On Feb. 22, 1943, three German university students were sentenced to death and executed by guillotine. Among them was 21-year-old Sophie Scholl (1921–1943), who had been arrested while distributing leaflets that denounced Adolf Hitler’s regime. Her courage became a symbol of freedom, and her defiance a reminder that goodness is always a choice.
Totalitarianism in Germany
When Sophie was born, the German Nazi party had just established the “Sturmabteilung” (“Storm Division”), a nationwide paramilitary group meant to protect its spokespeople and spread Nazi ideology across Germany. The same year, Hitler was appointed leader of the party. Under his direction, the armed coalition began persecuting Jews and silencing political opponents. As its members increased, so did its reach. In just over 10 years, Hitler won the greatest share of the popular vote and the most seats in the German parliament, though not a majority.
A 1932 political poster endorsing Paul von Hindenburg with the slogan: "With Him." CC BY-SA 3.0 de
