Fritz Todt

German engineer and senior Nazi figure (1891-1942) · Germany · Scientists · Died at 50

Fritz Todt is read about 630 times a day, in 45 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 7 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 382 days, one point a day.

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He built the autobahns and the Atlantic Wall, ran the Nazi wartime economy, and founded the forced-labor machine that enslaved 800,000 people. An engineer who rose through Hitler's ranks, his organization worked hand-in-glove with the SS to murder laborers - especially Jews - as policy.

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A life in dates

1942Died8 February 1942German OrderAward1941Karmarsch MedalAwardOrder of the DannebrogAward1940Nazi Party Long Service AwardAward1939Danzig Cross 1st ClassAwardKnight grand cross of the order of the crown of ItalyAward1938“The external appearance of any construction projects that are created during the time of the National Socialist Reich must take on the sensibility of our time.”In their wordsMay 1938Quoted in "Deutsche Technik", May 1938, p. 209.Read the whole statement

Order of St. SavaAward1937Werner von Siemens RingAward1935“For decades engineers have stood accused that their buildings do not have any cultural value. We have attempted to liberate engineering of this accusation.”In their wordsJune 1935Quoted in "Deutsche Technik", June 1935, p. 270.Read the whole statement

1934“We do not build speedways, but roads which correspond to the character of the German landscape.”In their wordsQuoted in "Vortrag in der Leipzig-Hochschule am 6.2.1934" in Die Autobahn, 4/1934, p. 125.Read the whole statement

Golden Party BadgeAward1891Born4 September 1891

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1969-146-01, Fritz Todt

R32V50 Gliederung Wehrm. 1939-1945

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R27373, Reichsautobahn, Adolf Hitler beim 1. Spatenstich, bei Frankfurt (cropped)

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R27373, Reichsautobahn, Adolf Hitler beim 1. Spatenstich, bei Frankfurt

Tatra T77 engine and Hitler

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H04560, Österreich, Reichsautobahn, Adolf Hitler, Spatenstich

Bundesarchiv Bild 101II-MW-5675-24, Übung zum Unternehmen "Seelöwe"

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-B01715, Ausstellung "Planung und Aufbau im Osten"

In their own words 7

Fritz Todt

7 statements, newest first

The external appearance of any construction projects that are created during the time of the National Socialist Reich must take on the sensibility of our time.
May 1938, Quoted in "Deutsche Technik", May 1938, p. 209., Own words
For decades engineers have stood accused that their buildings do not have any cultural value. We have attempted to liberate engineering of this accusation.
Jun 1935, Quoted in "Deutsche Technik", June 1935, p. 270., Own words
We do not build speedways, but roads which correspond to the character of the German landscape.
1934, Quoted in "Vortrag in der Leipzig-Hochschule am 6.2.1934" in Die Autobahn, 4/1934, p. 125., Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

German Order1942

Karmarsch Medal1941

Order of the Dannebrog1941

Nazi Party Long Service Award1940

Knight grand cross of the order of the crown of Italy1939

Danzig Cross 1st Class1939

Order of St. Sava1938

Werner von Siemens Ring1937

Golden Party Badge1934

Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918

Sudetenland Medal

West Wall Medal

Anschluss Medal

House Order of Hohenzollern

Iron Cross

Order of the Zähringer Lion

Military Merit Order (Bavaria)

Order of Saint Alexander

Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania

About this person

Todt was a construction engineer who flew for Germany in World War I and earned the Iron Cross. He joined the Nazi Party in 1922, the SA in 1931, and climbed steadily as Hitler took power. Named Inspector General for German Roadways, he oversaw the autobahn system, then directed the Westwall and Atlantic Wall fortifications. In 1938 he founded Organization Todt, which funneled forced labor to German industry; in 1940 he became Reich Minister for Armaments and War Production, controlling the entire military economy. OT employed upwards of 800,000 slave laborers from occupied territories, and SS personnel working with the organization murdered many - particularly Jews - under cover of security or as part of the genocide. He died in a plane crash near Wilhelmsdorf in February 1942, en route from Rastenburg to Berlin. Albert Speer took over both posts.

Country

Germany