ALBERT SPEER
The Nazi general signs a typescript of the United States' Declaration of War on Germany.
Typescript signed: "Albert Speer", 1 p, 8½x11. Text of the United States' Declaration of War on Germany, December 11, 1941. An architect, Speer (1905-1981) was appointed Inspector-General of the Reich by Hitler in 1937. He was responsible for rebuilding Berlin and other German cities in the neo-classical, monumental style Hitler favored. Speer was Reich Minister for Armaments and War Production from 1942-1945, virtually controlling all German production during the later stages of the war. Remarkably, he increased German output of most types of war material, even while the Third Reich was shrinking and subject to intense air bombardment. He did so, however, with increasing reliance on forced labor. At Nuremberg, Speer was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but it was noted that "in the closing stages of the war he was one of the few men who had the courage to tell Hitler that the war was lost and to take steps to prevent the senseless destruction of production facilities." He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment (the Soviets wanted to hang him) and was released in 1966. He died during a visit to London. Speer's memoirs portray a man beguiled by Hitler but largely unaware of the enormity of Nazi crimes against humanity. Noting his intimacy with Hitler, and relying on other evidence, most historians attribute to Speer a much greater degree of guilt. Vertical and horizontal folds, not at signature. Stray ink mark at lower edge. Otherwise, fine condition.