During the years of the Third Reich, criticism of the Nazi Party or Adolf Hitler was strictly forbidden. To criticize the Reich, was to commit treason against the German “race.” Authoritarian regimes must control speech and information in order to control their artificial narratives of reality- thus maintaining total control over their citizens. Words, philosophies, and ideas are often regulated just as firearms; and in the Third Reich words were viewed just as dangerously as firearms. People who had worries or concerns about the government authorities or conduct of the war were forced to speak quietly behind closed doors. Even amongst friends, those loyal to the Nazi regime would inform the Gestapo of their friends’ or colleagues’ inappropriate opinions. Anyone who published information for mass distribution that criticized the regime were truly risking their lives, as treasonous words were punishable by death.
At the University of Munich, a small group of students networked with local resistance activists in order to print leaflets and make graffiti to challenge the regime’s narrative in the minds of other free thinking people. In the minds of many Germans the defeat at the battle of Stalingrad brought doubt about the direction of the war and the goals of the Nazi leadership. Three founding members of the White Rose group; Hans Scholl, Willi Graf, and Alexander Schmorell were German soldiers who served on the Eastern Front. Their experiences on the battlefield led them to believe that Hitler was losing the war, and that Germany needed to change course in order to survive. In January 1943 a student riot occurred at Munich University. The Nazi authorities criticized the student body as unpatriotic, and labeled the young men as “skulkers” because they were not serving in the Wehrmacht. This criticism of the students inspired the White Rose members to print more leaflets and to increase their activity.
Leaflets were placed in phone books, text books, left in public places, and mailed to University professors and intellectuals in southern Germany and Austria. The activists believed that Bavarians and Austrians were less militaristic and more receptive to intellectual discussions than their Prussian counterparts. Schmorell, Scholl, and Graf used stencils to paint graffiti such as “Freedom!” and “Down with Hitler!” on the walls of various buildings in Munich. The last leaflet printed by the group had a run of between 6,000 and 9,000 copies. The leaflets contained an impassioned plea to all Germans that Hitler was leading Germany “into the abyss,” from which they will never return. The last run of leaflets caused a sensation in Germany, and led the Gestapo to redouble their efforts in identifying the members of the White Rose.
In February 1943 Hans and Sophie Scholl took a briefcase full of leaflets to the University of Munich campus in order to distribute them there. After distributing most of the leaflets, Sophie Scholl realized that a stack of them was left upstairs in the open briefcase, and decided to throw them from the upstairs balcony. This event was witnessed by the University maintenance man Jakob Schmied, who as a loyal German- promptly called the police. Hans and Sophie Scholl were arrested and taken for interrogation by Gestapo agent Robert Mohr.
At first, Mohr believed Sophie to be innocent. However, Sophie confessed to her involvement in hopes of stopping further investigation into the membership of the White Rose. Using forensic techniques, the Gestapo was able to identify the other members of the White Rose by using the leaflets and handwritten notes in Hans Scholl’s possession at the time of his arrest.
Hans and Sophie Scholl along with Christoph Probst were put on a show trial by Nazi Judge Roland Freisler. Sophie was noted for her boldness and bravery in the face of harsh criticism and the oppression of the Judge’s condemnations. Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were sentenced to death for treason. They were then executed by Guillotine at Stadelheim Prison. The other members of the White Rose were also put on trial at later dates, with Schmorell and Willi Graf being executed in the summer and fall of 1943.
At the University of Munich, a small group of students networked with local resistance activists in order to print leaflets and make graffiti to challenge the regime’s narrative in the minds of other free thinking people. In the minds of many Germans the defeat at the battle of Stalingrad brought doubt about the direction of the war and the goals of the Nazi leadership. Three founding members of the White Rose group; Hans Scholl, Willi Graf, and Alexander Schmorell were German soldiers who served on the Eastern Front. Their experiences on the battlefield led them to believe that Hitler was losing the war, and that Germany needed to change course in order to survive. In January 1943 a student riot occurred at Munich University. The Nazi authorities criticized the student body as unpatriotic, and labeled the young men as “skulkers” because they were not serving in the Wehrmacht. This criticism of the students inspired the White Rose members to print more leaflets and to increase their activity.
Leaflets were placed in phone books, text books, left in public places, and mailed to University professors and intellectuals in southern Germany and Austria. The activists believed that Bavarians and Austrians were less militaristic and more receptive to intellectual discussions than their Prussian counterparts. Schmorell, Scholl, and Graf used stencils to paint graffiti such as “Freedom!” and “Down with Hitler!” on the walls of various buildings in Munich. The last leaflet printed by the group had a run of between 6,000 and 9,000 copies. The leaflets contained an impassioned plea to all Germans that Hitler was leading Germany “into the abyss,” from which they will never return. The last run of leaflets caused a sensation in Germany, and led the Gestapo to redouble their efforts in identifying the members of the White Rose.
In February 1943 Hans and Sophie Scholl took a briefcase full of leaflets to the University of Munich campus in order to distribute them there. After distributing most of the leaflets, Sophie Scholl realized that a stack of them was left upstairs in the open briefcase, and decided to throw them from the upstairs balcony. This event was witnessed by the University maintenance man Jakob Schmied, who as a loyal German- promptly called the police. Hans and Sophie Scholl were arrested and taken for interrogation by Gestapo agent Robert Mohr.
At first, Mohr believed Sophie to be innocent. However, Sophie confessed to her involvement in hopes of stopping further investigation into the membership of the White Rose. Using forensic techniques, the Gestapo was able to identify the other members of the White Rose by using the leaflets and handwritten notes in Hans Scholl’s possession at the time of his arrest.
Hans and Sophie Scholl along with Christoph Probst were put on a show trial by Nazi Judge Roland Freisler. Sophie was noted for her boldness and bravery in the face of harsh criticism and the oppression of the Judge’s condemnations. Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were sentenced to death for treason. They were then executed by Guillotine at Stadelheim Prison. The other members of the White Rose were also put on trial at later dates, with Schmorell and Willi Graf being executed in the summer and fall of 1943.
After the war, the executed members White Rose were hailed as heroes in the face of Nazi tyranny. Alexander Schmorell was canonized as a Saint in the Orthodox Church. The square at Munich University was renamed “Geschwister-Scholl-Platz” in honor of Hans and Sophie Scholl.