"We Will not be Silent": The White Rose and National Identity in Post-War Germany

Authors

Ardis Smith, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Resistance, White Rose, Germany, Post World War II

Abstract

In 1942, the White Rose resistance group, composed mainly of German university students, published its first leaflet. As part of a series written by Hans Scholl and Alexander Schmorell entitled the "Leaflets of the White Rose," the tract discussed the need for Germans to acknowledge the inhumane actions of Nazi Germany and encouraged Germans to adopt an attitude of "passive resistance" to the rule of National Socialism. The White Rose hoped to motivate Germans to join the resistance movement by asking "[w)ho among us has any conception of the enormous shame that we and our children will feel when eventually the veil drops from our eyes and the most horrible crimes-crimes that eclipse all atrocities throughout history-are exposed to the full light of day?"

Recommended Citation

Smith, Ardis (2009) ""We Will not be Silent": The White Rose and National Identity in Post-War Germany," The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing: Vol. 38: Iss. 1, Article 8.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thetean/vol38/iss1/8