The members of the White Rose rejected the conditioning of the Nazi party in favor of forming the anti-Nazi White Rose resistance group, breaking barriers in Nazi society.
Hans and Sophie Scholl happily joined the Hitler Youth, believing that Hitler would lead Germany to greatness like most children. Their father, however, disapproved of their involvement and was anti-Nazi.
"We heard much oratory about the fatherland, comradeship,... and love of country... They told us that we must dedicate our lives to a great cause. We were taken seriously... in a remarkable way- and that aroused our enthusiasm."
-Inge Scholl (sister of Hans and Sophie)
"We entered into it with body and soul, and we could not understand why our father did not approve, why he was not happy and proud."
-Inge Scholl, about joining the Hitler Youth movement
"Don't believe [The Nazis]- they are wolves and deceivers, and they are misusing the German people shamefully."
-Robert Scholl (father of Hans and Sophie)
Hans Scholl (left) and Sophie Scholl (right) [Getty Images]
Hans and Sophie Scholl with their father and siblings [akg-images]
Hans and Sophie became disappointed as they discovered the mindless obedience and anti-Semitic beliefs expected of them.
"Why can't Luise, with her fair hair and blue eyes, be a member, while I with my dark hair and dark eyes am a member?"
-Sophie Scholl about her Jewish friend not being able to join the League of German Girls
"[The model of the Hitler Youth] demanded discipline and conformity down to the last detail, while [Hans] would have wanted every boy to follow his own bent and give free play to his talents."
-Inge Scholl about Hans Scholl
"There awoke in us a feeling of living in a house once beautiful and clean but in whose cellars behind locked doors frightful, evil, and fearsome things were happening."
-Inge Scholl
Along with the Scholl siblings, three of Hans's close university friends were the main members of the White Rose. All five attended Munich University; Hans Scholl, Alexander Schmorell, Christoph Probst, Willi Graf, and Sophie Scholl
Alexander Schmorell: from Russia and retained strong cultural ties after moving to Germany as a child. Developed a hatred for Nazism since Slavs were labeled as inferior. [Markus Schmorell]
Willi Graf: raised in a devout Roman Catholic household. Rejected Nazism due to his religious values. [akg-images]
Christoph Probst: his stepmother was Jewish and had many Jewish friends growing up. [Holocaust Encyclopedia]
"We were students, and students, throughout history, have been idealistic, rebellious, and willing to take chances: rebellious against existing order, against old and empty conventions."
-George Wittenstein (former White Rose member)
"Most of us were medical students, except for Sophie Scholl, who majored in biology and philosophy. We shared a common interest in and a deep love for the arts, music, literature, and philosophy."
-George Wittenstein
"[Christoph] was deeply upset about the yellow star the Jews were forced to wear ... [and by] reports coming in of mass atrocities at concentration camps."
-A friend of Christoph Probst
Later in their leaflet campaign, Hans and Alex reached out to their professor, Kurt Huber, to take part in their movement, and he accepted.
"He somehow managed to weave into his lectures sarcastic remarks on censored and forbidden topics, books and authors, eventually showing them to be superior to the ruling Nazis and their ideology."
-George Wittenstein
Kurt Huber, professor of philosophy at Munich University [akg-images]
Summer of 1942, Hans, Willi, Alex, and other medical students were sent to the Russian front to serve as medics. This experience only heightened the boys' disgust of the Nazis' actions.
Russian peasants [Library of Congress]
Alex, who was fluent in Russian, broke army regulations by bringing fellow medics into the homes of locals.
"We have often eaten and sung with the peasants and had them play their wonderful melodies for us. Sometimes one is able to forget for a while all the sad and terrible things happening around us."
-Willi Graf
"The city, the ghetto, and the whole setup made a very profound impression on all of us. It's impossible to give even a vague picture of what has assailed me in Russia since the day we crossed the frontier."
-Hans Scholl
"We felt a profound compassion for and outrage on behalf of those suffering under this ruthless oppression. In Russia, our conviction grew that more had to be done, and we came to realize the terrible truth; that Germany could only be saved by losing the war: a difficult and painful realization for someone who loves his country, his fatherland, which we most certainly did."
-George Wittenstein
Hans Scholl and Alexander Schmorell on the troop train to the Russian war front, summer 1942 [George Wittenstein]
Hans Scholl, Willi Graf, and Alex Schmorell (second, third, and fourth from left) at their army base in Russia, summer 1942 [George Wittenstein]
Hans Scholl, Willi Graf, and Alex Schmorell with fellow medics on the last day of their service in Russia, November 1942 [George Wittenstein]