Posen Conference
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The Posen Conference was a meeting attended by SS-Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler, Nazi Party officials and Gauleiters on October 6, 1943 in Posen, Eastern Germany (now Poznań, Poland). Himmler clearly explained in the final speech of the day the nature of the Final Solution, its implications for those present, and its long-term significance for Germany. Reichminister Albert Speer was present at this conference, and had addressed the audience on the German armaments industry that morning.
[edit] Controversy
The text of Himmler's speech was discovered in the Federal German archives by historian Erich Goldhagen, and became the basis of his argument that Speer was present during Himmler’s speech <ref name="Goldhagen">van der Vat, Dan (1997). The Good Nazi : The Life and Lies of Albert Speer. Houghton Mifflin, 168. 039565243X.</ref>. This would mean that Speer was aware of the Final Solution, an accusation that he had always denied. Speer later argued that he had in fact left the conference at midday - before Himmler spoke - to meet Adolf Hitler at his headquarters. Nonetheless, most historians feel that even if Speer had not attended the speech, he would have been made aware of its content by his good friends that had been there, such as the Gauleiters Karl Hanke and Baldur von Schirach.
By holding this conference, Himmler wanted to 'motivate' his audience by ensuring that they would not be able to plead ignorance of the Final Solution following a Nazi defeat. This was in line with the total war doctrine espoused earlier by Dr. Joseph Goebbels.
[edit] References
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