White Rose Movement Research Paper

The white rose movement was a non-violent resistance group operating in Nazi-Germany from June 1942 till February 1943. The movement used propaganda in an attempt to change the views of Germans and Austrians against Adolf Hitler. The movement received a lot of support from German youths who had been conscripted into Hitler’s Youth Armies. However, the support received was not enough to create successful uprising. There was a strong opposition to the group, especially from the radical Adolf Hitler enforcers such as the Gestapo. The group stuck to non-violent methods, but the reaction from the opposition was brutal, with the core members being executed by decapitation. Ultimately, The White Rose Movement’s campaign was unsuccessful and failed
The Gestapo and other German police powers hunted the White Rose movement all over Germany. They confiscated leaflets and made paper and other writing materials hard to come by. A lack of open supporters made life very hard for the members of the white rose. Sophie claimed at her trail, 22/2/1943 “What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just did not dare express themselves as we did.” This style of thought was expressed be all members of the White Rose. They all believed that the German citizens were on their side, when in fact, they had little support. Most of the supporters were young German university students who had been conscripted. The plan was slightly successful in some areas but not in others. The sixth leaflet was smuggled out of Germany and taken to England where it was copied and reproduced. The British then proceeded to drop the leaflets out of planes over German towns and cities. Hans and Sophie however, never witnessed their legacy being spread in such an effective manner. They were captured after becoming over-confident and taking risks. Tried guilty of treason in June 1943 they were scheduled to be executed alongside with Christopher Porbst, another core member. Thomas Mann cried out at the trail “Good splendid young people! You shall not have died in vain; you shall not be forgotten.” They were all beheaded and thus marked the end of the