Sophie Scholl, Germany (1921-1943)
Sophie Scholl was born in Forchtenberg, Germany in 1921. Initially a member of the Hitler Youth she became increasingly disenchanted with Nazism and eventually both she and her brother, Hans, came to the conclusion that it was the duty of a citizen to stand up to the Nazi regime. On enrolling at Munich University she discovered the secret activities of her brother Hans.
Despite her brother's pleas she joined the activities of the Weisse Rose and became an active member of this independent group of students working against the Nazi regime. Their activities involved the production, publication and distribution of leaflets which highlighted the mass extermination of the Jews and Polish nobility and called for action against Nazism. Six leaflets in total were produced and the later ones called for active resistance to Nazism.
Whilst distributing the sixth leaflet at Munich University Hans and Sophie Scholl were spotted dumping some of the leaflets in a courtyard. They were subsequently arrested and tried for treason. Christoph Probst, a fellow member of the Weisse Rose, was put on trial with the siblings. Freisler, the judge at the trial, and the other accusers could not understand what had turned the accused against Hitler, considering they has all been to prescribed schools and had been members of the Hitler Youth. Sophie Scholl shocked everyone in the courtroom when she remarked to Freisler: "Somebody, after all, had to make a start. What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just don't dare to express themselves as we did." Later in the proceedings, she said to him: "You know the war is lost. Why don't you have the courage to face it?"
Sophie Scholl was beheaded along with her brother and friend Christoph Probst in Munich in February 1943. She was 21 years old and the only female member of the Weisse Rose to be executed.