After the seizure of power by the National Socialists in 1933 and the subsequent dissolution of the "Zentrumspartei", Lübke was accused of misappropriating public funds and imprisoned; after 20 months in prison he was released, when no evidence could be produced to back up the politically motivated charges. It was not until 1937 that he was able to get a senior position with a building society (German: "Wohnungsbaugesellschaft"). In 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II, he moved to a company of building engineers managed by the architect Walter Schlempp. Here he came to the notice of Albert Speer and was given responsibility for major building projects, some of which were under the aegis of the Armaments Ministry run by Speer. One of these was the extension of the 'Army Research Center Peenemünde' ("Heeresversuchsanstalt Peenemünde" in German, abbreviated HVP) and the 'Air Force Test Centre' ("Erprobungsstelle der Luftwaffe" in German), Peenemünde-West.