Decapitation, as are all methods of execution in my opinion, both horrible and unfounded. I think the guillotine in particular is a barbaric instrument, and when I read that six University of Munich students had been executed in such a manner for distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets in 1943, I was shocked. I'd never heard of The White Rose, a non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany. Its principle members: Hans Scholl (24), his sister Sophie (21), Christoph Probst (23), Willi Graf (25), Alexander Schmorell (26), and philosophy professor Kurt Huber (49) were found guilty and executed. The six pamphlets they wrote, the link to which I'll provide here: White Rose Leaflets have an intellectual grounding in their call against Hitler's regime, and the hope for a new Germany where freedom of expression and thought may exist once again.
Hans and Sophie Scholl were caught distributing pamphlets at the University, and Christoph Probst was arrested shortly after. In a matter of four short days (consisting of interrogation and trial) all three were dead. 21 year-old Sophie was the first taken to the guillotine, her last recorded words were "The sun's still shining."
What's puzzling to me is that I'd never before heard of The White Rose. I asked both of my Parents, both of which are pretty spot on with history, but neither of them had heard of the group either. And I know there's dozens of cases like this out there that I still have yet to learn about, but it never ceases to amaze me how something as profound and ultimately tragic as this has gone unnoticed by so many. I know that's often the case with history, and that's why we've gone and repeated some of the worst bits of it. Its easy to watch a movie about The White Rose, in particular the 2006 Foreign Film Oscar contender: Sophie Scholl – The Final Days and feel bad about what happened to these young people, but the more important aspect I think is to consider: what would I do in that situation? Sophie and Hans took entire responsibility for the pamphlets when they were arrested - refusing to name other members of the resistance. Would I have that kind of strength? I don't know if I would, but I do know that others have and that gives me some conviction. Sophie Scholl once said:
"The real damage is done by those millions who want to 'survive.' The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves—or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small, die small. It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you’ll keep it under control. If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you. But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what? Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I choose my own way to burn."
— Sophie Scholl
We may think that the threat will never be this significant again. As Americans citizens we can go day in, day out despite the fact that our country is at war overseas. Is it the same? No, there will never be anything absolutely identical to Nazi Germany, but there are strong similarities, the same kinds of injustices everywhere in the world. I could go on and on about this, but I won't. Only consider and try to understand. What can we do? Well, we can write. And that's something.
(From Left to Right: Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl and Christoph Probst)
