Hitler architect’s son redraws Beijing

The Times ^ | 8/12/2007 | Nicola Smith and Flora Bagenal

[SolidWood]

Olympics Berlin 1936 all over again.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

While I don’t think the son should pay for the sins of the father, this is somehow chilling. In my view there is little difference between communist totalitarians and fascist totalitarians. What’s that they say about history repeating itself?

[Darkwolf377]

Hillary Clinton’s wondering if he doesn’t interiors—say, oval offices.

[DB]

That is too odd to be by accident.

What a strange world we live in...

The world really seems to be calling up the demons of the past. Preparing for another major blood letting...

[bruinbirdman]

Der Spiegel 1/27/06

Albert Speer Jr. to Build "Detroit of the East" in China

With its plans to build a city neighborhood dedicated to the car industry Changchun, China is taking another ambitious step toward becoming a key player in the global automotive industry. And the son of Hitler's architect is lending his services. It's no secret that China is diving headfirst into the automobile industry. This week though, Chinese officials decided on an architectural firm to build their very own Motor City. And they have selected the son of Hitler's architect -- and his firm called Albert Speer & Partners -- to do it. Albert Speer Jr. confirmed this week that his firm....

yitbos

[SolidWood]

It’s hardly a coincidence.

70 years ago...

Albert Speer Sr. creates bombastic architecture for an totalitarian’s Olypmics.

70 years later...

Albert Speer Jr. creates bombastic architecture for totalitarian’s Olympics.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

His grandfather, Albert Speer’s father, was a very successful architect. Speer, who came of age during the depression, not so much. Speer was an early Nazi and caught Hitler’s eye, as a fulfillment of his fustrated fantasies. The Nazi party gave Speer work and he gave them an air of respectability with his academic and professional credentials.

Grandpa Speer’s comment on seeing his son and Hitler’s plans for Berlin was, “You people must be crazy.” On being introduced to Hitler after a performance of the opera, the elder Speer became visibily ill, trembling and unable to speak.

A problem for China is that there are no grandfather Speers, who remember a civilized earlier history of their country.

[Thrownatbirth]

To soften the image, the building that looks like the Reichstag is actually a 1,000-stall public bathroom.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

This Speer shouldn't be blamed because of his father.

In Germany, traditionally children follow the line of work of their parents.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Asia pinglist ping.

[gridlock]

There are many stories about how although this fellow is Hitler’s architect’s son, and although he is also obliterating huge swaths of a country’s capital in order to build a facist vision for the ascendancy of a new superpower, he is in fact very different from his father and the relationship is a mere coincidence, and the relationship to Hitler’s 1936 Berlin Olympics is meaningless.

Isn’t the far more obvious explaination that he is very much like his father, and the Chinese want exactly the same thing for exactly the same reason, and that is why they hired him?

[arderkrag]

OH NO NOT THAT

Seriously, nothing to worry about here, unless someone goes into meltdown mode because of "OMG NAZIS".

[muawiyah]

This has something to do with probability, quantum mechanics, and the ability to market one's self successfully.

That may well be hereditary ~ Nancy Sinatra (for a while), Liza Minnelli (for a while), Denise Crosby (for a while), Lisa Marie Presley (for a while), and who can ever forget Hank Williams Jr. (for a long while).

[muawiyah]

Ah, yes, and there are, after all, only so many totalitarian dictatorships around with a capital city to redesign.

We must add this one to our portfolio of astute aphorisms.

[amchugh]

Great, this is pre-Godwinned.

Fascists always make for dramatic architecture. Not always pretty, but imposing.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.

Thanks to Cindy for sending me a ping on this article.

[jboot]

Fascists always make for dramatic architecture

If it survives the wars they start, that is. For me, the issue is a non-starter. There is no such thing as "evil" architecture. You could build an exact replica of Speer's Reichstag building and then run the most benevolent democracy in the world from it (assuming you could find enough workspace inside-that building was not efficient in any sense). Bricks and mortar do not have the power to warp souls.

Personally I like grand architecture, no matter the peccadilloes of the builder. Is anything more stimulating that Rome, or the Acropolis at Athens?

[Tainan]

I think you may be closer to the truth with your comment. Historical coincidence is a tricky game to play.

An aside: 20 or so years ago I lived in a very cosmopolitan city with a great many authentic ethnic restaurants. I became a regular customer of a small and excellent Hungarian place. The Lady who owned and ran it was a delight to know and over a 3 year or so period I became somewhat acquainted with her and her husband. He was a very elegant mannered gentleman. European and vaguely Germanic or Austrian. Extremely well educated. After a time, and over many dinners and drinks our conversation turned to history and he let it out that his profession, he was retired, was architecture. More specifically urban transportation and public building architecture. And yes, he was German, and yes, he had been one of of Speers staff during WWII. As he told it, and I later found enough to believe him, he was one of the people who worked in Turkey during the German time there.
He and his wife were most fascinating people and their place was a fantastic place to eat.
And yes, we did discuss a great number of aspects related to WWII and how it was conducted. He was not a member of the Nazi party. He was a friend of Speers from university and was brought in for his talent. I'm fortunate to have made his, and his wifes, acquaintance.

[Teacher317]

My Lord, the son of Hitler’s milkman is probably out there distributing beverages!!! We’re all gonna die!!!!