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Young German Christians who called themselves The White Rose started protesting Hitler's doctrines and the "lost" war in 1942. They secretly issued six different leaflets, on Christian grounds, to protest the euthanization of "defective" children and the murder of the Jews, and to call for passive resistance to shorten the losing war. Three young conspirators, Sophie and Hans Scholl (sister and brother) and Christoph Probst, were caught in the act of distributing the last flier at the University of Munich in February, 1943. Five days later, after a Nazi show trial, they were summarily executed by guillotine. In time, seven members of the White Rose were executed and others were severely punished.

For a fortunate few, a German movie is now showing at a few U.S. theaters -- Sophie Scholl, the final days (In German, "Sophie Scholl, die letzen Tage"). See it! It was an oscar nominee for best foreign film, and Julia Jentsch, starring as Sophie Scholl, was beyond praise. The movie is in German but the subtitles are accurate and compelling. Non-German speakers can feel all the power of this movie even though they don't understand the spoken words.

Today the city of Munich, where the story played out, is dotted with memorials to the White Rose. Hans, Sophie and Christoph are buried together in that city's Perlach Cemetery. Their graves are tenderly cared for.

More than one hundred schools in Germany are named for Sophie Scholl, a Christian woman who died serving her faith at the age of 21.

Sophie Scholl

You are invited to google for other sites about the White Rose, but here's a good spot to start: The White Rose

The White Rose spoke these words to the followers of Hitler, but they are equally a lesson for today's Christians: "We will not be silenced. We are your bad conscience. The White Rose will give you no peace."