Sophie Scholl and the White Rose: Rebel, Revolt, Resist Freedom of speech is a widely expected liberty; as a result, this right is rarely appreciated. One only begins to acknowledge this freedom once it is no longer obtainable. This liberty was stripped by the Third Reich from the citizens of Germany during World War II. Adolf Hitler was keen on restrictions because, without it, he would not “succeed in imprinting [his] idea on [the public’s] mind” (Hitler); thus, strict censorship in Nazi Germany was enforced. Those who did not abide were punished severely. A college student named Sophie Scholl despised the Nazi Regime and fought back in the form of anti-war leaflets; she was discovered distributing these leaflets, and, consequently, she was sentenced to …show more content…
At the age of 21, Sophie Scholl— with the help of her brother Hans and a few of their colleagues—roused the Third Reich through a resistance group known as the White Rose (Kerrow). Her unfathomable amounts of bravery unfortunately lead to her death; however, her efforts not only spread awareness but also shaped the minds of people everywhere leaving those who were idle with a guilty conscience. Robert and Magdalena Scholl were outspokenly critical of the Nazi Party before, during, and after the Nazi regime, hence the likeliness of them having defiant children was foreseeable. Though their strong political views “had a critical influence on their children and, ultimately, on the White Rose Group”, they did not teach their children what to think but rather how to think, though it should be noted that Robert was hopeful that his children would share similar liberal opinions (Axelrod 31). On 9 May 1921, the Magdalena gave birth to her fourth child, Sophia (Sophie) Magdalena. Growing up, Sophie was often described as having a “wisdom that is