The sun still shines

Sophie showed me that age does not have to be decisive. At just 21, she had more courage to fight for the truth than many older people in her generation—and even in mine. God gave her a strength far beyond what one would expect from someone her age.

Sophie grew up in Nazi Germany, where she was part of the League of German Girls, the female branch of the Hitler Youth, while her brother Hans was himself a member of the Hitler Youth. Hitler knew that youth was the future, and he deliberately focused on them. Yet Sophie and Hans’ parents also knew that truth, and thus focused on their children. They were devout Christians who raised their children with biblical principles.

These same children would later join the White Rose, a resistance group made up of five students—including Sophie and Hans—and a professor. Everyone who resisted the NSDAP knew they were signing their own death sentence. Yet this did not stop them, for: “Evil is powerless if good people are unafraid.”

From June 1942 to February 1943, the White Rose distributed pamphlets across Germany. It was a nearly impossible task: paper, ink, and other materials were scarce. Yet they found supporters who helped them. Much of the work had to be done by hand, but they were willing to make that sacrifice.

In 1943, Sophie, Hans, and Christoph (the professor) made bold plans. They wanted to distribute a large number of pamphlets at the University of Munich. Since Christoph was married with three children and had much to lose, Sophie and Hans took the lead, while Christoph wrote the pamphlets. During class, they spread the material, and everything seemed to go well. But Sophie discovered that hundreds of pamphlets remained. She decided to throw them into the atrium from the top of the staircase. A janitor saw her and betrayed them.

Sophie and Hans were arrested by the Gestapo. In Hans’ bag, they found pamphlets. Although he had tried to destroy them earlier in the hope of not linking them to Christoph, the Gestapo was still able to trace Christoph as the author. He too was arrested and later executed.

Sophie and Hans were interrogated but revealed nothing. Sophie’s questioning lasted nearly 17 hours. She was even offered a second chance to align herself with Nazi ideology—but she refused.

Four days later, on February 22, 1943, they were tried for treason. Sophie tried to take responsibility in order to save the others, but it was in vain. While imprisoned, their guards were so moved by their courage that they allowed them to say goodbye to their parents—something Christoph was denied. Neither his wife or children were able to say goodbye to him.

Soon after, Sophie and Hans were executed. They died for freedom—for our freedom. Their hope was that their deaths would inspire others in their time, especially young people, to fight for truth. Though their immediate dream was not fulfilled, their sacrifice had a profound ripple effect.

Today Sophie has inspired me, just as she inspired Charlie Kirk, Seth Gruber, and many others. Together with the spirit of the White Rose, we continue to fight for truth today—even at the cost of our lives. (Just as we saw last week.)

Sophie’s last words were: “The sun still shines.” With those words she pointed to a deeper hope—the hope that only Christ can give us. The only hope that can keep us alive while enabling us to keep fighting.

Sophie was only 21, and the only woman in the White Rose. While feminists like Simone de Beauvoir and Angela Davis are celebrated, Sophie is often forgotten. Maybe because she did what was necessary: she stood up for the truth, even when no one wanted to hear it. That is why I honor Sophie Scholl.

The danger begins when ordinary people stop fighting for the truth:

“The real damage is done by those millions who want to ‘survive.’ The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves—or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small, die small. It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you’ll keep it under control. If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you. But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what? Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I choose my own way to burn.”

“Peace if possible, truth at all costs!” — Martin Luther

Do not be afraid to fight for God’s truth. Christianity flourishes on the blood of its martyrs.

-Ella

This article was inspired by The 1916 Project: The Lyin’, The Witch, and the War We’re In.