Who succeeded Hjalmar Schacht and shifted focus to rapid military preparation?

The individual who succeeded Hjalmar Schacht and shifted focus to rapid military preparation was Hermann Goering. In the late 1930s, as part of the Nazi regime's economic and military strategy, Goering was appointed to oversee the Four Year Plan, which aimed to prepare Germany for war within a four-year period. This plan emphasized building up the armaments industry and achieving autarky, or economic independence, to support Germany's military ambitions. Goering's leadership in this role was crucial for the rearmament of Germany leading up to World War II.

The other figures mentioned were significant within the Nazi regime but played different roles. Adolf Hitler, as the chancellor and Führer, directed overall policy but did not focus specifically on rapid military preparation in the same administrative capacity as Goering. Heinrich Himmler was primarily involved with the SS and internal security rather than economic or military planning, and Joseph Goebbels focused on propaganda. Thus, Hermann Goering's specific appointment and goals under the Four Year Plan clearly align him with the shift towards rapid military preparation following Schacht's tenure.