THE WHITE ROSE MOVEMENT (ANTI-BIDEN)

 Submitted by: Joseph Grisafi Jr

The Gestapo

By Lucas Saul

The White Rose Movement

In the summer of 1942, several students from the University of Munich formed themselves into a Resistance group called the ‘White Rose Movement’. They were German students. The movement was non-violent. They mailed leaflets directly to those in a position of power or influence and leaving pamphlets in public places for the general public to find.

In January 1943 the group produced 9,000 anti-Nazi leaflets using a hand-operated duplicating machine and a network of couriers operating in cities throughout Germany. This print run, exhorting the German people to support the resistance and warning them that defeat was inevitable, caused a sensation.

Slogans of ‘Freedom’ and “Down with Hitler’ were on the walls of Munich University. Leaflets were left in lecture rooms and were hurled from the top floor window by Hans Scholl and his sister Sophie.

Many supporters and sympathizers were found and rounded up by the Gestapo. A fake-show trial found them guilty. Some were beheaded and some were sent to concentration camps.

The final leaflet produced by the White Rose was smuggled out of Germany and reprinted by the British as the propaganda leaflet ‘Manifesto of the Students of Munich’. Millions of copies of the manifesto were dropped over Germany by Allied Bombers, and today the group is regarded in Germany as national heroes.

Sophie Scholl went to the guillotine with the following words:

Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us, thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?

 

I proposed this idea of flyers or leaflets 3, 4, or maybe 5 months ago. I had no supporters. I guess everyone thought it to be a bad or stupid idea. To this day I carry my flyers and put a few on cars, leave some on the shelves at HEB, Lowe’s, Home Depot, ACE, and wherever I go.

My stupid idea that the Nazis feared back in 1943 because it could…..could change people’s minds. The Nazis could not have their own people turn against them. I will continue to distribute my stupid flyers.