Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Frankfurt am Main : Fischer Taschenbuch, 1972.
Description
The White Rose tells the story of Hans Scholl and Sophie Scholl, who in 1942 led a small underground organization of German students and professors to oppose the atrocities committed by Hitler and the Nazi Party. They named their group the White Rose, and they distributed leaflets denouncing the Nazi regime. Sophie, Hans, and a third student were caught and executed. Written by Inge Scholl (Han's and Sophie's sister), The White Rose features letters, diary excerpts, photographs of Hans and Sophie, transcriptions of the leaflets, and accounts of the trial and execution. This is a gripping account of courage and morality. CONTRIBUTORS: Dorthe Solle.
User reviews
LibraryThing member John
The White Rose is a moving book. The author's older brother and sister, Hans and Sophie, in their early 20s, were both executed by the Nazis in 1943 for the crime of distributing leaflets that called for resistance and an awakening of the German people to the crimes of the Nazis and of Hitler in
What could these young students have hoped to do by distributing a few leaflets in the face of the totalitarian apparatus of the Nazi state? As the author says, " What the circle of the White Rose strove for was increasing public consciousness of the real nature and actual situation of National Socialism. They wanted to encourage passive resistance among wide circles of the populace." They certainly knew that the power of the National Socialists could only be broken militarily, but they were striving, as they said in one of their leaflets, "to achieve a renewal from within of the severely wounded German spirit."
Once arrested, it was clear to Hans and Sophie that they would be put to death and they tried to take on as much of the guilt as possible to safeguard others. By all accounts, they, and a close friend also arrested with them, Christoph Probst, went to their deaths calmly and in full control. Just learning about them, reading their history, hearing and writing their names is a way of honouring their moral and physical courage in a time of very great darkness when many were infected by the Nazi bacillus or simply turned a blind eye to protect themselves.
Show More
particular. A number of other people suffered the same fate, and more were sentenced to various prison terms. The writing is a bit stilted, but the basic goodness and moral outrage of the protagonists comes through. They learned it early as their father in particular was anti-Nazi and saw the National Socialists for the thugs that they were. Both Hans and Sophie did join Hitler Youth groups and for a short while they enjoyed the camaraderie and outdoors activity, but they quickly became disillusioned with the propaganda and regimentation of lives and thinking. What could these young students have hoped to do by distributing a few leaflets in the face of the totalitarian apparatus of the Nazi state? As the author says, " What the circle of the White Rose strove for was increasing public consciousness of the real nature and actual situation of National Socialism. They wanted to encourage passive resistance among wide circles of the populace." They certainly knew that the power of the National Socialists could only be broken militarily, but they were striving, as they said in one of their leaflets, "to achieve a renewal from within of the severely wounded German spirit."
Once arrested, it was clear to Hans and Sophie that they would be put to death and they tried to take on as much of the guilt as possible to safeguard others. By all accounts, they, and a close friend also arrested with them, Christoph Probst, went to their deaths calmly and in full control. Just learning about them, reading their history, hearing and writing their names is a way of honouring their moral and physical courage in a time of very great darkness when many were infected by the Nazi bacillus or simply turned a blind eye to protect themselves.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Demosthenes
About a Nazi resistence group.
LibraryThing member Kristelh
Reason Read: alpha challenge IS
This is a work of nonfiction. It starts out by saying that Nazi politics gained power because of the fear of communism. It addresses many issues that led up to Hitler gaining power. The White Rose is a group of young people who chose to resist.
This is a work of nonfiction. It starts out by saying that Nazi politics gained power because of the fear of communism. It addresses many issues that led up to Hitler gaining power. The White Rose is a group of young people who chose to resist.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1952-??-??
ISBN
3436014354 / 9783436014353