Sophie Scholl
Sophie Scholl (German, 1921-1943)
Born on May 9, 1921 in Forchtenberg (Baden-Wuerttemberg), Sophie Scholl was the third child after her siblings Hans and Inge. She was followed by Elizabeth (“Liesel”) and Werner. Sophie’s father, Robert, had just been elected as a “democratic” Mayor of this small town. Many townspeople violently opposed his election as hanger-ons of the German monarchy. Robert refused to fight…
Read MoreWas Fritz Hartnagel a Nazi?
An Often Asked Question Gets Answered Again The last question came from a very bright student at the end of the fifth class I taught at my alma mater on “Sophie Scholl and the German Resistance against Hitler.” She asked, “Was Scholl’s boyfriend, Fritz Hartnagel, a Captain in the Wehrmacht, a Nazi?” During the last…
Read MoreWhat we said and thought, so did you, only we were capable of saying it
What we said and thought, so did you, only we were capable of saying it -Sophie Scholl (1921-1943) speaking to the crowd of onlookers during her show trial where she was convicted of treason. Seventy-four years ago on February 22, Sophie Scholl was sentenced to death by the notoriously delusional President of the Peoples’ Court,…
Read MoreSophie Scholl’s “Library” 1937-1943
Sophie Scholl gave us a very thorough “intellectual history,” often quoting from and mentioning the books she read in her letters and diaries. Sophie decided to engage in “inner emigration” by retreating into literature as the Nazi hold on society grew more restrictive. The Reich Cultural Directorate had declared many of Sophie’s books “degenerate or subversive.” She read…
Read MoreReview by Rebecca Odessa, The Wisdom Daily
When Hitler came to power in the early 1930’s, Nazi ideology pervaded the German education system, leading to the indoctrination of an entire generation. When war enveloped Europe less than a decade later, that same generation trailed their maniacal leader into the abyss. A small group of Munich students, however, refused to follow. Instead, they…
Read MoreWhy Civil Resistance Works: Book Review by Alexandra Lehmann
Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Non-Violent Conflict by Erica Chenoweth. My rating: 3 of 5 stars. This book’s concept is pretty huge and its far-reaching case studies work to prove it. The author does not, however, clearly outline the criteria for a non-violent resistance’s success. It lacks the mention of the Czech resistance which successfully…
Read MoreEnter to Win a Free Copy of “With You There Is Light” at Goodreads
October 24, 2016. Ridgefield, CT. At the time of this writing, 150 readers have entered the goodreads.com contest for a free copy of “With You There Is Light: Based on the True Story about Sophie Scholl and Fritz Hartnagel.” Enter for your free copy here. Goodreads Book Giveaway With You There Is Light by Alexandra…
Read MoreHartnagel writes Scholl about Belgian Resistance, 1940
“With You There Is Light” contains translated excerpts from Fritz Hartnagel’s letters to Sophie Scholl. In this important historical document, Fritz informs Sophie about Belgium resistance. Antwerp, May 18, 1940. My dear Sophie, […] Yesterday I had enormous luck, if one can speak of luck and not of Providence. I was with…
Read MoreHans Scholl (1918-1943)
EXCERPTED FROM “WITH YOU THERE IS LIGHT”: Hans and Sophie’s mother knew what to do. She hurried down the hallway into her son’s room. The voices in the living room grew louder and louder. She grabbed a basket and started tossing books into it. Thomas Mann. Heinrich Heine. George Bernard Shaw. Jack London. Ernest Hemingway.…
Read MoreSophie Scholl and Fritz Hartnagel Correspond, September 1939
Fritz Hartnagel was a part of Hitler’s Army. He was going to have to fight in this so-called Blitzkrieg. What could she do? Sophie Scholl took out her pen from her knapsack and began to write. She could always count on writing when the truth required clarification. Dear Fritz, Sophie pressed down hard on…
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