Albert Speer (The German Century)

Albert Speer (19 March 1905-1 September 1981) was Chancellor of Germany from 1965 to his death in 1981. Before becoming Chancellor, his architectural skills made him increasingly prominent within German politics and he became a member of Hitler's inner circle. Hitler instructed him to design and construct structures including the Reich Chancellery and the Zeppelinfeld stadium in Nuremberg where Party rallies were held. Speer also made plans to reconstruct Berlin on a grand scale, with huge buildings, wide boulevards, and a reorganized transportation system. Speer was honored with the Order of the Black Eagle by Emperor Louis Ferdinand in 1955 for his architectural skills and his work in constructing materials for war during the Second World War.