Protest of Youth

by ANTON GILL [from: Gill, Anton. AN HONOURABLE DEFEAT. New York: Henry Holt & Co.,1994. pp. 183-195]
(Excerpt of adapted text)

On Thursday 18 February 1943, Hans und Sophie hurried to the university at 10 a.m. before the first morning lectures were over, carrying copies of the new leaflet in a small suitcase. They left them wherever they could--on windowsills, shelves, the tops of walls--until their supply was almost exhausted.

They had already left the main building when they decided to go back and get rid of the last few copies. They emptied the remaining contents of the case into the courtyard. Immediately, afterwards the doors of the lecture halls opened and students poured out. But the Scholls had been seen. The university's custodian, Jakob Schmid, ran to them, seized them by the arm and bellowed, 'You're under arrest!'
The Scholls were taken to Gestapo Headquarters in handcuffs. Very soon afterwards, the Gestapo was on the trail of the rest of the group, though the Scholls betrayed no one. Christoph Probst was arrested the following day and the others soon after.

(atrium of University of Munich)

Roland Freisler

Hans and Sophie were interrogated intensively for four days in Gestapo Headquarters in Munich. Throughout their ordeal, the brother and sister remained calm and resolute. The trial was set for 22 February. Roland Freisler, Hitler's hanging judge, flew down from Berlin specially to preside. This was an indication how important the Nazi leadership considered the White Rose.

The hearing started at 9 a.m. and lasted until 1 p.m. It was a closed trial, and those without passes, including Hans's and Sophie's parents, were not admitted. During the trial, Robert Scholl (their father) tried to force his way into the courtroom. He was seized and forcibly escorted outside. The entire courtroom heard him shout: “One day there will be another kind of justice! One day they[Hans & Sophie] will go down in history!” No witnesses were called, since the defendants had admitted everything. The Scholls were tried together with Christoph Probst.

Sophie Scholl shocked everyone in the courtroom when she remarked to the judge: “Somebody, after all, had to make a start. What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just don't dare to express themselves as we did.” Robert Judge Freisler pronounced his judgment on the three defendants: Guilty of treason. Their sentence: Death by guilltone.

Sophie was then led first to the guillotine. Christoph Probst was next. Hans Scholl was last; just before he was beheaded, Hans cried out: “Long live freedom!”

The Gestapo's investigation was relentless. Later tried and executed were Alex Schmorell (age 25), Willi Graf (age 25), and Kurt Huber
(age 49).