In November last year, the network "exploded" from the behavior of schoolboy Kolya from Urengoy, who, speaking in the Bundestag, actually justified the fascist invaders. Of course, you can write off his passages about the "innocent dead" of Hitler's soldiers to some kind of abstract humanism: "the boys were driven to the slaughter." And also - they say, it is inconvenient, being invited to Germany, to speak of the Germans as enemies.
But Kolya actually had a decent way out: to talk not about fascist soldiers, but about heroic German anti-fascists. About those people who challenged Hitler while in his lair. And they paid for this choice with their lives.
There were quite a few of them. Many fought. And many died for this. Recently, on February 22nd, there was the 75th anniversary of the execution of three of them - Sophie and Hans Scholley and Christoph Probst. These young people were members of an underground resistance group under the romantic name "White Rose".
At the time of execution, young Sophie Scholl was under 22 years old. Together with her brother Hans and several other similar young guys, she distributed anti-fascist leaflets. It would seem that this youth group was not engaged in anything particularly "criminal" even from the point of view of the Hitler regime. The most "extremist" of all actions is the writing of slogans on the walls of the University. That is, by any measure, they can be recognized in their pure form as prisoners of conscience. But the guys did not even stay in prison for long - they became martyrs too quickly. Because Hitlerism saw danger in any Word.
Sophie Scholl was born in Forchtenberg on May 9, 1921. Was the fourth child of five. Her father served as mayor of this city. But then the whole family moved to Ludwigsburg, and a couple of years later to Ulm. It would seem that it was a completely "decent" family by the standards of that time. At the age of 12, Sophie, under the influence of total propaganda, was briefly carried away by Nazi ideas and joined the League of German Girls. Of course, beautiful and “correct” speeches were made there: that a woman should be courageous, virtuous, have the ability to sacrifice - and at the same time not be too belligerent. All this attracted a dreamy girl there, at that time still a child. However, politics then did not enter into the main interests of Sophie, who was fond of music, dancing, painting.
In 1937, three children from this family - Hans, Werner and Inge - were arrested by the Gestapo. They were accused of illegal political activity, but were soon released. Perhaps it was this incident that had a significant impact on the further views of Hans and Sophie, who were destined to become heroes of the Resistance. As for Werner, he will then be sent to the front, where he will perish.
But it will be later. Until then … In 1940, Sophie Scholl graduated from high school. By that time, her enthusiasm for that "beautiful candy", under which the youth were presented with the ideas of Nazism, had already largely dissipated. To avoid labor service, the girl went to the courses of kindergarten teachers. Then she had to work in the Imperial Labor Service - this was a condition in order to enter a higher educational institution.
In May 1942, Sophie entered the philosophy department of the University of Munich. In the same place, only at the medical faculty, Hans studied.
In one of her letters of that time, the girl actually predicted her future fate: "".
Hans and his friends have the same thoughts. Young people begin to abhor the cruelty of the Nazi regime, the mass shootings in the Warsaw ghetto and other negative manifestations of Hitlerism.
In June 1942, the guys created the White Rose underground organization. Among the creators was Hans Scholl. The organization was mainly involved in writing and distributing leaflets. At first, they were sent to German intellectuals - young people hoped to find like-minded people among them (and some of the highly educated people really joined). Then young anti-fascists began to distribute leaflets on the streets, in public places - wherever possible. The main idea of the leaflets, which had a circulation of several thousand, was that Hitler was leading the country into the abyss. Once, Hans wrote the slogans “Down with Hitler” and “Freedom” on the walls of the University of Munich.
Until recently, Hans did not want to involve his sister in dangerous underground activities. But in January 1943, Sophie nevertheless joined the organization. But her activity did not last long.
On February 18, 1943, Hans and Sophie tried to arrange a bold and daring action - distributing leaflets at the University of Munich. Sophie tossed a sheaf of proclamations from the foyer balcony. She, along with Hans, was noticed by a guard who turned the guys into the clutches of the Gestapo.
Hans had with him the manuscript of the leaflet, written by another member of the White Rose - Christoph Probst. However, all his participation was reduced to this very leaflet and to the presence at several meetings. This man, the father of three children, preferred not to take risks, as he feared for his family. But he was arrested. Several other members of the underground were also captured.
Sophie Scholl initially denied her guilt, but there was too much evidence against her. Then she and her brother chose a different tactic - they tried to take all the blame on themselves and protect Probst and other comrades. Sophie said during interrogations that there was no underground organization, it was just that she and Hans made leaflets on their own initiative.
At the same time, the girl did not repent of anything and once said to her executioners: “If they ask me if I now consider my actions to be correct, I will answer: yes. I believe that I did the best that I could do for my people. I do not regret what I have done and accept the consequences of my actions."
The interrogations of the guys were painful, but did not last long. On February 22, 1943, a fleeting fascist trial took place. Sophie and Hans Scholly, as well as Christoph Probst, were sentenced to death by Judge Roland Freisler. For "high treason". There was no opportunity to appeal against such a harsh sentence - the brave underground fighters were guillotined on the same day. The execution took place in the Stadelheim prison. History has preserved the last words of Sophie Scholl:
“How can virtue triumph when virtually no one is willing to sacrifice themselves for it? Such a beautiful sunny day, and I have to go."
Now the memory of these young anti-fascists is respected in Germany. The square where the main building of the University of Munich is located is named after Hans and Sophie Scholl. In the courtyard of the university there is a monument to the underground workers "White Rose". Three films are dedicated to them, the most famous of which is The Last Days of Sophie Scholl. A literary prize was also named after Hans and Sophie in 1980.
Many other anti-fascists are practically forgotten. An erudite high school student who is interested in history could find information about them. And maybe next time young delegates from Russia, even while in Germany, will be able to speak more dignifiedly and tell about real people. About those who did not rot ignominiously for the Fuhrer in the swamp, but challenged him. And, of course, the elders should tell the students about those who fought against fascism. Then, perhaps, there will be no more shameful incidents like in the Bundestag.
