The White Rose

The White Rose was a resistance group in Nazi Germany, made up of university students and led by siblings Hans Scholl and Sophie Scholl. These students came together in Munich in 1942, after they had grown increasingly disillusioned with the Nazi regime. The primary reason for their resistance was the brutal reality of Nazi rule, particularly the atrocities being committed against Jews and other marginalized groups, as well as the escalating violence of the war. Although their efforts only happened for a short period of time, their courage to oppose Hitler cemented the White Rose as one of the most iconic symbols of resistance during World War II.  

The group’s members were inspired by a shared sense of moral outrage at the Nazi regime’s actions. These intellectuals and students sought to challenge the Nazi narrative that was dominating German society, and to stop the regime’s "war machine". While many Germans were either unaware of the full extent of the regime’s atrocities or too fearful to act, the members of the White Rose decided that silence was complicity.  

The method by which the White Rose spread its messages was through the distribution of leaflets. The group produced and secretly circulated six leaflets between 1942 and 1943. These leaflets were distributed in universities, public places, and by using a network of trusted individuals who would smuggle the leaflets to other cities. The leaflets were written in passionate language which condemned the Nazi regime’s ideology and policies. They appealed to the conscience of the German people, urging them to take action against the government’s policies of hatred and violence. The first leaflet, written in June 1942, addressed the brutal occupation of Poland, the execution of civilians, and the persecution of Jews. Despite the constant danger of discovery, the group’s members were undeterred. They distributed their leaflets as widely as possible, reaching as far as Berlin, Vienna, and Hamburg. In addition to the leaflets, the White Rose also engaged in some public acts of defiance, such as graffiti campaigns, where they wrote anti-Nazi slogans on walls in public spaces in Munich. These small acts of rebellion were part of a larger strategy to awaken people to the need for resistance. 

The White Rose’s activities were always risky, and in February 1943, their efforts came to an abrupt end. Hans and Sophie Scholl were caught distributing pamphlets at the University of Munich. They were arrested by the Gestapo, along with Christoph Probst, another member of the group. After a swift trial, the Scholls and Probst were sentenced to death and executed by guillotine. Other members of the group, including Alexander Schmorell and Willi Graf were also arrested and executed, marking the end of the White Rose's active resistance. However, their legacy lived on in the ideas they had spread and the moral clarity they had embodied. Though the White Rose did not succeed in bringing down the Nazi regime, their actions helped inspire the notion that resistance to tyranny is not only possible but necessary. The members of the White Rose remain symbols of moral courage, and their efforts continue to serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for justice and humanity in the face of overwhelming oppression.