Sophia Scholl was born in Germany on this day 90 years ago. Like her brothers and father, her Christian faith led her to believe in every human being’s essential dignity, and she became an opponent of Nazism. She started studying biology and philosophy at the University of Munich in 1942, and she soon discovered that her brother Hans was a member of a group called the White Rose, which wrote and distributed anti-Nazi leaflets.
The members of the White Rose including Sophie were arrested on 18 February 1943, tried three days later, found guilty of treason on the follow day and executed a few hours later by beheading. During her trial, Sophie is recorded as saying: “Somebody, after all, had to make a start. What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just do not dare express themselves as we did.”
Sophie’s last words as she was taken to be executed are recorded as: “How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause. Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?”