The New German Reichschancellery in Berlin, 1938-1945

Book excerpt: This book carefully examines the New German Reichschancellery Professor Albert Speer designed and built in Berlin, like no ther book on the subject. With hundreds of crisp, full-color and black & white photographs and maps, ?Reichschancellery? shows readers this amazing German building during each phase of its construction and existence. Architect Albert Speer?s opportunity to design and build the New German Reichschancellery in 1938 was the professional commission of a lifetime. A huge park-like setting along the south side of an entire city block in the government quarter of Berlin was made available, and Speer was given a ?blank check? and instructed to create an ?impressive? structure. The results of his efforts were stunning. In just under one year he managed to remove all the old buildings from the site, bury a huge new bunker system and erect a magnificent State Chancellery that dwarfed similar government buildings in the capitals of other countries throughout Europe.No corners were cut and no simple construction techniques were hidden from view by decorative facades. The New Reichschancellery was very solidly built to the highest standards of German construction tradition, and clad in the finest quarried stone inside and out. Ceilings and walls were paneled in rare woods by German craftsmen while reknowned German sculptures, tapestries, hand knotted rugs and paintings were installed in rooms, hallways, galleries and even in stairwells. Hitler?s magnificent 4,200 square foot office was entered through the center door of five along one side of a single room measuring nearly 400 feet in length! Seventy-six months after Speer completed the New Reichschancellery, the Second World War in Europe was over. Speer?s magnificent building was badly damaged, but when compared to other lower quality and less historic structures in Berlin that were rebuilt, it was certainly ?rebuildable?. Almost at once however, with the acquiescence of the other Allies and in an almost unparalleled act of premeditated international vandalism, the Soviet occupiers of Berlin began the methodical destruction of every remnant of Hitler?s New Reichschancellery.