By mid-March, Speer had accepted that Germany's economy would collapse within the next eight weeks. While he sought to frustrate directives to destroy industrial facilities in areas at risk of capture, so that they could be used after the war, he still supported the war's continuation. Speer provided Hitler with a memorandum on 15 March, which detailed Germany's dire economic situation and sought approval to cease demolitions of infrastructure. Three days later, he also proposed to Hitler that Germany's remaining military resources be concentrated along the Rhine and Vistula rivers in an attempt to prolong the fighting. This ignored military realities, as the German armed forces were unable to match the Allies' firepower and were facing total defeat. Hitler rejected Speer's proposal to cease demolitions. Instead, he issued the "Nero Decree" on 19 March, which called for the destruction of all infrastructure as the army retreated. Speer was appalled by this order, and persuaded several key military and political leaders to ignore it. During a meeting with Speer on 28/29 March, Hitler rescinded the decree and gave him authority over demolitions. Speer ended them, though the army continued to blow up bridges.
By mid-March Speer had accepted that Germany's economy would collapse within the next eight weeks While he sought to frustrate directives to destroy industrial facilities in areas at risk of capture so that they could be used after the war he still supported the war's continuation Speer provided Hitler with a memorandum on 15 March which detailed Germany's dire economic situation and sought approval to cease demolitions of infrastructure Three days later he also proposed to Hitler that Germany's remaining military resources be concentrated along the Rhine and Vistula rivers in an attempt to prolong the fighting This ignored military realities as the German armed forces were unable to match the Allies' firepower and were facing total defeat Hitler rejected Speer's proposal to cease demolitions Instead he issued the "Nero Decree" on 19 March which called for the destruction of all infrastructure as the army retreated Speer was appalled by this order and persuaded several key military and political leaders to ignore it During a meeting with Speer on 28/29 March Hitler rescinded the decree and gave him authority over demolitions Speer ended them though the army continued to blow up bridges