Sophie Scholl: The Real Tale of the Woman Who Defied Hitler

In 1999, the popular German woman's magazine Brigitte voted the deceased twenty-one-year-old Sophie Scholl " The Woman of the Twentieth Century" and in 2003 the Greatest Germans TV series ranked her the highest German woman in the country's history. Sophie who? ACHS students and the Arkansas City community have been acquainted and inspired by the young woman's courage for thirty years. This book makes the fourth title in the library's collection on the heroic college girl, her brother Hans, and their anti-Nazi resistant group known as The White Rose. Sophie initially thought her father 's hostile attitude and disgust towards the rise to power of the Nazi party and Adolf Hitler were just the stodgy older generation being out of tough and fearful of reform and change. Both she and her brother Hans enthusiastically joined the Hitler Youth. Like the Boy and Girl Scouts, what wasn't to like--uniforms, parades, camping, hiking, singing, sports and camaraderie. However, as with many teens, the Scholls began to resent the oppressive authority, militaristic discipline, and conformity. Coming-of-age also meant increased awareness of the party's intolerance towards Jews and non-members. Sophie also developed an interest in becoming an artist. Consequently, her friends and peer group shifted away from the establishment and status quo towards the "artsy" and bohemian. Much of the admired art being discussed and books being read by her and older brother were labeled "degenerative art" by the regime. By the time Sophie joined her brother at Munich University in 1942, intellectual influences on her ranged from the Bible, Aristotle, Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain to St. Augustine and Catholicism. The first "protest" leaflet by Sophie and the White Rose group was mailed out and distributed in late June, 1942. Their sixth and last leaflet was handed out on February 18--' "How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause ..." '. Sophie and Hans were caught by the Gestapo that same day. Both were tried and guillotined four days later. Besides the following books: Sophie Scholl (2006) by Dumbach, Hans And Sophie Scholl (2001) by Axelrod, and The White Rose: Munich 1942-1943 (1983) by Inge Scholl, the library also has two movies: The White Rose (German 1982) and Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005). If you are looking for a book club title or title for a book report list or bibliography, introduce your YA readers to YA historical figures such as Sophie and Hans Scholl! 224 pages. Recommended by Robert L. Hicks, Librarian, Arkansas City High School, Kansas USA