Albert Speer Escaping the Gallows: Secret Conversations with Hitler's Top Nazi [Hardcover]

At the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, Albert Speer, Hitlers one-time number two, persuaded the judges that he knew nothing of the Holocaust and related atrocities. Narrowly escaping execution, he was sentenced to twenty years in Spandau Prison, Berlin.In 1961, the newly commissioned author, as the British Army Spandau Guard Commander, was befriended by Speer, who taught him German. Adrian Greaves record of his conversations with Speer over a three year period make for fascinating reading. While the top Nazi admitted to Greaves his secret part in war crimes, after his 1966 release he determinedly denied any wrongdoing and became an intriguing and popular figure at home and abroad. Following Speers death in 1981 evidence emerged of his complicity in Hitlers and the Nazis atrocities.In this uniquely revealing book the author skilfully blends his own personal experiences and relationship with Speer with a succinct history of the Nazi movement and the horrors of the 1930s and 1940s. In so doing new light is thrown on the character of one of the 20th centurys most notorious characters.A unique combination of a young British officers memoir and history of the top Nazi hierarchy.The author had highly unusual access to Albert Speer in Spandau Prison, West Berlin and was befriended by Speer.Fascinating insight into the character and mindset of the most notorious senior surviving Nazi.Written by established author and retired senior police officer.GB