Sophia Magdalena Scholl [ a ] 9 May β 22 February was a German student and anti-Nazi political activist, active in the White Rose non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany. She was convicted of high treason after having been found distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich with her brother, Hans. For her actions, she was executed by guillotine. Since the s, Scholl has been extensively commemorated for her anti-Nazi resistance work. She was the fourth of six children:. Scholl was brought up in the Lutheran church.
She started school at the age of seven, learned easily, and had a carefree childhood. In , the family moved to Ludwigsburg and then two years later to Ulm where her father had a business consulting office. In , Scholl began attending a secondary school for girls. Her initial enthusiasm gradually gave way to criticism. She was aware of the dissenting political views of her father, friends, and some teachers. Her brother Hans, who had at first participated enthusiastically in the Hitler Youth program, became entirely disillusioned with the Nazi Party.
The arrest of her brothers and friends in for participating in the German Youth Movement left a strong impression on her. An avid reader, she developed a growing interest in philosophy and theology. She had a talent for drawing and painting, and came into contact with a few so-called " degenerate " artists. All of the Scholl children had a deep interest in art, and befriended many artists of the time, particularly controversial ones who stood against National Socialism and explored such themes in their work.
One such artist, Otl Aicher , helped Sophie learn to sketch and helped her revise her drawings. He later married her sister Inge. Sophie was first arrested by the Gestapo at the age of 16, after her brother Hans was discovered to be active in an anti-Hitler Youth group called Deutsche Jungenschaft vom 1.
The Gestapo arrested Hans at his military post and other security agents arrested his siblings Inge, Werner and Sophie at their home shortly thereafter. Sophie was released later the same day, while Inge and Werner were jailed for a week.
