ERROR - I said the Olympic Stadium in Munich when I meant to say Berlin. Apologies!

@huwzebediahthomas9193

6 ай бұрын

Jessie Owens - his family still has the congratulations letter.

@Ac54-pvr7X-QWk2

6 ай бұрын

Unbelievable. We will never forgive such an egregious mistake. Tsk tsk. For real though, love your videos. Best of luck from Wisconsin!

@thejudgmentalcat

6 ай бұрын

No problem, Professor 👍

@JorgeMendez-kn5ql

6 ай бұрын

You can make an episode on Operation Downfall to make up for it.

@norbertblackrain2379

6 ай бұрын

Damned you are not perfect No worries😀

Am I the only one who gets sad knowing the video is about to end? I can’t get enough of Dr. Felton’s videos. It’s like a time machine. If he ever offers a tour through Germany I am so there.

@krisfrederick5001

6 ай бұрын

It's called the refresh button my friend 😉

@roberthevern6169

6 ай бұрын

​@@krisfrederick5001 Your compassionate response speaks volumes!

@larsrons7937

6 ай бұрын

Ýou're not the only one. And I did, as I now see krisfrederick suggest, refresh the page and watched it twice.

@justinbradfield1489

6 ай бұрын

Would you like some warm milk and a biscuit?

@SmilesPerGallon-

6 ай бұрын

I get sad when I see the video is about to begin, because I know that eventually it will end.

I remember getting 'Inside the Third Reich' from my university library. The librarian happened to be German and looked me in the eye while saying, "Don't believe everything you read." As a professor of library and information science, I know that librarians aren't supposed to pass judgment on reader's selections, so for him to do so, in that manner, was unusual. I took it almost as a warning. For postwar interviews with Speer and his wife, read 'Albert Speer: His Battle with Truth,' by Gitta Sereny.

@ladycplum

6 ай бұрын

I have both books. In Gitta's book, it broke my heart to see that his family basically found out about his death from a British mistress whose existence they were completely ignorant of. And yet his eldest daughter Hilde said she actually felt some happiness for him, to have found love at his age. Strange...

@sarahnichols4439

6 ай бұрын

Have either of you seen the film Inside the Third Reich starring the late Rutger Hauer, Sir John Guilguld (sic?), and Sir Derek Jacobi? It was a TV mini series in 1982 and I believe it's on KZread

@F_Bardamu

6 ай бұрын

The part in this book I liked the most is when Speer tries to convince you that he tried to kill Hitler but failed due to bad luck. So phoney and laughable.

@ladycplum

6 ай бұрын

@@F_BardamuThat was all part of his defense strategy at Nuremberg. I'm not sure anyone really believed him.

@EOJ111

6 ай бұрын

​@@F_BardamuWhat a weasel.

I was stationed in Germany from 1978 until 1984 and it was a great adventure. My family and I stayed in the "Evergreen Lodge" in 1979. A couple of years later along with some visiting friends I stumbled through the rubble of what was left of the Berghoff. I think it was the area below the patio where you often see the videos of Hitler and his guests. I also, at different times while I was In Germany, met the sons of Patton and Rommel. This General Patton was a deputy commander of US VII Corps and Rommel's son Manfred was mayor of Stuttgart.

@cheapcraftygirlsweepstakes2338

6 ай бұрын

I met General Patton when he was stationed at Fort Knox.

@shanewhite9501

6 ай бұрын

My grandfather was under patent during the Battle of the bulge in other engagements when he was in the third recognized armored division he was also with Patton in several others he was a corporal I believe when he left after his tour duty and soon numerous injuries he was also a truck driver before that his name was Edgar Allan miller

@tebo2770

6 ай бұрын

I was there from 88-92. I was in Frankfurt and part of an aviation (Huey) unit under V corp. Had a great time until the gulf war.

@skillfuldabest

6 ай бұрын

@@cheapcraftygirlsweepstakes2338do you agree that he fought the wrong enemy? Look at the West now.

@pjmlegrande

6 ай бұрын

I remember my family going there for ski vacations a couple years in a row when my dad was stationed at Rhein Main AFB in the early 60s. I was 12 and 13. We stayed at the “General Walker Hotel” which was down the mountain from the Eagle’s Nest in that general area. It also was an existing structure the U.S. Army had taken over for recreational purposes. I remember my dad saying it had been a lodge for high ranking Nazis during the Hitler era.

I lived several times in both France and Germany and took an interest in Speer for a couple of reasons. Firstly, my father was yanked out of medical school in Marseille following the collapse of Vichy and forced to work as a medic for the Organization Todt while it constructed defenses along the French Riviera. And secondly, because I worked in both the French and German automotive industries and am fascinated by the roles they played in WWII. While Peugeot basically actively collaborated (I once played golf with Eric Peugeot LOL), François Michelin reached a deal early on in which he would supply the Nazis as long as they never entered any of his factories. Apparently, he only allowed an SS Colonel to enter the premises just to show him they they had placed dynamite at the base of all the main pillars. So Michelin delivered the tires to the gates of their own plants, where the Germans loaded them on to their trucks. It only came to light later that what Michelin was protecting was their top secret project - the radial tire - which they launched just after the war, and with a seventeen year patent, which enabled them to become the largest tire company in the world. Anyway, in France, the conventional wisdom is that the French judges voted against the death penalty for Speer at Nuremberg, because he switched the production of non-military consumer goods (such as white goods) to France, allowing Germany to focus on armaments, while still allowing some consumer goods (made in France) to satisfy the German public. At the same time, it allowed France to become quite strong in certain product categories after the war, contributing to the post-war French economic boom (1945-1975) - known in France as "Les Trente Glorieuses." I've not seen research on this, but this is what the French believe about Speer.

@brentengelhart5

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing those historical points.

@burningchrome70

6 ай бұрын

I come to this channel for these historical insights. Thank you so much for these contributions!

@browngreen933

6 ай бұрын

Interesting information.

@alexmarshall4331

6 ай бұрын

PLEASE...it is tyre's NOT tires!!!

@bror9934

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 😊

I received a copy of INSIDE THE THIRD REICH as a Christmas gift from my parents shortly after its publication. It was a very tough read for a boy in high school. I was impressed with his facade of modesty and humility, so much so that I wrote him a letter through his publisher. About a month later I received his personal reply, thanking me for my interest and concern. I have the letter in a frame on my den wall. I have since learned of his bending of the facts and my pride in this document has faded considerably. However, it remains in my den, an example of how I have been able to touch history.

@javierarreaza5601

6 ай бұрын

I think it is totally ok for you to keep that framed letter in your den. It’s a tribute to your youthful interest in History, not to the man who sent it to you.

@KCODacey

6 ай бұрын

@@javierarreaza5601 Thank you.

@ManGrieves

6 ай бұрын

Where is the evidence of his fact bending? Reading his book now and want to know the counters to his version.

@rainbowseeker5930

6 ай бұрын

Who are you referring to...? You don't mention his name in any of the 7 lines you wrote, just keep repeating "he" or "him". I have to guess you mean Albert Speer, but it would be just a guess, not a fact.

@KCODacey

6 ай бұрын

@@rainbowseeker5930 I wrote to Albert Speer. Albert Speer wrote back to me. I put the letter from Albert Speer on my den wall. I have since learned how Albert Speer’s defense about not knowing the extent of the crimes of the Nazi government is not true. Ok?

Speers designs were very respectable... especially considering the time in which they were developed. Thank you, Dr. Felton.

@TheDemonicPenguin

6 ай бұрын

I mean, if fascist Ancient Rome is respectable. I admit some fascination with them, I have the giant book with all his designs. On the one hand personality-free and oppressive, but impressive in some way. The Reichs Chancellery had some redeeming features. The Rally Grounds hit home how awful Germania would have been, though. It's built on a megalomania scale, not a human one.

@realhorrorshow8547

6 ай бұрын

I have read that the enormous dome, which was to be the city's centre-piece, was so large that, once it was full, clouds would form at the top. After a while, any performers in the centre would have been under a constant drizzle formed from the exhalations and sweat of the audience.

@MrMSandin

6 ай бұрын

@@realhorrorshow8547 Have you heard about ventilation

@paulrockatansky77

6 ай бұрын

Nazi architecture was an exercise in grandiosity and megalomania. The actual buildings are a tasteless copy of ancient Roman designs, their size being the only "aesthetic" improvement. They don't hold a candle to centuries old designs from the Renaissance. But Speer was a clever man, capable of leading his country's war effort and later of improving his legacy by painting himself as an unwitting participant trapped in the state machine.

@PanzerBuyer

6 ай бұрын

Really wish they had built it anyway. @@realhorrorshow8547

Thank you Dr Felton for featuring my old home which was once known as the Evergreen Lodge or Albert Speer's studio If you look at the rear of the building you'll see a few ground floor windows. These were for the 3 staff rooms in the basement and a large commercial kitchen. You could come in through the kitchen to get to the staff quarters without going through the main entrance. The housekeeper had the larger corner room and there were two additional smaller rooms and a seperate bathroom. These were directly underneath the dining area & lounge areas. From what I remember, there were 3/4 large rooms on the first floor for guests and another seperate extra shared bathroom. I sometimes sneaked in there to take a hot bath in the Winter! Most of the artwork in the lounge and dining areas (landscapes I seem to remember) were from the Third Reich era and had been left in situ. I probably spent at least 3 years living here between 83' & 87' whilst working at the nearby Gutshof and Platterhof & your video confirms that the building looks exactly the same as I remember it when I left 35 years ago!

@TheTrickster923

6 ай бұрын

kind of weird that you'd want to live in a Nazi war criminal's house, to be honest!

@guyfawkesuThe1

2 ай бұрын

I almost took a job in Bergtesgarden(s) and the US Military USAFRC complex but felt the pay was not adequate for 1993. I also could have gone there on vacation while in the military but seems like officers have all the perks! Majors and above in Speer's studio eh? That figures. Another way of screwing enlisted people in the US Military! If you want a real experience stay at the hotel in the middle of the old Flint Caserne in Bad Tolz, Germany, the former SS Officers training school!

@GoaGary

2 ай бұрын

@@guyfawkesuThe1 I was just a humble hausmeister that lived in the Evergreen Lodge (basement room) but worked at the General Walker Hotel. This large hotel (formerly Platterhof) was open to all ranks and in many ways was far grander and more impressive than the Lodge. I do remember having Generals and their aides staying in the rooms above and having to take the downstairs 'tradesman's' entrance through the kitchen as a result. The salary was pretty low but my room and food were free and for a young guy like me at the time that meant more money for beer!

@GoaGary

Ай бұрын

@@guyfawkesuThe1 I was just a humble hausmeister that lived in the basement. I worked at the General Walker Hotel (Platterhof) just up the road which was open to all ranks. To be honest, this hotel was far superior and had more character than Speer's atelier (Evergreen Lodge) I remember having to take the back entrance through the kitchen on numerous occasions when we had generals and their aides staying. They didn't want to lower the tone obviously 😁

Me and my family got to stay in Speer's studio - the Evergreen Lodge - back in the early 80s. We were booked into the General Walker Hotel just up the road but there was a mix-up and our room was not ready. For the night, the hotel management put us in the Evergreen Lodge. As a WWII history buff, I understood who the building used to belong to, and who one of its biggest visitors was, but alas, I didn't have any opportunity to explore. We had a young baby and needed to get settled into the General Walker as soon as possible, so in the morning we packed up quickly and drove off up the hill to the hotel. I always regretted not 'poking around' more inside that building.

@margarita8442

6 ай бұрын

was smoking allowed ?

@JRCinKY

6 ай бұрын

What an opportunity, sadly we all let them flitter thru our fingers.

@user-zy3zd3sx2d

6 ай бұрын

It's too bad you couldn't have asked to stay on at the Evergreen Lodge for the remainder of your visit. Could you?

I always enjoy Mark Felton's history episodes.

This house was revisited by Speer's kids for a German docu-drama about Speer. One of his sons is a famous German architect who did large projects in the Middle East. The German mini series is called "Speer und er." Someone posted in on YT.

@neilfoster814

6 ай бұрын

Yes, Albert's son WAS a great architect too, but he also passed away a few years ago.

@janetmacarthur2130

6 ай бұрын

Albert Speer Jr. did not think much of his father's architecture.

@LambdaNL

6 ай бұрын

The other way around too,

@TheTrickster923

6 ай бұрын

@@janetmacarthur2130 he must have had a better opinion of his father's use of forced labor, considering his work on the World Cup stadia in Qatar!

@antoniustheiler1494

6 ай бұрын

@@TheTrickster923 Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm

The first comprehensive WWII documentary that made a deep impression on me was from the early 70’s, the British produced the World At War. What makes that series STILL the best is that in addition to narration by Lord Laurence Olivier, is that many of the actual participants were still alive and participated. Albert Speer among them.

@selfdo

6 ай бұрын

Couldn't go wrong with Sir Laurence Oliver and his Baritone voice.

@gusjackson3658

4 ай бұрын

Yes. With faces on newsprint burning at the beginning. My first real introduction to true horror.

In a 1974 Playboy interview, Speer admitted in his talk with the editor as saying, " Yes, I have blood on my hands" Great video Dr. Felton, hope your skiing went well .

@TheDemonicPenguin

6 ай бұрын

It's the same bullshit he spun at Nuremberg (I take overall responsibility, but not personal responsibility). I do think he was grappling with it, though. Fascinating figure.

@renatovonschumacher3511

6 ай бұрын

Yes, all Germans are, of course, bad and have blood on their hands whereas all Americans, of course, are good and their hands are clean of blood . . .

I remember reading Speer’s memoir in my mid-20s and the (not unconvincing) narrative he presented is just as Dr. Felton says. Almost 20 years later I appreciate hearing this more sober take on his legacy.

I met Speer at a private home in Germany in the mid 1970s. By then, at least in private settings, he dropped the whole persona about not knowing and discussed things openly. Did he seem remorseful? I personally think the truest statement I heard from him is that he wished Hitler had been killed before he had the chance to commit suicide and drag Germany farther down into destruction. As far as his job was concerned, I don't think he had remorse about using whatever means necessary to try to prolong the war.

@eastbaystreet1242

6 ай бұрын

Fascinating. I'm not sure how well I would do with a meeting like that. I want to think I would be a gentleman and student of history, but I would have a hard time not showing my anger at the Nazis. I met Gorbachev while he was President and after Perestroika, and I was able to express the genuine respect and admiration that the West had for him. That was easy. But a Nazi leader - that might be tough. Someone in these comments requested a followup video from Mark about the later period when Speer "recanted" - would you consider making yourself available to Mark for such a discussion? Might be a valuable contribution to the effort.

Hi Dr. Mark Filton, I am a huge fan of your work from Ethiopia, can you do a video about his majesty emperor Haileselassie speech at Jeneva in 1936, and its implications on the 2nd world War.

@nicholaskelly1958

6 ай бұрын

That would be a very good idea. Another thing that should be looked at in detail is 'Yakatit 12' . Here in Europe Italy is usually considered to be the most humane (I use that word advisably) of the Axis Powers. However their behaviour in Ethiopia was truly beyond belief.

@samuelhaile5545

6 ай бұрын

The Midget Selassie run away through Djibouti 😂leaving the poor Ethiopia behind and beg his white master to help him free his “Country” while relaxing in Bath Somerset-England. He is responsible for the Whole mess we found ourselves in the Horn to this day. The sad thing is after the end of the war back in Ethiopia he got his picture taken behind a machine gun as if he was fighting the war.Lol😂

@marthaneguesse661

6 ай бұрын

​@@samuelhaile5545You are free from knowledge brother!

@nublord365

6 ай бұрын

Echoing this. I don't know much about the Italian-Ethiopian war and would love to learn.

Wieder einmal ein faszinierender Beitrag. Man denkt als Deutscher alles über das III. Reich und über Speer zu wissen, von wegen.... Herr Felton, klasse Beitrag, Chapeau! Beste Grüße aus Bremen

I’d love to see an episode about the evidence that Speer did indeed know all about the war crimes that was unearthed after his death.

@melodymacken9788

6 ай бұрын

Same.

@LambdaNL

6 ай бұрын

There is a document that shows the purchasing of new ovens for auschwitz, his name is written on it, he authorized it,

@hb9145

6 ай бұрын

He was in charge of the entire slave labor program, and everyone knew it. What do you think? Having said that, I don't see him doing anything worse than "bomber" Harris, who got statues erected in his memory.

@eastbaystreet1242

6 ай бұрын

Yes, and what Mark stated in passing as a minor fact, but was quite a shocker to me (maybe everyone else already knew this): the the US Military controlled the Obersaltzberg until 1995.

@flitsertheo

6 ай бұрын

Or rather what was left of it. Hitler’s and Goering’s houses were gone for instance. I guess they also wanted to avoid pelgrimages to thé place.

Congrats on the 2M subs - Well deserved!

I can understand them wanting to avoid the appearance of a show trial by letting one of them off lightly, but I find myself thinking that it was illogical to hang Speer's assistant - who acted under Speer's orders not on his own initiative - and then let Speer himself off. Thank you for the video!

@scottcharney1091

6 ай бұрын

He wasn't "let off;" that would imply acquittal or dropped charges.

@danielintheantipodes6741

6 ай бұрын

@@scottcharney1091 But he was not executed and his assistant was! So he did ‘get off’ the death penalty. Even though at a minimum he was as guilty as the executed assistant.

@nextminvideos

6 ай бұрын

Pleading guilty probably helped his cause.

@TheDemonicPenguin

6 ай бұрын

Speer was "respectable" and educated and Sauckel was a thug. Or at least that was the story. That played into it a bit.

@blairl6304

6 ай бұрын

Because it very largely was a show trial. All sides committed murder and crimes, the only difference is who wins.

Always a great day when Dr. Felton drops a new episode! ❤

My wife and I with our young son stayed in the Speer house. Our bedroom balcony looked down in to Berchtesgaden town.

Mark Felton produces- "Lifestyles of the Rich and Fascist". Keep doing what you're doing! Your content is the best quality KZread series ive ever seen.

Nice to see Dr Felton at the ski hill! He looks very comfortable, just beware of those wandering trees! I live in a metro area close to a ski resort, and accidents have happened, with very unfortunate results! Please be careful, Dr Felton!

Dr. Felton, I want to tell you why I so enjoy your work here. It's simply dignity. It's disappearing, and quickly-- but not with you. Here is an intelligent and dignified adult, an educator, a scholar, and one of the last altruistic presences. As soon as I leave you here, I resume my life of rigorous efforts at tolerating the galling and totally regrettable character all around me. You are an oasis.

Dr Felton's videos are the best content on KZread. The only work I watch every time it comes up!

@e-curb

6 ай бұрын

I concur. I don't think I've missed any episodes over the past 3 -4 years.

Been wanting more videos on Albert Speer 👍🏾

Love the picture of you on the Ski slopes. Very interesting stuff. Thank you Dr Felton.

A great video once again. I am an engineer who read the Speer autobiography as a teenager. Every engineer who rises into management to obtain and then carry out the project to fruition knows there is navigation through politics on multiple levels. Compromises are made especially on budgets and even occasionally on bribery/favors. I am glad I never had to navigate through Speer's waters.

I remember a picture in a newspaper of Speer looking up at Nelson's Column when he was visiting London. He was quoted as saying something along the lines of, "London is a beautiful city. I am so glad that the Luftwaffe didn't flatten it when it had the chance." The arrogance was still there after many years. Very interesting video, Mark. Thank you.

@Kai_Peters

6 ай бұрын

Not even the greatest bomber pilot could have imagined the horror of our modern Berlin, Paris or London city center

@roobear78

6 ай бұрын

The fact that he only got 20 years and made a fortune when he was released would add to the arrogance and egotism of the man,he really did only get a smack on the wrist in terms of punishment

@roberthevern6169

6 ай бұрын

​@@roobear78 Yes, their ability to benefit in the post war era must have been thought to be okay, given that their crimes had been absolved!

@PanzerBuyer

6 ай бұрын

Remember Hitler took Speer with him on his sightseeing tour of conquered Paris.

@martin7955

6 ай бұрын

​@@Kai_Petersi agree their destroyed we Europeans have destroyed ourselves but hopefully a strong / man or woman will arise again and take back what's being lost

Fantastic work as always, Mark. I have to wonder why Martin Bormann kept Himmler off the Obersalzber but let Speer roost there. Maybe Bormann did not consider Speer a threat?

@katydid5088

6 ай бұрын

I would say Speer was an artist with an engineers background. Himmler was a midlevel bureaucrat with visions of grandeur and the security aperatus to enforce it. *That's* why Speer got a pass when Himmler didn't.

@F_Bardamu

6 ай бұрын

I agree. I'd say Speer was even closer to Hitler than Himmler. I once read that if Hitler ever had one friend in his life, this would be Speer. I still think this catch phrase has some truth in it. @@katydid5088

@PanzerBuyer

6 ай бұрын

Hitler liked Speer. End of story.

@13007akshat

6 ай бұрын

Himmler also visited Obersalzburg quite often

@SSN515

6 ай бұрын

Hitler said a few times that Speer was the closest and only thing to a best friend he ever had.

Fantastic! I wrote my History dissertation on the building projects of the Third Reich. Lots of criticisms have been levelled at Speer from an artistic perspective (quite rightly) but I think he was frankly a genius.

Another very insightful historical video Dr. Felton. I have watched all of your videos and purchased several of your books. I appreciate your attention to detail and always trying to get the history right no matter what. Also, your ability to put important historical events in their proper context is so important especially in the time that we live in today. Cheers!

G'day Mark, I'm glad you've 'lifted the lid' on the so-called, 'Nazi Who Said Sorry'. After many years of WW2 studies, one topic I looked at was the life and career of Albert Speer. I read much about him from other historians. I’ve tried to read as many, and as much, of Speer's writings as I could stomach. The result: I've never really believed Speer's 'sob stories' of simply being the architect at the wrong place at the wrong time in history. As you would be well aware, there are, literally, volumes dedicated to the popular views that Speer was, or was not, aware of the full extent of Nazi atrocities and official policies of genocide. He used his time in prison not only churning out his ‘I’m innocent’ books but also honing his English speaking skills. In every interview I’ve seen with him it’s clear he was, in his own way, quite ‘media savvy’. He’d ‘parrot’ bits of his books during interviews and took a calm, friendly, even smiling approach to the interviewer when it was appropriate. His mock revulsion and horror at the worst of the Nazi’s crimes always looked to me to be well practiced. As you mention, former prisoners of the Nazis testified, after his imprisonment, that Speer was present when slave labourers were being punished, tortured or murdered. They, correctly, stated that as the Armaments’ Minister there was no way he could have pushed along the speed of arms production without visiting as many of the facilities under his command as possible. Hitler repeatedly urged his friendly architect to see to it that weapons were being made as swiftly as possible; both of them knowing that this was the only conceivable way Germany had any chance of winning the war. Of course, Speer glosses over the truth, suggesting he didn’t follow his Führer’s directives. He also states he only did enough, in his high position, so as not to draw the suspicions of Hitler or Martin Bormann. The many senior spies who worked for Bormann and Reichsführer, Himmler, would certainly ‘rat Speer out’ if he was deliberately lax at his job. Even though Speer was probably the closest to a friend Hitler had; a serious allegation of this kind could have made life difficult for Speer; to anyone else it would have meant death. I’ve got to begrudgingly hand it to Speer for his survival skills. It couldn’t have been easy for him considering that most, if not all of Hitler’s inner circle were intensely jealous of Speer’s relationship with their leader. It’s ironically fitting that Speer died in London while recording an interview; yet another fantasy of his own making. Thanks again, Mark. Good work at destroying the myth of the ‘Nazi Who Said Sorry’. Cheers, Bill H.

love the photo of Mark just chilling with his skis on hehe

Great video as always, and Speer's fascinating "Inside the Third Reich" is a must-read for any WWII buff.

The images of the studio/atelier are interesting. One would reasonably guess that the studio, which Speer designed (as Felton mentions) for his personal use, would be the most fully personal of his designs. What strikes me is the impression, at least upon casual viewing, that the studio echoes the looks of the Prairie School and American Craftsman styles of architecture, at least in some elements.The broad, uninterrupted horizontal lines, the extensive plain white walls (a wood-frame-and-stucco look, at least, if not those precise materials) highlighting the the intricate geometry of the windows, the use of deeply overhanging eaves, the blocky, lightly-ornamented ends of beams projecting under eaves and window lintels, and so forth. A useful reference for these resemblances between the studio and those architectural styles might be Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ward Willits House (Highland Park, Illinois, 1901). To be clear, I’m not saying that Speer was trying to emulate those styles, but that they may have influenced him (in his smaller-scale works like the studio) to some degree. It’s also fair to observe that a comparison of Speer’s studio with the Willits House, or any of Wright’s other houses, is a useful illustration of the difference between the work of a competent professional, and that of a great genius.

My boring time off isn't so boring when Mark Felton Productions releases a video. Thank you Dr Felton!

His 1936 lighting designs were way ahead of his time. Phenomenal pictures if you care to Google it. Not sure of his earlier work.

I must applaud your very nuanced portrayal of Speer. Too many popular historians these days still propagate the 'Speer Myth', he and his editor Joachim Fest created post-war, as Speer as the 'good Nazi'.

@user-vl8qw8hp1g

6 ай бұрын

Speer might have been a bit less evil than the others, but at the end of the day, he was still a Nazi.

@TheDemonicPenguin

6 ай бұрын

Really? I thought the Speer Myth was pretty much dead.

Keep 'em coming Mark, they're so good it's frightening!

Dr. Felton actually teaches history. His videos are informative and I wish I had a history professor like him

I was stationed in Heidelberg with the 33rd US Army Band from 1971 -1973. I read the book "Inside the Third Reich" and became interested in Speer. A friend and I looked in the phone book and found his name and phone number listed! We called and got an appointment to visit his house for him to autograph his book. We went to his house and he let us in and signed my book. This was November 28, 1971. I took a photo of him as well. He was very gracious to two perfect strangers. If a few people are interested will post a fuller account of the evening and my email address and I will send you a copy of the photo I took of him.

Not sure why the history channel hasn’t given you your own show by now. You always have the greatest content and I’m always learning something new. Thank you

@brucecaldwell6701

6 ай бұрын

I think Dr. Felton has far too much integrity for the History Channel.

@e-curb

6 ай бұрын

Dr. Felton doesn't need to prostitute himself on the History Channel. If he were to engage with them, the first thing they would do is interfere with the content. Then the quality of his videos would suffer.

@tomhenry897

6 ай бұрын

No aliens

@francesco245

6 ай бұрын

Exactly! @@tomhenry897

Albert Speer was lucky to be given a custodial sentence like Hess, Funk, Raeder, Dönitz, Schirach, and Neurath. He only just escaped the hangman's noose by being contritional.

@lisaa8795

6 ай бұрын

He knew how to play the game, that's for sure. At least, that's the feeling I had while reading one of his books.

@ObsydianShade

6 ай бұрын

It's more likely he escaped it by cooperating with the Allies, particularly the Americans.

@damianousley8833

6 ай бұрын

@@ObsydianShade He served his twenty years in Spandau prison being released in 1966. He wrote books about his time in the Nazi government some of which were personal propaganda to a certain point, promoting the myth of Speer the good Nazi, to some extent. His last act, which had some lasting effect was to protest against the Hitler raised earth policy of destroying German infrastructure before it fell into allied hands at least this act helped the German people in the aftermath of the war to somewhat survive. Though the Soviets confiscated most industrial equipment in their occupied territory after the war as reparations. He did little to assist the allies after the war as he was a convicted war criminal. Very few of his Nazi era architecture or buildings survived the allied bombing. A large test cylinder to test ground subsidence for the rebuilding of Berlin into Germania, is one of the few structures to survive. He seemed to live off the royalties from his writings and what ever was left of his families wealth after his release from prison.

Thank you for sharing 🎖️🤗🙏🏆🇺🇸

Interesting angle. I strongly recommend Kitchen's book on Speer to any viewers who want to dig deeper. Thank you, Mark

Spotted a holiday snap in that video...Dr Felton on skis. 🙂

Albert Speer drove a NSU Ro80 in 1976. A gray coloured one.

A minor correction: U. S. Army Field Grade Officers were not "majors and above"; they were (and remain) majors, lieutenant colonels, and colonels - to the exclusion of the next higher officer category, General Officers (brigadier generals through Generals of the Army).

Phil Donohue (yes that Phil Donohue) interviewed Speer in the 70s.

Another great piece. Always appreciated Dr Felton.

Just a small correction: the recreation center was also available to NATO allies. As a Canadian kid with a civilian father attached to a Canadian Forces base in Germany, we visited the center a few times in the late 70s and 80s. I have fond memories of the place.

The information contained in all of Mr. Feltons' videos is always outstanding. It's the amazing photos and video images provided that rivets me... where does he find all of them? Thank you for the history, Mr. Felton.

Interesting...except for the fact that the Olympic stadium for the 1936 games was/is in Berlin, not Munich. The latter was designed by Frei Otto for the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

@kttk4564

6 ай бұрын

The great book "Berlin 1936" by Oliver Holmes would provide Dr Felton with several ideas for upcoming videos.

What a brilliant man!

His son (Albert Speer jr.) Was an architect, too. His style was completely different from his father's style.

@TheTrickster923

6 ай бұрын

yes, he designed the stadia for the World Cup in Qatar... which was built with laborers who were slaves in all but name in terrible working conditions. Like father like son, I guess.

@GLASSMOSCOWANDBEIJING

6 ай бұрын

​@@TheTrickster923go touch some grass, cause nobody gives a f**k about that. People were bitching about it for 5 minutes during the world Cup and now nobody does. I came here to learn about Speer before my hoodie arrives, not to be lectured about s**t that none of us caused

His son Albert Speer Jr worked on Qatar World Cup stadiums

Yes Dr Felton with a video!

I ENJOY ALL OF DR FELTONS VIDEOS

I’ve always been fascinated by the 3rd Reich architecture, seeing it in person a few months ago, I was taken aback by how large these buildings actually are. I hope you do more videos on the architecture.

@PanzerBuyer

6 ай бұрын

What did you see? Is the Eagles Nest on your bucket list?

@thEannoyingE

6 ай бұрын

@@PanzerBuyer we went to Dachau concentration camp, Nuremberg, palace of Justice, topography of terror museum, the Führerbau and Volvolkensbau, Munich, Berlin, the Deutsches Museum, ect. No Eagle’s Nest sadly.

@PanzerBuyer

6 ай бұрын

Sounds like a great tour! Are you familiar with the web site Third Reich in Ruins?@@thEannoyingE

@mdtdbe

6 ай бұрын

My friend, a talented architect, calls this style “Nazi Deco.”

@matztertaler2777

6 ай бұрын

​@@mdtdbeots only some sort of neo classizism, but cleaned up by some Bauhaus influence 😊

Had 2 courses during my engineering studies of some of the things he accomplished. The round the clock bombing by the allies should have devastated Germany's war production, but he decentralized everything resulting in higher output numbers compared to when everything was done under one roof. Speer was a legend.

There’s been a real Felton blast over the last few days. Love it.

Nice, informative video Mark!!👍👍

I advise anyone who likes Mark’s videos to read Speer’s memoirs.

Always fascinating and informative. Great to see you have skied there while doing your research and due diligence :)

Absolutely fascinating, Dr. Felton. Thank you.

A new Mark Felton video always makes my work day better. 🤝🤝

I’ve read Speer’s books, the first shortly after its release. It was given to me by a friend that worked for Random House. I enjoyed reading them. I especially enjoyed his comments about the production of armaments and war materials. I’ve always wondered about the accuracy of his statements concerning rare minerals and their increased scarcity as the war continued. He wrote that the lack of such minerals meant the day would soon come when the war would end, regardless of anything else. Of course, the war was ended with the Allied victory before that scenario could occur. I still wonder about the accuracy of his claims and haven’t yet found verification of them. As to whether he was a dyed-in-the-wool Nazi, of course he was, through and through.

@darrenrobinson9041

6 ай бұрын

Some people make out that Nazism is somehow a separate thing to Hitlerism. Nazism is this - whatever Hitler says goes. It was his organisation 100%. So if you were a friend of Hitler you were by definition a Nazi.

@user-vl8qw8hp1g

6 ай бұрын

It only makes sense that Speer was a party line man. Otherwise, he would never have been allowed a place in AH's inner circle, shared interest in architecture or not.

@melodymacken9788

6 ай бұрын

​@@user-vl8qw8hp1g Yes.

@brentsutherland6385

6 ай бұрын

I think the part about minerals was factual. Without tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, etc., it's impossible to make good armor plate, etc. This meant late-war German tanks such as the Tiger II were more vulnerable than they were designed to be, and that German jet engines did not last very long at all. Tooze adresses this in Wages of Destruction.

@CraigerAce

6 ай бұрын

Thank you. I’ll follow up on that info.

He was as guilty as the rest. Used slave labor and he knew exactly what was going on the whole time as he was exceedingly close to Hitler and visited him 2 days before his suicide. After the war he tried to change his history and image in the Nazi party but it was disingenuous to say the least.

@leviturner3265

6 ай бұрын

What was he supposed to do? Whether he knew, or not, OR whether he did not want to use slave labor or not, nothing he was going to say about that would have changed anything. Unless, using slave labor was his idea to begin with, nothing would have changed. I definitely believe that 20 years in prison was too high a sentence.

@miaflyer2376

6 ай бұрын

As you say: At 07:55, the video mentioned that in 1971, his complicity and knowledge was proven, and published in 2007.

@ManGrieves

6 ай бұрын

⁠@@miaflyer2376the SS provided the slave labour, where it came from wasn’t his concern. Like buying many Chinese goods today, lots of it comes from slave labour in Xinjang but how much do you care to find out about it, you’d rather buy the cheap product, live your life and not think about it. That’s the same as it was in Nazi Germany.

Dr. Felton’s perfect pronunciation of all things German deserves it’s own entire KZread channel

Thank you Dr Felton

Interesting as always, when reading speer's biography he claimed to hate visiting the Obersalzberg, imagine my surprise to find he had a house there, never mentend that in his book, like a lot other things he was responsible for. Interesting how selective his memory became after the war..

I read his book, "Inside the Third Reich" and found it to be very interesting but I had a difficult time passing judgement on the man. It's not easy to ask oneself what we might do if we were in another's situation. And I had to admit that I would very likely have done very much the same as he did. I don't think the man was evil, but like most of us he did the best he could for himself and his family. His career was the most important thing to him and he did what he could to advance it.

@33rdusa

6 ай бұрын

I agree.

@goldenfiberwheat238

6 ай бұрын

Don’t fall for his lies

@craigaust3306

6 ай бұрын

Huh? What about the slave labor?

@canuck_gamer3359

6 ай бұрын

Did you also read the book? @@33rdusa

@canuck_gamer3359

6 ай бұрын

I think he must have known that forced labor was being used because that would have been a critical contributing factor to the quality of the items being manufactured. I think he ignored it, perhaps out of a sense of pragmatism. There wasn't anything he could do about it anyway, so he just carried on as best he could. Please don't mistake my position, I am NOT defending the man and certainly not defending the Nazi's. I just tried to take a long, honest look at his position and asked myself what I might have done in his place. It's not an easy or pleasant thing to do, but I think it's worth doing.@@craigaust3306

Thank you for all the great documentaries! They are very well researched and well done. I have learned quite a bit!

One of Speers greatest spots of grief was a prewar outdoor NSDAP festival, hand constructed and meant for all high dignitaries and wives to attend. Gloss black paint was ordered to finish the seating areas as well as any other national eagle decorations that adorned the surrounding grounds of the venue. After painting all furnishings rain set in and the moisture kept the gloss paint from drying. They could not cancel the function so decided to give it a go. Hundreds who sat in the large venue ruined their clothes as they quickly stuck to the gooey benches.

@antoniustheiler1494

6 ай бұрын

Einmalig Danke jetzt verstehe ich warum die Braunen nach dem Krieg Schwarz waren. Danke

Fascinating as ever, thank you. ✌️ 😎

Keep them coming Mark, you are an absolute legend!

Speer was an amazing architect and had amazing plans for berlin. As far as I know, he also built an amazing scale model of the new berlin that never got built

I remember Speer's tours of the TV studios as he attempted to rewrite his history - years later standing in the underground hospital in the Channel Islands looking at the "Todt" wristbands knowing that Speer sent many people to their deaths there and throughout Europe. Never understood how he escaped justice - thanks for the Video which revealed his lies were found out !

6:04 The US armed forces named this the Hotel General Walker and I enjoyed a ski trip there with my unit in 1987! There were some ghosts in the huge building! At that time there were also the old guard quarters & buildings etc all around the area. Coincidentally, I was stationed in Mannheim, and I never realized Albert Speer was from that city, and, of course, Heidelberg is just a couple miles away from Mannheim.

Another great video, now I have to go and visit those locations! Thank you Dr Felton!

Bormann did as much as he could to limit Speer's access to Hitler. Hitler's affection toward Speer infuriated Bormann, and like everybody else, Speer hated Bormann!

@sc1338

6 ай бұрын

That’s interesting. I almost feel like hitler viewed Speer as a son or close to it.

@StalinTheMan0fSteel

6 ай бұрын

@@sc1338 I think he saw Speer as a fellow artist, and of course Speer was entire servile to Hitler, a prerequisite.

Speer's book summary -"I didn't know or do nothing"... Its hard to believe his claim to innocence. It's also equally hard to believe he could've deceived Allied expert investigators & prosecutors. This man was protected by the Allies post war. The real question is why? What could've Speer given the Allies in exchange for his life?

@ObsydianShade

6 ай бұрын

I can actually answer that fairly easily. He spent much of the time before his trial being interviewed by various figures within the USAAF. They were interested in how Germany had managed to hold out so long against the Allied strategic bombing campaign, and Speer was the individual best placed to describe how things like armaments production had continued, despite round the clock bombing of Germany's factories. Reading between the lines, it's probable the USAAF considered this information vital, in case they had do the same thing against the USSR at some point. It's widely believed that in return for a lot of highly detailed information of this sort, Speer was allowed to avoid the death penalty as part of a deal. He may have had lots of other information to bargain with as well.

@irasanders9207

6 ай бұрын

As did so many of the high command of the German armed forces who traded on their experience in fighting on the eastern front against the Soviet Army. In so doing they evaded the appropriate punishment for their participation in horrific war crimes. @@ObsydianShade

More excellent educational information! Cheers, Mark!

Thank you Mr Felton, regards from Chile

Albert Speer's memoirs was the very first autobiography by one of the Third Reich bigwigs I ever read. Although not particularly candid and truthful, it got me hooked for life.

@Gnomosfortheoffice

6 ай бұрын

I’m reading it right now and I’m absolutely hooked.

@henridelagardere264

6 ай бұрын

@@Gnomosfortheoffice The book with the hook

@TheDemonicPenguin

6 ай бұрын

@@Gnomosfortheoffice Read Gitta Sereny's "Albert Speer: His Battle With Truth" as an accompaniment after. And maybe one of the other recent biographies.

@Gnomosfortheoffice

6 ай бұрын

@@TheDemonicPenguin I’ll look into that one, thanks!

@ande100

6 ай бұрын

Same here. It was one of the books that I read when visiting my grandparents. I still have it.

Yet another very entertaining and informative video, how Speer was not given the death penalty always amazes me, where did he think the slave labourers came from ?

@MightyMezzo

6 ай бұрын

Soviet judges wanted him executed.

@ObsydianShade

6 ай бұрын

He cooperated with the Western Allies, particularly the Americans who were interested in how Germany resisted their strategic bombing campaign so long, and it's thought that in return for that cooperation, he was able to avoid the death penalty.

@ManGrieves

6 ай бұрын

It’s wartime? The SS supplied the labour, it wasn’t really his concern where it came from. He’s working round the clock trying to keep the war machine running. Hitler tried to ensure all parts of his regime were completely seperate and cut off from one another so the better it is to manipulate and control. It’s not that far fetched to believe he didn’t know the full scope of what was going on as many didn’t.

Interesting note - Speer was not the architect of his own atelier, which was instead designed by Munich based architect Roderick Fich, who designed many of the other buildings at the Obersalzberg, including the Gutshof, Platterhof, guard houses, SS Kaserne, and Borman’s greenhouses for der Fuhrer. Speer had become far too busy with grander schemes and war supply concerns to spend his time on small chalets

Another great video, thank you Mark.

Hello Mark. Thank you for the interesting and highly educational video's in which you expose the past. I must say I'm amazed at the rate you turn out these documentary's. Also having 28K views in only 2 hours is quite the achievement. Guess I'm not the only history buff. Thanks again for all the great work and keep them coming.

Thanks a massive bunch for this wonderful resource of interesting WW2 history clips you're sharing with us on your channel. A tiny suggestion regarding the pronounciation of 'Troost' at 1:22, the 'oo' sound is pronounced 'o' as in 'studio' but a tad deeper. 🙂Keep up the fantastic work, and thanks again Mark!

I've been learning about WW2 for years and this channel is very informative. Thanks for your knowledge Mr. Felton.

Super intresting video again. Thank you!!

As with all historical events, one wonders what present day situations would be like if these events culminated differently? Perhaps this is one of the fascinations in studying history. However, war is horrid no matter the outcomes.

Speer’s was the first and only German book I read on ww2. It was very interesting and caused me to see the war in a slightly different light. Always been interested in him. His behavior at the nuremberg trials, at least, as he described it was particularly noble.

@nielszindel1151

6 ай бұрын

these guys can never be noble. My family was personally affected by this terror regime and my in laws. Speers was spoilt after the war by the west and an impression given that he was more respectable, he was just another Nazi.. Delia Morris

I wish I had these videos handy when I lived in Germany (2013 - 2015). My father fought in WWII as part of the all Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment (attached to the US 7th Army). He was in Germany when the war ended. I tried to retrace his travel through Germany but there isn’t a lot of information that I could find and he never spoke about the war. Thank you so much for all that you do.

Love your vids Mark! Thanks! 😎👍

All my friends were Nazis, I was a member of the Nazi party, I was always surrounded by Nazis, I liked being a Nazi when everything was going well, I built Nazi buildings and they paid me well. I ran the whole Nazi economy with slave labour but little thought for right or wrong. Was I a Nazi? Of course not. I was an architect.

@michaela7759

6 ай бұрын

Strongly disagree. Many in Nazi germany were opportunists, careerists, socialclimbers, ambitious sociopaths... but not necessarily true believers.

@zingwilder9989

6 ай бұрын

Yes. That just about wraps it up. He was an "artist" but the rest were nothing but vicious barbarians.

@yereverluvinuncleber

6 ай бұрын

@@michaela7759 If it looks like a Nazi, smells like a Nazi, acts like a Nazi,works for the Nazis and wears a Nazi badge then it is probably a Nazi.

@dvhughesdesign

6 ай бұрын

Indeed. How Speer avoided a hangman's noose is baffling and a miscarriage of justice.

@TheDemonicPenguin

6 ай бұрын

@@dvhughesdesign Part of it was the Americans and British wanted to let someone off lightly so Nuremberg was less likely to be seen as a Kangaroo Court. The Soviets obviously wanted to string up him though.

Another great video, but it stuns me that Speer didn't get a death sentence from the trials. I think he said what he needed to save his skin.