Adolf Hitler's Impact On German Youth

From 1934 to 1945 an abhorrent man named Adolf Hitler was Chancellor of Germany and the leader of Nazi Germany. He wanted to exterminate the Jewish population from the face of the earth and although he was a respected leader, he did not go about this in a manner anywhere close to civilized. Behind his words he was doing horrendous things like killing mentally disabled children, tricking Jews into toxic gas chambers, and many more ways to progress in his genocidal plan. Most people saw the positives of the events taking place, which is what Hitler wanted them to see, but not all were as naive. Hans and Sophie were just inconsequential children who saw the world for what it was and realized it needed to change, so they did something about it.

They were in Hitler Youth and supported him as most German citizens did during this time. Their father was mayor of the town Forchtenberg so they were aware of what was going on in Germany at the time. Robert was most certainly not happy with Hitler, but he remained to encourage his children to have their own thoughts and opinions (White Rose: Hans and Sophie Scholl). Before Sophie and Hans were in Hitler Youth they were in another organization named German Youth which had been outlawed. Although it had been outlawed, Hans remained in the group and was heavily influenced by it. This was a turning point in Hans’s life and now he saw the bad in his world that Hitler had brought upon them. On the other hand, Sophie was confused and angered that her Jewish friends could not join her in Hitler Youth and her opinions began to change as well (Axelrod). Axelrod explains Sophie’s hatred for her country’s leader when stating, “If she had a gun and saw Hitler on the street, she would kill him” (Axelrod 76). Now that the siblings had entrenched their view on Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, they had to start a

Sophie later joined this group and she and Hans became the leaders. This like-minded group of friends called themselves the White Rose for reasoning regarding the symbol for pure intentions and youth (Ultimate White Rose Meaning Guide). They wanted to raise awareness of Hitler’s wrongdoings so they made hundreds of leaflets and spread them around the University of Munich, where they were attending, and in the surrounding areas. In the first leaflet they write, “Nothing is less worthy of a civilized people than to let themselves be governed—without resistance—by an irresponsible and base elique. Is every honest German today ashamed of his government? And who among us can guess the dimensions or the shame that will engulf us and our children, when the veil falls from our eyes one day and the most gruesome and immeasurable crimes come to light?” (Axelrod 61). They take a very profitable approach in their fist leaflet by trying to get the readers to understand their point through asking questions. The questions require deep thought which will most likely end up in a change of opinion and a step in the right direction for the White Rose. The band of classmates sent out six of these leaflets in their time and finally the German population was aware of what their leader was really