Founding of the White Rose

The White Rose was a non-violent resistance group that emerged during the Nazi regime.  Brother and sister Hans and Sophie Scholl pioneered the White Rose with the help of their Philosophy Professor Kurt Huber and other peers at the University of Munich. 

While the group members shared a passion for art, music, and philosophy, it was their vehement opposition to the tyrannical Nazi regime that brought the group together.  The White Rose is best remembered for their anti-Nazi leaflet campaign, which lasted from 1942 until February of 1943, where they endeavored to spread opposition to the regime throughout Germany. 

Collectively they authored a total a six leaflets and distributed them around the University and mailed them to various intellectuals throughout Germany.  The group's philosophy is encapsulated in the last sentence of each leaflet; "Our people stand ready to rebel against the National Socialist enslavement of Europe in a fervent breakthrough of freedom and honour" (Henderson 1). 

One morning in 1943 Hans and his sister Sophie were distributing leaflets around their University where they were spotted by their Superintendent and quickly handed over to the Gestapo for their arrest.  In February 1943, Hans, Sophie and Hermann Probst were arrested executed for high treason and opposing the 3rd Reich. Professor Kurt Huber and the remaining 5 members of the White Rose were convicted of high treason and executed by hanging a short while later. 

The legacy of the White Rose's efforts to resist the Nazi regime lives on and their selfless life-threatening acts will forever be remembered.