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Inside the Third Reich Paperback – April 1, 1997

by Albert Speer (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,108 ratings
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Speer, the Minister of Armaments and War Production under Hitler, the man who had kept Germany armed and the war machine running even after Hitler's mystique had faded, takes a brutally honest look at his role in the war effort, giving readers a complete view of the inside of the Nazi state.

Speer, the Minister of Armaments and War Production under Hitler, the man who had kept Germany armed and the war machine running even after Hitler's mystique had faded, takes a brutally honest look at his role in the war effort, giving readers a complete view of the inside of the Nazi state.
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  1. Print length
    672 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 1997
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.7 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0684829495
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0684829494
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From 1946 to 1966, while serving the prison sentence handed down from the Nuremburg War Crimes tribunal, Albert Speer penned 1,200 manuscript pages of personal memoirs. Titled Erinnerungen ("Recollections") upon their 1969 publication in German, Speer's critically acclaimed personal history was translated into English and published one year later as Inside the Third Reich. Long after their initial publication, Speer's memoir continues to provide one of the most detailed and fascinating portrayals of life within Hitler's inner circles, the rise and fall of the third German empire, and of Hitler himself.

Speer chronicles his entire life, but the majority of Inside the Third Reich focuses on the years between 1933 and 1945, when Speer figured prominently in Hitler's government and the German war effort as Inspector General of Buildings for the Renovation of the Federal Capital and later as Minister of Arms and Munitions. Speer's recollections of both duties foreground the impossibility of reconciling Hitler's idealistic, imperialistic ambitions with both architectural and military reality. Throughout, Inside the Third Reich remains true to its author's intentions. With compelling insight, Speer reveals many of the "premises which almost inevitably led to the disasters" of the Third Reich as well as "what comes from one man's holding unrestricted power in his hands." -- Bertina Loeffler

About the Author

Berthold Konrad Hermann Albert Speer was an architect who served as the Minister of Armaments and War Production in Nazi Germany during most of World War II.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; Reissue edition (April 1, 1997)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 672 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0684829495
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0684829494
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.7 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,108 ratings

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Albert Speer

Albert Speer

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,108 global ratings
This book stands head and shoulders above all of the Monday morning quarterback's hypotheses of the Reich's inner workings.
5 Stars
This book stands head and shoulders above all of the Monday morning quarterback's hypotheses of the Reich's inner workings.
This is an incredible book on so many levels, the most important being that it is an eyewitness, educated and very personal account of the Third Reich's upper echelon and inner circle. As much as anyone and more than most, Speer was a friend to Hitler. This book stands head and shoulders above all of the Monday morning quarterbacks hypotheses and outright false accountings of what really happened.Yes, Speer did have reason to embellish and alter the reality of his experience. I do not doubt that he did so, but not to any significant degree which would impact the truths presented in this book. Obviously he wouldn't want his legacy tarnished and there were things that happened that would do just that. Overall he was a moral man and his moral influence was a definite boon for The Reich. This comes through time after time in the book and in history, as well.Whatever way you look at it, it is an excellent read and you'll walk away more informed and with a new perspective.
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Top reviews from the United States

James Shannon
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
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Speer should have been turned over to the Soviet Union for torture, interrogation and execution. This book is a great read though.
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DaNick
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2023
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No doubt there's thousands of published books about WW2... but not many as good as this one.
Beyond the fact that Speer was part of the nazi regime and was a key participant in events which detrimentally affected so many people, I believe what he tells.
His account sheds a new light in what being immersed in that world was like from the beginning and how gradually deteriorated until its final collapse.
I really recommend it. It was beyond interesting.
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R. Forczyk
4.0 out of 5 stars The Prodigal Son’s Tale
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2016
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It’s been decades since I read Albert’s Speer’s memoir, Inside the Third Reich (1970), and felt the need to read it again after researching the German war effort for more than a decade. When I first read this book, the emphasis was upon gaining insight into Hitler’s inner circle since there were still many aspects of the Third Reich that were not well known. That was then. Now, decades later, we have a much better understanding of the inner workings of the Third Reich and Speer’s memoirs are but one piece. Furthermore, Speer’s prison-inspired mea culpa back in the 1970s seemed like the unvarnished truth – which is how he represented it – but this is not so evident upon further reflection. It’s now clear that Speer was intent upon ‘spinning’ his story a certain way, to make himself appear to be a more sympathetic and credible witness to history. After re-reading his memoirs, I’m not so sure that his effort to depict himself as a ‘prodigal son’ who believes in a common humanity was any more than a clever effort at historical white-washing. In any case, Inside the Third Reich remains an interesting read from someone who was a key decision-maker in leading Germany’s war effort.

Speer’s memoirs begin by taking us on his journey from young architect to his initial contact with Hitler in 1933. Hitler’s plans for aggression. Of course, Speer was trying to distance himself from any connection to Hitler’s war-mongering, although it is implausible that he was unaware of it before September 1939. I also find it odd how Speer barely mentions his wife or children or other relatives throughout 500 pages of text; they are only mentioned in passing, but many minor Nazi party functionaries get paragraph after paragraph. Speer’s mother joined the Nazi party, but it gets but brief mention. I also thought that Speer was an established architect when he first met Hitler but in fact, he really was a novice straight out of school with virtually no paid work to his credit. Speer does point out that Hitler was genuinely popular with much of the German populace because he delivered on his early promises about the economy. The author readily admits that he fell under Hitler’s spell and became a willing follower; Hitler reciprocated by praising Speer’s rather pedestrian style and giving him various ad hoc tasks to fulfil. Speer’s only complaint in the 1930s was that the Nazis didn’t always pay him for his work but when he saw the wreckage inflicted by Kristallnacht, all he could say was that “the smashed panes of shops offended my middle class sense of order.” Speer wasn’t blind to Nazi excesses; he was a moral idiot, like so many of Hitler’s followers.

Moving into the war years, Speer makes interesting observations about Hitler’s unwillingness to put off the reconstruction of Berlin even after the war in Russia had begun. Instead, scarce resources and labor were diverted away from war production for these prestige projects, which highlights that dictatorships are not necessarily more efficient at war-making. This wastage continued until December 1941, when the defeat at Moscow finally forced some scaling-back of civilian construction programs. By this point, Speer began making a name for himself as a hard-working improviser by helping to restore the railroads in occupied Soviet territory. Indeed, he positioned himself so well that Hitler made him Minister of Armaments in 1942. Speer, in fact, was very astute about working his way upward in the Nazi hierarchy in order to gain more power and prestige for himself – just like the other Nazis were doing.

Speer does have some useful things to say about the German war effort. He says that air defense took significant resources away from production devoted to ground weaponry, but faults the Allies for not repeating attacks on damaged industrial facilities. He also notes the total mismanagement of labor resources and he points the finger at Nazi party officials for refusing to cooperate with releasing people to work in war industries. He also apportions a large share of blame to Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring, who had his fingers in everybody’s pie; Speer describes Goering as very intelligent but lazy and he managed to screw up every project that he touched. The role of the SS and Gestapo is also addressed, and it is amazing to hear that the rocket scientist Werner von Braun was arrested by the SS in 1944 for making remarks about civilian use of space. Speer’s conclusion is that the German war effort was mis-managed from the start due to personal agendas and empire-building within the Nazi hierarchy. Of course, Speer omits how any of his personal agendas and empire-building may have contributed to this mess, as well.

Speer’s rationale is weird at times, particularly when he refers to Hitler’s “magnetic power” over him and another times he claimed that Hitler “paralyzed him psychically” which of course is intended to absolve Speer of personal responsibility – he had no choice. Yet other Germans could see Hitler’s evil and were not paralyzed – why was Speer different? He lamely refers to a half-baked attempt to assassinate Hitler in 1945, but says it failed due to altered security measures. It’s clear that this non-effort, which nobody else could corroborate, was inserted to belatedly cast Speer into the ranks of those who opposed Hitler. This of course is nonsense, since Speer loyally hung in with Hitler to the end, as if he had some kind of man-crush on him; in reality, he was always looking for crumbs from Hitler’s table – praise or new authorities. Ultimately, Speer was a talented conniver who put his own ambition first and Hitler was his venue for achieving his dreams. Speer lamely concludes that, “for twelve years, I had lived thoughtlessly among murderers,” as if he was merely a house-guest.
170 people found this helpful
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Ryan’s Mower Maintenance
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Insider Perspective
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2022
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While you have to take much of what Speer says surrounding his guilt with a grain of salt, this book does provide a fascinating insiders perspective into the third reich. There are so few resources that can provide a high level insiders perspective of the events surrounding the third reich. Since most of the individuals that were close to Hitler died or committed suicide before sharing their experiences, crimes, memoirs, etc. it is usually only from an outsiders perspective and analysis that we are able to learn information in regards to this period. However with Speer being a leader in the third reich and being part of Hitlers inside circle, his memoirs allow us to explore numerous pieces of information that are not as well known or spoken about in other historical pieces. As a WWII historian, I find that most pieces of literature or documentaries cover perspectives and information that I was already aware of, however after reading this book I found a lot of small details that I was not aware of that helped to add context to the different characters of the third reich. I would definitely recommend reading this book for anyone interested in the third reich or WWII history.
11 people found this helpful
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Morris Gray
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2013
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The title is very accurate. This book gives a very detailed insight into the personalities of the men at the top of the Third Reich. Albert Speer was as close to Hitler, at times, as any man could have been. He shared Hitler's visions of a Reich that would last a thousand years, at least architecturally. Hitler fancied himself as an artist and a would be architect. He found a certain camaraderie with Speer as they dreamed together over drawings and models of great buildings that would last the thousand years of the Third Reich.

This book tells the story of how Hitler's architect went from dreaming of great buildings to be in charge of all war production. Speer's organizational skills were extraordinary. How he kept up production of war materials in spite of around-the-clock bombing by the British and Americans was my main reason for wanting to buy and read this book.

First of all I liked it because it is well written. Second I think it is the only real objective insight into what went on among the leaders at the time. The real mystery is how Speer lived to tell the story.
4 people found this helpful
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Kate Pugh
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone knows what history told of Hitler and his cronies, but -
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2022
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Here is a book written from a first-hand witness inside the Nazi regime. Albert Speer was a young architect initially seduced by the speeches and rhetoric of Hitler. Hitler became interested in Speer through his own interest in the arts. Speer has paid his penance for his part of the inner circle and had come to the realization of Germany's reality during WWII. His personal observations have been self-analyzed objectively. He saw Hitler as Adolph actually was and how Adolph acted/ performed in front of the German people.
If you are interested about the inner workings and how things started out, THIS IS THE BOOK TO READ. It's honest, factual and VERY INTERESTING. He points out the flaws, fallacies and false rhetoric that was spread throughout Germany.
(FYI: this will remind you of certain current politicians, both domestic and foreign. I will not mention who, but if you follow politics, you will have no trouble knowing who they are... and I am NOT talking about Joe Biden!..)
10 people found this helpful
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Lucca Canizela De Camargo
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
Reviewed in Brazil on May 22, 2022
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Very informative book!
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Paul Sparham
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2023
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Albert Speer. Was he really a Good Nazi? Yes, of course he was a good Nazi - otherwise he wouldn’t have been an intimate of Hitler’s inner circle and probably the latter’s only real friend since both men shared a passion for megalomaniacal architecture. I suspect his contrition (which is sometimes expressed in these pages) and limited admission of culpability owes nothing to the scales falling from his eyes like some latter-day Saul but solely to the defeat of Nazi Germany and his own fate pending the tribunal’s judgement.

This self-serving but interesting book is in three main parts: Speer the great architect, Speer the genius of armaments production, Speer the saviour of what remained of Germany’s infrastructure. Like Coriolanus, alone he did it. A postscript could also include Speer the martyr. Through his sentence and that of others Speer claims extirpation of blame on behalf of his nation. Leaders alone atoned for the German people. Perhaps he should have demanded crucifixion by the tribunal for added symbolic effect.

There are sins of omission and commission and it is patently obvious from the narrative that Speer omits a great deal about what he really knew and felt concerning the Reich’s unsavoury aspects let alone his direct involvement. Since he claims much knowledge ex post facto (or when he does admit guilt writes that he should have known better or that he was under the Führer’s spell) he’s bound to leave much out. What he leaves in, however, is interesting, informative and readable. There are even moments of comedy such as when he was scheduled to give a speech concerning the opening of Berlin’s East-West Axis to the assembled signatories and party big-wigs. Hitler would then take over, expanding on the speech. As the much anticipated speech consisted of two very brief sentences, Hitler was caught unawares, utterly flummoxed, not knowing how to respond to such brevity.

Of particular interest to me was the effect of bombing as experienced by the Armaments Minister. Operation Gomorrah in 1943 was a real shock that, in his own words, put the fear of God in him. He reveals that the apocalyptic inferno visited upon Hamburg was precisely what the Reich had planned for London in 1940. He expresses genuine puzzlement that raids such as those on the Ruhr dams or Schweinfurt were not followed up: the damage inflicted by the Americans at Schweinfurt for example was far more significant than realised at the time. And why, after the dams were repaired at enormous cost was another small raid not repeated to smash them all over again? On a more personal note he divulges that he was transfixed by and unable to resist viewing the pyrotechnic spectacle of the Berlin raids from a flak tower: the searchlights, AA fire, masses of beautiful target indicators and parachute flares cascading down all created a scene that was compelling and unforgettable for him.

Inside the Third Reich takes the reader through the Second World War and all the Machiavellian scheming and jostling for power is laid bare. The final insane days in the Berlin bunker have always held a morbid appeal and Speer doesn’t disappoint the reader, either here or in relating the subsequent farce of the Flensburg Government and his eventual arrest.

Upper-middle-class from a prosperous Mannheim family, cultured and well-educated he clearly cut a more attractive figure than many others at the Nuremberg Trial. He also had longer than other defendants to prepare his own defence and took tranquilisers to steady his nerves when lying to the court. One thing’s for sure - he wasn’t an understudy for Truthful James. He was lucky to narrowly avoid a much-deserved hanging for his usage and organisation of slave labour in inhumane conditions. Small wonder he didn’t appeal his sentence. So, after twenty years rumination in Spandau he wrote this carefully guarded but fascinating narrative instead. After his release in 1966 he merged his memoirs with material from the Federal Archive for greater detail and authenticity.

This paperback book is well-bound, the font is clear, contains many photographs and detailed notes referring to each chapter so two bookmarks are advised.
6 people found this helpful
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Lans
5.0 out of 5 stars Penance.
Reviewed in India on July 13, 2022
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A critical piece of history, written by an incredible and logical mind.
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cass77
5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminante
Reviewed in Italy on March 31, 2017
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Uno dei libri piu' particolari che abbia letto negli ultimi anni, che da' una visione "da dentro" di molti aspetti del nazismo,
che e' molto inconsueta. Speer e' una personalita' complessa e uno scrittore molto abile, ed e' capace di sorvolare su molti
degli aspetti piu' controversi. Dopo aver letto questo libro ho letto anche "Albert Speer, his battle with the Truth" di Gitta Sereny che cerca di dare una visione meno parziale degli eventi. In ogni caso ne consiglio vivamente la lettura.
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from California
5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable account.
Reviewed in Germany on November 20, 2014
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This is a must read!! And must have as a reference book. Not to gorget how it was. Unfortunately, tgere are many in the world now who did not learn the lessons of history. Fascism still exists and its bloody hands try to grab not only european countries but to spread into other parts of the world as well. Fascism is very much a survivor. It masks itself by using different names and tags to become unrecognizable and well hidden, but the beast lurks from inder the "socialist" policies, mass propaganda and mass culture still today. Highly recommended reading. A constant reminder of the nightmares of the Third Reich.
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