Bitter Ashes by John Wilson

Author:John Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459726277
Publisher: Dundurn

A German postage stamp commemorating Sophie Scholls short, brave life

Sophie Scholl’s final words were, “Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to leave. But what does my death matter, if through us thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?”

The Scholls believed that their leaflets would inspire or guilt Germans into resisting the Nazis. In their second leaflet they said, “Since the conquest of Poland three hundred thousand Jews have been murdered in this country in the most bestial way… The German people slumber on in their dull, stupid sleep and encourage these fascist criminals… Each man…is guilty, guilty, guilty!”

The White Rose’s efforts had little effect, but the Scholls and the others have become heroes since. There are squares named after them in Germany, movies made about them, and the young readers of a German magazine voted Sophie Scholl the greatest woman of the twentieth century. The White Rose statement, “We will not be silent” has become an international T-shirt slogan opposing the war in Iraq.

Lillian Garrett-Groag, who wrote a play about the White Rose, said, “The fact that five little kids, in the mouth of the wolf, where it really counted, had the tremendous courage to do what they did, is spectacular to me. I know that the world is better for them having been there.”

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