The White Rose Resistance Movement - Munich

German University Students Protested Against the Third Reich

Mar 26, 2009

In 1943, six members of the White Rose movement at the Munich University were executed after spreading anti-Nazi leaflets during the height of the Third Reich regime.

Visitors to the Munich University might be surprised at what appears to be torn pieces of paper scattered on the forecourt pavers. On closer examination, this ‘litter’ is revealed to be ceramic tiles, scrap-shaped and printed with slogans.

This ‘litter’ is a moving tribute to the students who were executed for taking part in the White Rose movement, a short-lived student protest against Hitler and the Third Reich in 1942. Inside the university, a bas-relief of the group members is usually decorated daily with fresh flowers. A small museum at the university tells their story. The following details are taken from information supplied by the museum.

The Origin of the White Rose Movement

Two childhood friends, Christoph Probst and Alexander Schmorell chose to study medicine at Munich University. There, they became friends with Willi Graf and brother and sister, Hans and Sophie Scholl.

Like many other students, they were critical of Hitler’s regime and the war, and decided to call for passive resistance. In doing so, they acted contrary to their middle class upbringing. They found an ally in one of their lecturers, Professor Kurt Huber. With Huber, they later began to surreptitiously compose and distribute anti-government leaflets.

If this today sounds rather minimal, it must be remembered that the Munich University Dean wore a Nazi uniform and the Hitler Youth Movement was strong within the student body. Students and staff at this university eagerly participated in the burning of books that the Nazis determined to be inappropriate. The university ideal of freedom and learning was subverted to such an extent that the university library displayed a sign forbidding the entry of Jews.

Consequently, the group’s activities constituted treason and were punishable by death. Hans Scholl and Willi Graf had already been taken into Gestapo custody once in 1938 for membership of a prohibited youth group.

Activities of the White Rose Group

As medical students, members of the group who were sent to the front and were horrified at the carnage. They also heard from friends about mass murders in Poland and Russia. With the limited means at their disposal, they decided to take action. In June 1942, they wrote, duplicated and distributed 4 “Leaflets of the White Rose.” This was followed by “Leaflets of the Resistance Movement in Germany” and several similar compositions.

Thousands of leaflets were duplicated and posted to random names taken from the telephone directory. To maintain secrecy, they purchased envelopes, duplicator ink and paper in small quantities at many shops, and travelled to scattered cities to post the letters, so that the movement seemed more widespread and to shield the Munich University.

The Arrest of the White Rose Conspirators

When the German people were shaken by their first defeat and major loss of life at the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943, the White Rose group saw this as the opportune time to step up their activities. Schmorrell, Scholl and Graf began to scrawl “Down with Hitler” slogans in coal tar on various buildings in Munich during the night.

The group steadily became less cautious. Early in the morning on February 18, Hans and Sophie left bundles of leaflets outside lecture room doors, and Sophie tossed a bundle over the balcony to flutter down to the atrium below. It is this act which is commemorated in the scattered ceramic ‘leaflets’ mounted among the flagstones.

Sophie and Hans were spotted by the janitor Jakob Schmid , and they were hauled before the dean, Dr Haeffner. Arrest quickly followed and the brother and sister were interrogated for 4 days at Gestapo headquarters. Hans and Sophie tried to take all blame, as Christoph Probst was married with children.

The Trial of the Conspirators

Probst did not escape. Three days after their arrest, the three conspirators were tried by a ranting, screaming judge Roland Freisler. After just 3 ½ hours, they were sentenced to death and were guillotined. In April, a 14 hour trial saw Willi Graf, Alexander Schmorell and Professor Huber sentenced to death. Ten other defendants were imprisoned, some for merely failing to report the activities.

The Legacy of the White Rose Resistance

While the students’ actions seemed to have ended in vain, there was a surprising outcome. A supporter, Helmuth von Moltke managed to get a copy of the final leaflet to Scandinavia and then to Britain. Soon thereafter, the RAF dropped 1.5 million demoralising leaflets all over Germany.

The copyright of the article The White Rose Resistance Movement - Munich in German History is owned by James Parsons. Permission to republish The White Rose Resistance Movement - Munich in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.