On October 6, 1943, SS-Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler, Nazi Party officials, and Gauleiters attended a conference in Posen, Eastern Germany (now Poznan, Poland). Himmler spelled out clearly to his audience the mass-murder of the Jews, its implications for everyone present, and its long-term significance for Germany.

Reichminister Albert Speer was present at this conference. He had addressed this conference in the morning, while Himmler spoke in the afternoon, including a reference in his speech to Speer as “not one of the pro-Jewish obstructionists of the Final Solution.” Some historians have held that Speer had listened to Himmler’s speech, which of course would have meant that he did indeed know about the Final Solution - something that he had always denied. Further research however showed that Speer had in fact left the conference at midday - before Himmler spoke - to call in on Adolf Hitler at his headquarters. Nonetheless Historians feel that it is inconceivable in the context of the conference minutes that nobody discussed the gist of Himmler’s speech with Speer.

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.