Hans J. Reichhardt and Wolfgang Schäche. Von Berlin nach Germania: Über die Zerstörungen der 'Reichshauptstadt' durch Albert Speers Neugestaltungsplanungen. Berlin: Transit, 2005. In: The Germanic Review Spring (2006) (original) (raw)

This study provides a critical examination of Albert Speer's urban redesign plans for Berlin during the Nazi regime, arguing that extensive destruction linked to Allied bombing was, in fact, largely a result of Speer's systematic clearing for Hitler's envisioned capital. It highlights how this architectural transformation facilitated racial, historical, and economic goals, revealing a complex interplay of grand architectural vision and a grim reality that included the eradication of Jewish communities. By analyzing Speer's designs, set against historical contexts and previous architectural paradigms, the paper offers insights into the ideological underpinnings of Nazi monumentalism and its socio-political implications.