Reenactment of Sophie Scholl throwing Leaflets at the University of Munich, 2005. photograph. A World to Win
"They took a stand by following through on their newfound awareness of the evils of Nazism - and that awareness into action."
from interview with Dr. Jud Newborn
The Core Members of the White Rose, 1935. photograph. The History Notes
Core members of The White Rose: from left, Alexander Schmorell, Christoph Probst, Hans Scholl, Willi Graf, Kurt Huber, and Sophie Scholl
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In 1942, University of Munich students, Sophie Scholl, Hans Scholl, Christoph Probst, Willi Graf, Kurt Huber, and Alexander Schmorell formed an anti-Hitler resistance group called the White Rose. They chose the White Rose because it symbolizes innocence and purity. Beyond the core members there were others who participated in this group. The members took a stand against Hitler by writing 6 different anti-Hitler leaflets and printing thousands of them. Working day and night, the White Rose distributed the leaflets throughout Germany specifically in Munich and Hamburg. The White Rose painted slogans on walls over Munich protesting, “Down with Hitler!”, “Hitler the Mass Murderer!” and “Freedom!”. These actions were pronounced illegal in Germany. If word got out about the resisters, they could receive harsh punishment including death. Despite this, the White Rose continued to speak openly about their anti-Hitler beliefs and ideas. The White Rose worked to take a stand against Hitler and risked their lives in protest.
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz, 2005. photograph. The History Notes
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The White Rose Members reenactment of printing and creating leaflets, 1942, Youtube
"How can we expect fate to let a righteous cause prevail when there is hardly anyone who will give himself up undivided to a righteous cause?"
- Sophie Scholl (core White Rose member) Q: Was them resisting important?
A: "Of course! They had to resist under conditions where most of the population was pro-Hitler – eager to turn in anyone suspect – or simply compliant or apathetic. They are great heroes in Germany today – perhaps the greatest – because they dared speak out to their own people and risk their lives when others remained silent or hostile." ~Interview with Dr. Jud Newborn, White Rose Expert |
Assistance
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Eugen Grimminger helped the White Rose through paying for necessities (stamps etc.). In 1922, Eugen Grimminger married a Jewish women, Jenny Stern, inspiring him to support the movement. Josef Soehngen's book store was the gathering place of the White Rose where they could send messages. and print leaflets. He later served a five year sentence for helping the White Rose.
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Eugen and Jenny Grimminger, 1932. photograph. Weisse Rose Crailsheim
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The Leaflets of the White Rose
The Printing Press Used to Create the Leaflets, 1942. photograph. Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team
"We will not be silent. We are your bad conscience. The White Rose will not leave you in peace!"
~excerpt from the fourth leaflet
~excerpt from the fourth leaflet
The White Rose leaflets were a significant part of their stance. They were written resistance against the Hitler regime and brought news of the real Nazi crimes while also urging the readers to resist and fight against Hitler and the Nazi party.
The Six Leaflets
"Only a few recognized the threat of ruin, and the reward for their heroic warning was death."
~Excerpt from the first leaflet
~Excerpt from the first leaflet
The Seventh Unpublished Leaflet
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Before he was arrested, Christoph Probst wrote the seventh leaflet speaking to the German citizens, "today Germany is as encircled as Stalingrad was. Will all Germans be sacrificed to the harbinger of hate and destruction?" (Mueller). When Hans and Sophie were arrested, Hans tried to rip up the leaflet, but failed and the Nazis detected Christoph's handwriting and prosecuted him along with the other White Rose members.
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Christoph Probst with His Child, 1941. photograph. Sophie Scholl and the White Rose
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Graffiti Campaign of The White Rose
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The White Rose, known for their anti-Nazi leaflets, also bravely painted messages of resistance on the University of Munich walls including; "Down with Hitler!”, “Hitler the Mass Murderer!” and “Freedom!”. |
Drawing of Munich, 1650. photograph. Merian
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A Different Opinion
Hitler had a large support system including people who sent him appreciation mail with some marching and protesting against resisters. Hitler was named Time Magazine's Man of the Year in 1938.
“Fazit,” which was translated as “Account Rendered” in 1964, is the memoir of a woman who, as a fifteen-year-old and against her family’s wishes, joined the Hitler Youth. Before and during the Second World War, Maschmann worked in the high echelons of press and propaganda of the Bund Deutscher Mädel, the girls’ section of the Nazi youth organization, and, later, she supervised the eviction of Polish farmers and the resettlement of ethnic Germans on their farms. Arrested in 1945 at the age of twenty-seven, she completed a mandatory de-Nazification course and became a freelance journalist."
~I was a Nazi and Here's Why: The New Yorker
“Fazit,” which was translated as “Account Rendered” in 1964, is the memoir of a woman who, as a fifteen-year-old and against her family’s wishes, joined the Hitler Youth. Before and during the Second World War, Maschmann worked in the high echelons of press and propaganda of the Bund Deutscher Mädel, the girls’ section of the Nazi youth organization, and, later, she supervised the eviction of Polish farmers and the resettlement of ethnic Germans on their farms. Arrested in 1945 at the age of twenty-seven, she completed a mandatory de-Nazification course and became a freelance journalist."
~I was a Nazi and Here's Why: The New Yorker
"Hitler became in 1938 the greatest threatening force that the democratic, freedom-loving world faces today" |
Marching in Support of Hitler, 1941, Youtube
Hitler named Man of the Year by TIME Magazine, 1938. photograph. TIME
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SPIRITS:
Though he who has boldly risen from the abyss
Through an iron will and cunning
May conquer half the world,
Yet to the abyss he must return.
Already a terrible fear has seized him;
In vain he will resist!
And all who still stand with him
Must perish in his fall.
HOPE:
Now I find my good men
Are gathered in the night,
To wait in silence, not to sleep.
And the glorious word of liberty
They whisper and murmur,
Till in unaccustomed strangeness,
On the steps of our temple
Once again in delight they cry:
Freedom! Freedom!
~Excerpt from the end of the first leaflet
Though he who has boldly risen from the abyss
Through an iron will and cunning
May conquer half the world,
Yet to the abyss he must return.
Already a terrible fear has seized him;
In vain he will resist!
And all who still stand with him
Must perish in his fall.
HOPE:
Now I find my good men
Are gathered in the night,
To wait in silence, not to sleep.
And the glorious word of liberty
They whisper and murmur,
Till in unaccustomed strangeness,
On the steps of our temple
Once again in delight they cry:
Freedom! Freedom!
~Excerpt from the end of the first leaflet