Hans Scholl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hans Scholl
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Hans Scholl was executed for creating the White Rose resistance movement against the Nazi regime in Germany.
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Hans Fritz Scholl
22 September 1918 Crailsheim, German Empire
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| Died | 22 February 1943 (aged 24) Stadelheim Prison, Munich, Nazi Germany
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| Cause of death | Execution by guillotine |
| Resting place | Perlacher Friedhof, Munich |
| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | Soldier, medic, student, resistance founder |
| Parent(s) | Robert Scholl Magdalena Müller |
| Relatives | Inge Scholl (sister) Elisabeth Hartnagel-Scholl (sister) Sophie Scholl (sister) Werner Scholl (brother) |
Hans Fritz Scholl (born September 22, 1918 – died February 22, 1943) was a brave young German who stood up against the Nazi government during World War II. He was one of the main founders of a secret group called the White Rose. This group wrote and shared messages that spoke out against the Nazis. Because of his actions, Hans was found guilty of treason and was put to death by the Nazi regime in 1943.
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Hans Scholl's Early Life
Hans Scholl was born in Ingersheim, Germany, on September 22, 1918. This town is now part of Crailsheim. His father, Robert Scholl, later became a mayor. Hans was the second of six children in his family:
- Inge Aicher-Scholl (1917–1998)
- Hans Scholl (1918–1943)
- Elisabeth Scholl Hartnagel (1920–2020)
- Sophie Scholl (1921–1943)
- Werner Scholl (1922–1944)
- Thilde Scholl (1925–1926)
Hans grew up in the Lutheran faith. When he was younger, he joined the Hitler Youth in 1933. He even held leadership roles at first. However, he soon became unhappy with the group. He realized that the Hitler Youth promoted extreme ideas and demanded complete obedience. This made him start to question the Nazi government.
Studying Medicine and Serving in the Army
In 1937, Hans joined the Reich Labour Service. This was a required service for young Germans. In March 1939, he left to study medicine at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. At the university, he met teachers and students who had strong Christian beliefs. They were also critical of the Nazi government. These new friendships helped Hans think more deeply about his own beliefs.
During his breaks from university, Hans was called to serve as a medic in the Wehrmacht (the German army). He served on the front lines during the French campaign. What he saw and experienced in the war made him even more determined to oppose the Nazi leaders and the war itself. He was called back to serve as a medic again in 1941.
Starting the White Rose Group
Between 1940 and 1941, Hans Scholl began to seriously question the Nazi government's rules and ideas. As a student in Munich, he met people who encouraged him to explore religion, philosophy, and art. These ideas inspired him to take action.
After serving on the Eastern Front, Hans and his friend Alexander Schmorell learned about terrible mass killings. They felt they had to do something. From June to July 1942, they wrote the first four leaflets for the White Rose. These leaflets used quotes from the Bible, famous thinkers like Aristotle, and German poets like Goethe and Schiller. They wanted to reach educated Germans, hoping these people would agree with their message.
The White Rose group would leave these leaflets in public phone booths. They also mailed them to professors and students. Sometimes, they sent them by courier to other universities.
From July to October 1942, Hans, Alexander Schmorell, and Willi Graf had to serve on the Soviet front again. The White Rose activities stopped during this time. When they returned, Willi Graf became a key member. Hans's sister, Sophie Scholl, also joined the group. By the end of 1942, Professor Kurt Huber became the last main member.
With six core members, the White Rose created two more pamphlets. These were shared in the summer of 1942. The leaflets were mostly spread around the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. They were also distributed at the University of Hamburg and in the city of Ulm. The group even mailed leaflets to doctors, scholars, and pub owners across Germany.
Capture and Execution
On February 18, 1943, Hans and Sophie Scholl were distributing leaflets at Ludwig Maximilian University. Sophie threw the last few leaflets from the top floor down into the main hall. The university maintenance man, Jakob Schmid, saw this. He reported them to the Gestapo (the Nazi secret police). Hans and Sophie were arrested.
Along with their friend Christoph Probst, Hans and Sophie were put on trial for treason. The judge, Roland Freisler, found them guilty. They were sentenced to death on February 22, 1943.
During his questioning, Hans tried to protect his sister. He claimed he had thrown all the leaflets himself. But the custodian's story proved him wrong. Hans also tried to hide the involvement of other White Rose members. He knew the serious risks of his actions. He said, "I knew what I took upon myself and I was prepared to lose my life by so doing."
After the trial, Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were taken to Stadelheim Prison. They were told they would be executed that same day. This was a shock, as prisoners usually had more time before execution. In their separate cells, they began to write their last letters.
While in prison, Hans, Sophie, and Christoph each met with a priest. Christoph, who was not part of any church, asked to be baptized into the Catholic Church. Hans and Sophie also asked to join the Catholic Church. However, their Lutheran priest advised against it. He thought it would upset their mother, who was a very religious Lutheran.
Around 4 or 5 p.m., Hans and Sophie's parents, Robert and Magdalena Scholl, went to the prison. They demanded to see their children. Surprisingly, their request was granted. Robert and Magdalena were led to a room. A few minutes later, Hans entered. He was wearing a prison uniform. He walked tall to his parents and held their hands through a barrier. He told them, "I have no hatred. I have put everything behind me." His father replied, "You will go down in history -- there is such a thing as justice."
After Hans left, Sophie was brought in. She was wearing her normal clothes and smiled happily to see her parents. After talking for a few minutes, her mother held her hands. "You know, Sophie -- Jesus." Sophie replied, "Yes, but you too." She walked out of the room with her head held high.
After Hans, Sophie, and Christoph's trial, there were three more trials for other White Rose members. In total, 29 people were accused of being part of the White Rose. Sixteen of them were executed. Thirteen others were given prison sentences, from six months to ten years.
The White Rose Legacy
After Hans and Sophie died, a copy of the sixth White Rose leaflet was secretly taken out of Germany. It went through Scandinavia to the UK. The Allied Forces then used it. In July 1943, they dropped millions of copies of the leaflet over Germany. They called it The Manifesto of the Students of Munich.
Many historians believe the White Rose's actions were very important. They showed amazing courage and were a clear example of people speaking out. This happened even when the government was violent, censored everything, and pressured everyone to agree.
Playwright Lillian Garrett-Groag said in Newsday (February 22, 1993):
It is possibly the most spectacular moment of resistance that I can think of in the twentieth century... The fact that five little kids, in the mouth of the wolf, where it really counted, had the tremendous courage to do what they did, is spectacular to me. I know that the world is better for them having been there, but I do not know why.
In the same newspaper, historian Jud Newborn noted:
You cannot really measure the effect of this kind of resistance in whether or not X number of bridges were blown up or a regime fell... The White Rose really has a more symbolic value, but that's a very important value.
It wasn't until 1998 that a German law officially cancelled the Nazi judgments against Hans Scholl and other White Rose members. This meant their sentences were no longer considered valid.
In 2003, a German TV channel asked people to vote for the top ten most important Germans of all time. Voters under 40 helped Hans and Sophie Scholl finish in fourth place. They were ranked higher than famous people like Bach, Goethe, Gutenberg, and Albert Einstein. If only young people's votes were counted, Sophie and Hans Scholl would have been ranked first.
In 2012, the main lecture hall (Audimax) at the Bundeswehr Medical Academy in Munich was named after Hans Scholl.
Films About the White Rose
Three films have been made about the White Rose group:
- Hans was played by Michael Cornelius in the film Fünf Letze Tage (1982).
- Hans was played by Wulf Kessler in the film Die Weisse Rose (1982).
- Hans was played by Fabian Hinrichs in the film Sophie Scholl – The Final Days (2005).
