If you want to see intense courage and conviction personified in young people, see this movie.
It is the true story of two young siblings, Sophie, aged 21, and Hans, aged 23, who decided to speak up against the atrocities and lies of the Nazi government in Germany. They knew that, if caught, they would be executed.
After the war, when their story came to light, they won extraordinary admiration, especially among the younger Germans.
In Germany, many schools and streets and squares have been named after Sophie and her brother Hans.
When the German broadcasting company ZDF invited the public to choose the most important Germans of all time, Germans under forty years voted Sophie and Hans to the fourth place. In the votes of the younger voters, they came first. The German magazine Brigitte voted Sophie Scholl “the greatest woman of the twentieth century.” (Wikipedia)
What is the story?
The year: 1943. Germany has conquered most of Europe, and is now invading the Soviet Union. The atrocities the Nazi rulers commit are incredibly brutal: extermination of millions of Jews, killings of civilians and of prisoners of war, elimination of anyone who criticized the government.
A small group of students in Munich form an organization called “The White Rose.” They start writing on walls criticisms of Hitler and the Nazi rule. They also cyclostyle and mail newsletters telling the people what is actually happening. The secret police are enraged, but have no idea who are behind “the White Rose.”
When Hans, Sophie and friends find that they have extra copies of the last letter, they decide to distribute copies in the university. They are caught and arrested.
An experienced Police Inspector, Mohr, is assigned to interrogating Sophie. The conversation between them is a real battle of wits between a convinced Nazi officer, who has a son of the same age as Sophie, and the young and courageous Sophie, who puts God and conscience first. For Mohr, the party and its rules come first.
One of the most touching scenes is when Sophie’s parents are allowed to meet her before her execution. Her father, who had suffered imprisonment for criticizing Hitler, tells Sophie: “I am proud of both of you. You did the right thing.” Her mother caresses Sophie’s cheek and whispers, “Child, you will not come in through my door again. We shall meet in eternity. Remember Jesus.” Sophie replies, “You, too, mother.”
Sophie’s last recorded words, as she is led to her execution, are:
“How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause? 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?”
Sophie and Hans Scholl and one of their friends were executed on 22 Feb 1943, the fifth day after their arrest.
The movie won two Silver Bear awards—Best Director (Marc Rothemund) and Best Actress (Julia Jentsch) —at the 2005 Berlin International Film Festival, along with its nomination at the Oscars. It is in German, with English subtitles. Available on YouTube.
Discussion Points:
- Sophie was brought up by very inspiring parents, and found strength in her Christian faith. What made her, a normal girl, with a boyfriend and dreams of leading a normal life after the war, take such huge risks?
- Nazism not only proved to be extraordinarily evil. It led to the destruction of the country which it claimed to glorify. Do you see such dangerous ideologies today?
- Do the churches and religious organizations deepen the idealism of the young and guide it well, or disappoint and kill it?
To subscribe to the magazine Contact Us
