“Leaflets of the White Rose” is the title that Hans Scholl and Alexander Schmorell give the first four leaflets that they write, duplicate and distribute in the summer of 1942. With the help of their friends, they produce a fifth leaflet entitled “Leaflets of the Resistance Movement in Germany” in late January 1943. This is followed by the leaflet “Fellow Students!”, mostly written by Kurt Huber. It is while distributing this last leaflet in the university on 18 February 1943 that Hans and Sophie Scholl are detained. Hans Scholl is carrying the draft for a seventh leaflet, handwritten by Christoph Probst, in his coat pocket.
The first four leaflets are written between 27 June and 12 July 1942 at Alexander Schmorell’s parents’ house in Munich. With these leaflets, the students appeal to the political responsibility of the ‘German intelligence’ in particular. In order to convince these readers especially of their moral duty to resist, Scholl and Schmorell use extracts from classical literature to make their argument. They mention the impending military catastrophe several times so as to rouse the population. They themselves reject the war and view Germany’s defeat as a precondition for a new beginning.
The fifth and sixth leaflet are distributed by the thousands in different cities in late January and mid-February with the help of friends and fellow campaigners. The fifth leaflet is an appeal to the entire population in a clear, political language. Its title “Leaflets of the Resistance Movement in Germany. Appeal to all Germans!” is intended to suggest that there already is a large, interconnected opposition against the NS dictatorship across Germany. The sixth leaflet, “Fellow Students!”, is directed specifically at Munich students. On 13 January 1943, Willi Graf notes in his diary: “We are truly getting to work now, getting the ball rolling.”
Facsimiles of the leaflets as well as translations of their texts in English, French, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, and Spanish are available from the White Rose Foundation / Weiße Rose Stiftung e.V. and the DenkStätte Weiße Rose upon request. Please contact our office.
I. Leaflet of the White Rose
II. Leaflet of the White Rose
III. Leaflet of the White Rose
IV. Leaflet of the White Rose
Appeal to all Germans!
V. Leaflet of the White Rose
Fellow Students!
VI. Leaflet of the White Rose
