THE WHITE ROSE Sophie Scholl

A teenage girl in a black dress, grey sweater and side-parted shoulder-length hair looks intently past the camera. — Sophie Scholl 1942
image in the public domain

In Nazi Germany, resistance was not just forbidden, it was deadly. But in 1942, a group of young college students went from enthusiastic supporters of the Third Reich to some of its most vocal opponents, publishing thousands of leaflets calling Hitler a criminal, and attempting to start a student revolt. Though their dream of a revolution never became reality, their courageous stance in the face of evil has become legendary in Germany, and their story continues to inspire and influence generations of young people around the world.

Olivia interviews guest Kip Wilson, whose wonderful new YA novel-in-verse White Rose tells the story through the eyes of 21-year-old Sophie Scholl.

A full transcript of this episode is available here.

A young woman reads a book. She wears a patterned blouse with metal clasp closures and her hair is loose to her shoulders. — Sophie Scholl 1942
photo courtesy of Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand

Sophie Scholl
photo courtesy of Gedenkstätte Deutscher

Three young people in 1940s dress sit facing one another oudoors, engaged in conversation. — Hans and Sophie Scholl, and Christoph Probst, 1942
taken only months before their execution
public domain

Mug shots of a young woman and a young man. She wears a dark dress with large collar and has her shoulder-length hair down, he wears a light suit and vest. They each stare defiantly at the camera. — Sophie and Hans Scholl’s prison photos, taken on the day of their arrest
public domain

A typwritten document in German. — The White Rose’s third leaflet, which ended with the phrase “We are your bad conscience. The White Rose will never leave you in peace.”
image courtesy of the Holocaust Research Project

A large atrium with a figured-marble floor and tiers of balconies on every side. — University Main Building Atrium, Munich
where Sophie and Hans Scholl were arrested for distributing anti-Nazi leaflets
photo by C. Faerber

Recreations of some of the flyers created by the White Rose movement on the paving stones near the university where they were left. Someone has left flowers at the site. — White Rose Public Memorial, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich
photo credit Adam Jones

Two stone markers flat on the ground bear the names of Sophie and Hans Scholl. Photos of each are standing on the stone, and they are surrounded by greenery and flowers from visitors. — Graves of Hans and Sophie Scholl
Perlach Cemetery, Munich
photo by Dage

Black and white drawings of the siblings on a blue background, postage stamp. — Scholl Siblings commemorative postage stamp, 1961
public domain

A street sign reading "Geschwister-Scholl Platz" stand in front of a Univeristy building. — The street in front of Munich University is named for the Scholl siblings
photo by Adam Jones

Kip Wilson is the author of White Rose and The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin, the Poetry Editor of the Young Adult Review Network, and has a Ph.D. in German Literature. In 2017, she won the PEN/New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award, and her work has appeared in several children’s literary magazines.

Music featured in this episode included

Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major and Beethoven’s Sonata Opus 101 performed by Amanda Setlik Wilson

“Roll ‘Em Goodman” by Mary Lou Williams and the Benny Goodman Orchestra

“Ave Verum Corpus” by the Weber State University Chamber Choir

“Blinded,” “Me,” I Can’t See You” and “Anathema” by Jeff Cuno

Your purchases help support the podcast!

Cover of "White Rose" by Kip Wilson — Episode 36 Sophie Scholl
Episode 121 Gerda Taro

Episode 36 Sophie Scholl
Episode 96 Valeska Gert
Episode 121 Gerda Taro

Cover of "One Last Shot" by Kip Wilson — Episode 36 Sophie Scholl
Episode 121 Gerda Taro

Sophie Scholl custom cross-stitch pattern

When you purchase through links on our website, we might earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Every bit helps us make more episodes.