White Rose Student Group of WW II
Strategies of Passive Resistance Against Fascism of Nazi Germany
Jan 17, 2009
The "White Rose" resistance group was formed in 1941 by students who responded to a sermon by August von Galen the archbishop of Munster. The students were responding to claims that the Nazis were killing undesirables and calling the practice euthanasia.
A Resistance Group Forms
Emulating a strategy called passive resistance used by students fighting against racial discrimination in the United States, these students published radical leaflets calling for the restoration of democracy and social justice. The leaflet campaign was anonymous and lasted from June 1942 until February 1943. Its main call was for active opposition to the German dictator Adolf Hitler's regime.
Strategies of Resistance
The group used many inventive ways to bring these leaflets to the attention of the public. The text of their sixth leaflet was smuggled out of Germany through Scandinavia to the UK, and in July 1943 copies of it were dropped over Germany by Allied planes, retitled "The Manifesto of the Students of Munich." Another strategy used to spread the message was to paint anti-Nazi slogans on the sides of houses. This included "Down With Hitler", "Hitler Mass Murderer" and "Freedom". They also painted crossed-out swastikas.
The Message of the White Rose
The students were very clear about the message that wanted to promulgate.
"We want to try and show them that everyone is in a position to contribute to the overthrow of the system. It can be done only by the cooperation of many convinced, energetic people - people who are agreed as to the means they must use.” [Passive Resistance to National Socialism. 1943]
The students went on to say that they did not have available a great number of choices as to the means by which they did this. They said they set out to topple National Socialism through passive resistance. They vowed that in the struggle they must not recoil from their course, or any action, whatever its nature, because, “A victory of fascist Germany in this war would have immeasurable, frightful consequences." Leaflets designed to spread their message throughout central Germany came to the attention of the the Gestapo, who then became aware of the group's activities.
Sacrifice Earns Honour
Today German people honour members of the "White Rose," acknowledging them as among the countries greatest heroes. Their bravery was to dare to publish in opposition to the Third Reich. They would have most certainly understood that they would face almost certain death, if and when caught.
This brave group of students went on to claim that the name of Germany would be dishonoured for all time if German youth didn’t rise up to “take revenge, smash its tormentors. Students! The German people look to us." [6th Leaflet. Fellow Fighters in the Resistance. 1943]
The statement by the White Rose group is evidence that they believed that young people of Germany had the potential to overthrow Adolf Hitler and the Nazi government.
Further evidence of the depth of their belief is the statement by Hans Scholl “Long Live Freedom.” He is said to have shouted this just before he was executed with three other members of the group. They had been tried and found guilty of sedition.
Motivation of the Group
This group was motivated by common ethical and moral considerations amalgamated from various religious backgrounds. Influences originated from Catholicism, Lutheran tradition, anthroposophy, Buddhism and theism. Some had witnessed the atrocities of the war. It was a resisitance movement that rejected fascism and militarism and believed in a federated Europe that adhered to principles of tolerance and justice. The activities of the group died down by February 1943. By then it had become evident that there would be a reversal of fortune which would eventually lead to Germany's defeat.
Primary Source
Simkin. J Spartacus International Website. [Accessed Jan 2009] This resource provides many links and historical photos.
Related Resource
"Die Weiss Rose" Movie written and directed by Michael Verhoeven with co writer Mario Krebs Released 24 September. 1982 (West Germany)
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