludes with the words (tr.) "If these enemies wish to destroy this people [.], they shall have to carry the burden of this historic disgrace. It is our duty to give the people all options to enable a new development in the distant future."Historically significant document written four days before the publication of the "Führererlass" from 19.3.1945 (so-called "Nero Order"), in which Speer urges not only to ignore any orders of destruction, but also to actively prevent other people and organisations to do so.Albert Speer (1905-1981), becomes the architect responsible for the realisation of Hitler's plans to restructure Berlin in 1934, and minister for armament and munitions after Fritz Todt's death in 1942. When the collapse of the arms production appears inevitable to him in late 1944, he warns Hitler and strongly objects to the "Führerbefehle" which order the so-called scorched-earth policy, such as the "Trümmerfeldbefehl" ("debris order") from 23.8.1944 with the destruction of Paris. He also prompts his employees in January 1945 to halt any efforts regarding the arms industry and gives the order to place a stronger emphasis on agricultural machines and food instead of arms in March 1945. Speer ignores the "Nero Order" but still manages to convince Hitler in late March to put him in charge of all measures of destruction.The present document is most likely the memorandum which Speer submitted on the evening before the "Nero Order" was given to warn of the consequences of such an order in the face of imminent defeat. Speer presented this document, dated 15 March 1945, to the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, where it was registered as no. 23 in the documents. Cf. Max Domarus, Hitler-Reden 1932-1945, volume 4, p. 2213, especially footnote 104.Condition: II - Questions about the lot?