The White Rose
In the musical, “The Sound of Music” one of the songs, “Edelweiss” stirs your feelings. The musical is based on the Von Trapp family and their escape from the Nazis. Edelweiss is a white, mountain flower of Europe which in German means noble white. There is another story about a white flower that comes from this period of history.
The White Rose was the name of a group of mainly German university students and professors. Their symbol the white rose stood for purity. What makes them unique is they stood up to the evil of the Nazis. It is believed the group started after the Archbishop of Munster spoke out against the Nazis in a sermon.
Though the group was reported to have about 300 members there were a handful that stood out. In 1942 University of Munich student Hans Scholl and friend, Alex Schmorell wrote four leaflets and left them in various places. The pamphlets were called “the Leaves of the White Rose”. Others who became involved with the group included Hans’s sister Sophie Scholl, Christof Probst, and George Wittenstein.
Professor Kurt Huber, taught philosophy at the university lectured on and helps write leaflets about forbidden subjects.
In the summer of 1942 the students were sent to the Russian front to help in the field hospitals. During this time they were witness to the horrors of war and the treatment of Jews and other “undesirables”.
In July of 1943 the Bavarian governor, Paul Gisler; gives a speech stating all men who cannot serve in the military must work in the factories and the women must have a baby each year. This was too much and the students took to the streets. Writing freedom on walls and crossing out the swastikas with paint.
On the 18 of February 1943 Hans and Sophie spreads leaflets around the university. The Gestapo found out and those of the White Rose were arrested. They were tried and sentenced to death. Their death was by guillotine, only George Wittenstein survived. Near the end of the war Wittenstein was a member of the Bavarian Freedom Movement who helped in fighting the Nazis and taking control of Munich to prevent a battle with the Americans.
The story of the White Rose may be brief but shows that even in the worst of times there are those who stand up for what is right. That against the odds and knowing the evil they stood against they carried on giving their lives in protest. It is an immortal story from the beginning of time of mans desire for freedom, justice and the pursuit of what is right.
In today’s world of corrupt political officials and corporate greed, injustices and cruelty against men around the world continues. Is it time for the White Rose to flourish and bloom again?