Fine studio portrait of Albert Speer, 1933.  "First Architect" of the Third Reich from 1934, Speer played a major role in establishing the National Socialist version of the neoclassical/modernist style in architecture, and in realising major public propaganda events in the prewar period.  Later, as Armaments Minister, he masterminded a huge effort to maintain German war production in the teeth of mounting wartime difficulties.  The manner in which he did this (including his somewhat contradictory relationship with the encroaching economic power of the SS) remains controversial.  Best regards, JR.

Albert Speer.

29 October, 1937 - the Fuhrer visits Dr Goebbels at his office in the Propaganda Ministry to congratulate the Minister on his birthday. 
Standing to the right, in SS uniform, is State Secretary (Deputy Minister) Karl Hanke.  Hanke went on to act as a support (possibly lover) to his good friend Magda Goebbels in the 1938 Goebbels marital crisis (resulting from Goebbels indulging in a more serious than usually serious extramarital affair with Czech actress Lida Baarová).  

Dr Goebbels seems to have thought no less of him for that; Hanke went on to serve in the 7th Panzer Division under another Goebbels protegé, Erwin Rommel.  Following a bitter disagreement with Rommel in respect of Rommel's command style in the French campaign (for reasons with which many of Rommel's military peers would have sympathised), Hanke left the Heer, but went on to serve as Gauleiter of Lower Silesia.  

As a result of his organisation of the steadfast (if futile) defence of "Fortress Breslau" against the Soviets in 1945, Hanke became a member of the German Order (one of the very few to enjoy the distinction of the "Dead Heroes Order" while actually alive).  His final promotion was to the exalted rank of Reichsfuhrer-SS (the fifth, and last, SS "Fuhrer") in succession to the disgraced Himmler in the dying days of the Reich.  

It is not clear whether he had been informed of this promotion when he was killed, attempting to escape, by a Czech PoW camp guard.  An interesting career, without a doubt.  Best regards, JR.

Happy Birthday !

Very little of Speer's architectural work survives today, except in photographs and drawings.  This is the "Marble Gallery" of the New Reich Chancellary, a hall designed to impress visitors in much the same way as the "long galleries" of royal and noble houses in the early modern period - only more so.  Best regards, JR.