Fest was a german journalist and author known internationally for his biographies of adolf hitler and albert speer. He found himself unable to reestablish a relationship with his children, even with his son albert who had also become an architect. Joachim fest was born on december 8, 1926 in berlin, germany as joachim clemens fest. Albert speers career is a microcosm of the decent but philosophically agnostic citizen living in an indecent and ideologically fanatical society. Joachim fest was the editor of albert speers correspondence, as well as the author of an early biography of adolf hitler and the definitive account of the last days of the third reich. He was avowedly nonpolitical, and contemptuous of what he saw as the vulgarity of the. Albert speer interview nach haftentlassung youtube. The final verdict published 2001 by weidenfeld and nicolson joachim fest, translated by ewald osers and alexandra dring once again joachim fest has impressed me greatly and i now look forward to reading his book about hitler. Fest how a basic idea by reading can enhance you to be a successful person. But if his subject matter was challenging, then he had a personality to match. Albert speer was an unemployed architect when hitler came to power in 1933. Conversations with hitlers architect, by joachim c.
In 1966 he was approached by the publisher wolf jobst siedler to assist albert speer, then approaching the end of his 20year sentence at spandau, in the writing of his memoirs. Even joachim fest distanced himself from speer in 2005. Joachim fest, a german journalist and author known internationally for his biographies and interpretations of hitler, albert speer and the regime they. Historian that argues speer and hitlers relationship was symbiotic. Joachim fest, a journalist and historian who wrote one of the bestregarded biographies of nazi dictator adolf hitler, has died. He worked closely with albert speer as the editor of inside the third reich and spandau. Between 1966 and 1981 they conducted numerous detailed conversations whose content and at times exact wording joachim fest recorded in writing after the event. Following speers release from prison in 1966, fest worked closely with him as the editor of his memoirs, inside the third reich and. Joachim clemens fest 8 december 1926 11 september 2006 was a german journalist, critic, and editor best known for his writings and public commentary on nazi germany, including a biography of adolf hitler and books about albert speer and the german resistance to nazism. Albert speers public more or less believed this charismatic man. Fests book is essentially a biography of speers time within the national socialist regime. Joachim fest is the author of several widely respected books on nazi germany, including the face of the third reich. Albert speers edifice of lies the denying history project.
Joachim clemens fest 8 december 1926 11 september 2006 was a german historian, journalist, critic, and editor best known for his writings and public commentary on nazi germany, including an important biography of adolf hitler and books about albert speer and the german resistance to nazism. Fest worked closely with albert speer as the editor of inside the third reich and spandau. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Albert speer, hitlers architect and armaments minister, was the most. As such, speer was a leading technocrat in a totalitarian state. Fast delivery with free 30 day returns across australia. The reason for the time laps was that fest found it difficult to disentangle speers many contradictory statements.
Ive read albert speers inside the third reich, shirers the rise and fall of the third reach, alan bullocks hitler and stalin. This book is a vital contribution towards the understanding of the psychology of the national socialist leadership. That one day he would take a close look at albert speer, comes as no surprise. He was a leading figure in the debate among german historians about the nazi period. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Fest helped nazi official and architect albert speer, who became the only one of hitlers henchmen to publicly repent for his crimes, when he. Joachim fest is a highly acclaimed historian and journalist, and the author of several widely respected books on nazi germany, including the face of the third reich, plotting hitlers death, and speer. It is a nice if somewhat redundant companion to speers pseudoautobiography inside the third reich. He appears at times to exonerate speer of direct complicity in the brutality unleashed by his revered. The final verdict is a solid contribution to the speer catalog.
Fests portrayal of albert speer remains problematic. The german architect who later became armaments minister, albert speer has. The final verdict, published in 2003, the late german author joachim c. In 1967 joachim fest was asked to interview speer on his release from spandau prison. Between 1966 and 1981 they conducted numerous detailed conversations. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. She discounts the work of such searchers as joachim fest who examines the psychological structure of the nazi leaders and the movement itself, and she also dismisses the insights of speer and others who see the problem in terms of the immense power now concentrated in. Fest, who worked closely with hitlers architect albert speer on his memoirs, died monday at his home in kronberg of unspecified causes, the. He died on september 11, 2006 in kronberg im taunus, hesse, germany. Fest also served as editorial aide for albert speer, hitlers architect and minister for. Historians that believed the void of love and affection, and torment by his brothers, caused an emotional closing of speer. Fest included much interesting detail on young albert s early family life. Hannah arendt was thinking of adolf eichmann when she coined the phrase the banality of evil, but those words were tailormade for speer, the successful average man, welldressed, civil, noncorrupt, who. Joachim fest was the editor of albert speers correspondence, as well as the.
Speer was aided in shaping the works by joachim fest and wolf jobst siedler from the publishing house ullstein. A detailed biography of joachim fest that includes includes images, quotations. Fest helped nazi official and architect albert speer, who became the only one of hitlers henchmen to publicly repent for his crimes, when he wrote his autobiography inside the third reich. An unemployed architect when hitler came to power in 1933, he was soon designing the third reichs most important buildings.
Joachim fest helped albert speer to draft his memoirs and the spandau diaries. Joachim clemens fest was a german historian, journalist, critic and editor, best known for his writings and public commentary on nazi germany, including an important biography of adolf hitler and books about albert speer and the german resistance. This led to the creation of, albert speer conversations with hitlers architect it was not published in germany until 2005. Speer served as hitlers chief architect, and during the second world war was germanys minister of armaments. Joachim fest will be best remembered for his biography of adolf hitler. Fest included much interesting detail on young alberts early family life. Albert speer was adolf hitlers intimate and trusted friend. Joachim fest 19262006 is an authority on the nazis and the third reich, and his biography of adolf hitler 1989 is a standard. Conversations with hitlers architect by joachim fest, hardcover, 9780745639185 online at the nile. Here at last are the memoirs of the mysterious albert speer, the good nazi joachim fests records of conversations with speer provide a fascinating insight into the psyche of hitlers architect. Throughout the thirties, the two met on an almost daily basis in berlin or. According to speers daughter hilde schramm, one by one my sister and brothers gave up. A thoughtful reassessment of albert speers role in the third reich. The final verdict, by joachim fest, the author revisits his time with hilters favorite artist and wonders how speer got away with murder.
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