THE IDENTITY OF THE ROSE
The members that comprised the White Rose are startlingly few in number - the core element of the faction consisting of no more than 5 - however, indisputably there were many more who were sympathizers with their opposition to the draconian laws that were imposed by Hitler and his comrades. Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans, Willi Graf, Chistoph Probst, Alex Schmorell and Kurt Huber were the central contingent who enacted the distribution of leaflets.
Sophie was a former member of the Bund Deutscher Mädel, the League of German Girls, as were many of her fellow youth; it was a compulsory program. After she became increasingly sceptical and untrusting of the Nazis, due in part to the arrests of her brothers for participation in the German Youth Movement and additionally of her father for controversial remarks. After undertaking a career as kindergarten-level educator, Sophie became involved in the White Rose after discovering her brother, Hans, had been actively engaging in the group.
Alexander Schmorell, who had been a combat medic on the Eastern front prior to fuelling the movement, was averse to the treatment of enemy soldiers he had witnessed while in the military; this led him to seek out Professor Kurt Huber (in association with Hans Scholl).
Prof. Huber was deeply concerned by the atrocities unfolding around him, and sought the removal of the Nazis from the seat of power - his affiliation with the White Rose saw him create the 6th leaflet they were to distribute.
SURREPTITIOUS COUP
The White Rose was a non-violent protest organization; they were adamant to avoid violence and conflict with authorities in their quest to quell the fascist militarism that now held sway. In the absence of said combat, the White Rose produced a number of leaflets (6 in total were designed and circulated, while the draft of a 7th was found in the possession of Hans Scholl when he was incarcerated).
These bulletins encompassed the spirit of rebellion, expressing a disgust at the rampant indifference to the mass killings of hundreds of thousands of Jews (“Since the conquest of Poland three hundred thousand Jews have been murdered in this country in the most bestial way ...”). The leaflets preached freedom of religion, press and speech, freedom from the tyrant that loomed over the country of Germany.
Thousands of duplicates were dispersed to the cities of Southern Germany, however soon they were emerging as far as the capital.
Upon the release of the sixth edition, the Scholl siblings were witnessed heaving copious quantities of it from a balcony in the University of Munich - subsequently, all the activists in the White Rose were captured and executed.
UNRIVALED GALLANTRY
It is a testament to the willingness of the few who can see through the facade of propaganda and misinformation to the blunt truth, and are resolute enough in their clashing ideology and moral integrity to take action to see to it that something be done that the White Rose are still recognized in the contemporary context. There is a degree of relevance to the current situation Australia faces; protectors take to the streets to picket against a senseless war in the spirit of those brave five.
One can only aspire to be like the Scholls, Huber and the others, who's unprovoked and selfless sacrifices exemplify altruism for a worthy cause.
