Distribution of the 6th leaflet
On February 18th, "They [Hans and Sophie] arrived at the university, and since the lecture rooms were to open in a few minutes, they quickly decided to deposit the leaflets in the corridors. Then they disposed of the remainder by letting the sheets fall from the top level of the staircase down into the entrance hall. Relieved, they were about to go, but a pair of eyes had spotted them. It was as if these eyes… [they belonged to Jakob Schmid, the custodian] had been detached from the being of their owner and turned into automatic spyglasses of the dictatorship. The doors of the building were immediately locked, and the fate of brother and sister was sealed” Inge Scholl explained (Simkin). Arrests and Interrogations During the interrogations, Hans tried to swallow Christoph’s leaflet draft, which was in his pocket. He was caught and the handwriting was a match with documents in Hans’ apartment. A stash of incriminating stamps was also found (“Sophia Scholl”). Hans and Sophie were taken to Wittelsbach and investigated further. Sophie refused to claim she was led by Hans and said, "If my brother is sentenced to die, you musn't let them give me a lighter sentence, for I am exactly as guilty as he" (Simkin). Christoph was arrested the next day, just after the birth of his third child (Axelrod). |
[We just expressed] what many people are thinking. They just don't dare say it out loud!" ~Sophie Scholl
The Trial
|
The ExecutionBefore Sophie left her cell for her execution, she told her cellmate, "How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause.... It is such a splendid sunny day, and I have to go. But how many have to die on the battlefield in these days, how many young, promising lives. What does my death matter if by our acts thousands are warned and alerted. Among the student body there will certainly be a revolt". Then, the prison guards brought Hans, Sophie, and Christoph “together once more—at the last moment before the execution.” One guard further explained, “If our action had become known, the consequences for us would have been serious. We wanted to let them have a cigarette together before the end. It was just a few minutes that they had, but I believe that it meant a great deal to them" (Simkin).
Sophie, 21, Hans, 24, and Christoph, 23, were executed at 5 pm on February 22, 1943. |
THE OTHER MEMBERS’ ARRESTS AND DEATHS
Alex had tried to escape to Switzerland, but a severe snow storm forced him to return. He found shelter during a bombing with a former girlfriend who betrayed him by calling the Gestapo. Willi Graf was arrested the day after he returned from working at the university hospital (Axelrod).
Kurt, Willi, and Alex had their trial on April 19, 1943 (Axelrod). Kurt Huber said, "I acted as I had to act, prompted by a voice that came from within" (Simkin). The fourteen-hour trial resulted in death sentences for all three (Axelrod). Alex wrote a letter to his parents saying, "I'm going with the awareness that I followed my deepest convictions and the truth. This allows me to meet my hour of death with a conscience at peace" (Simkin). On July 13, 1943 Kurt and Alex were executed, but Willi was interrogated for many more months. Finally, he was executed on October 12, 1943 (Axelrod).
Alex had tried to escape to Switzerland, but a severe snow storm forced him to return. He found shelter during a bombing with a former girlfriend who betrayed him by calling the Gestapo. Willi Graf was arrested the day after he returned from working at the university hospital (Axelrod).
Kurt, Willi, and Alex had their trial on April 19, 1943 (Axelrod). Kurt Huber said, "I acted as I had to act, prompted by a voice that came from within" (Simkin). The fourteen-hour trial resulted in death sentences for all three (Axelrod). Alex wrote a letter to his parents saying, "I'm going with the awareness that I followed my deepest convictions and the truth. This allows me to meet my hour of death with a conscience at peace" (Simkin). On July 13, 1943 Kurt and Alex were executed, but Willi was interrogated for many more months. Finally, he was executed on October 12, 1943 (Axelrod).