Mid-May 1942.
Alfred von Martin introduces Hans Scholl to Josef Furtmeier, who would become profound influence on White Rose friends. Nicknamed “The Philosopher,” Furtmeier quit his job instead of joining the NSDAP, an action that taught the students the cost of living according to one’s convictions.
Josef Furtmeier introduces Manfred Eickemeyer to Hans Scholl. Background on Eickemeyer’s life and influence on the students.
Hans Scholl joins Alexander Schmorell as frequent visitor to Lilo Berndl nee Ramdohr’s home. Sketching.
White Rose History, Volume II, pages 17-20.
Notes and references
Josef Furtmeier:
During Traute Lafrenz’s interrogation on 2/26/1943, she said they had never talked politics with Josef Furtmeier. She shielded him well.
Jens, Inge (Ed.). At the Heart of the White Rose: Letters and Diaries of Hans and Sophie Scholl. Translation by J. Maxwell Brownjohn. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., 1987.
4/21/2003 letter from Traute Lafrenz to author.
ZC13267, Volume 6. 2/26/1943 interrogation of Traute Lafrenz. (Publication in 2024/2025.)
Manfred Eickemeyer:
In Eickemeyer’s 4/7/1943 interrogation, he stated that he met Hans Scholl in Spring 1942. On 4/6/1943, he had stated it was June 1942. On 7/13/1943, the judge in the Third White Rose Trial stated that Eickemeyer had met Hans Scholl in March or April 1942.
The June 1942 date does not leave enough time for the meetings they both admitted to before July 22, 1942 (databases are good at establishing this sort of thing!). The March-April 1942 date is untenable because Eickemeyer’s “furloughs” in Munich rarely lasted more than one month, at most two, and would not have stretched until July 22, 1942.
Regarding the 4/9/1943 interrogation: This interrogation includes his admission to the Gestapo about what he told the White Rose friends at the 7/22/1942 party re murders of Jews and Poles in the Generalgouvernement, and how it negatively affected his attitude towards the government. Eickemeyer’s willingness to take this stand during his interrogation alleviates some of the doubts that would remain of necessity if one only considered the work he did for the Generalgouvernement.
Regarding his immediate family members: I like the fact that Manfred Eickemeyer mentioned his sister Luise and her husband Professor Dr. Kurt von Fritz first during his interrogation. He seems to have emphasized the anti-Nazi side of his family.
Dr. Kurt von Fritz’s archives may be accessed on the Web site of SUNY/Albany’s M.E. Grenander Special Collections and Archives.
Lahanas, Michael. “Constantin Carathéodory.” Retrieved from www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/ new/Caratheodory.htm. Information about the friendship between Kurt von Fritz and Constantin Carathéodory.
Reiss, Hans. “Geisteswissenschaften in the Third Reich: Some Reflections.” In German History, January 1, 2003, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 86-103.
Stadtsarchiv München Stanw. Nr. 12.530. 4/6/1943 interrogation of Manfred Eickemeyer; 4/7/1943 interrogation of Manfred Eickemeyer; 4/9/1943 interrogation of Manfred Eickemeyer;
Lilo Berndl nee Ramdohr:
Fürst-Ramdohr, Lilo. Freundschaften in der Weiβen Rose. Munich: Verlag Geschichtswerkstatt Neuhausen, 1995.
2002 interview with Lieselotte Fürst-Ramdohr at her apartment in Starnberg.
Steipe, Patrizia. “Alexander Schmorell – privat.” Süddeutsche Zeitung, 1995, Feuilleton.
NJ1704, Volume 9. 3/2/1943 interrogation of Lilo Berndl. (Publication in 2024/2025.)
Podcast © 2024 Denise Elaine Heap. White Rose History, Volume II, Chapter 02, © 2002 Denise Elaine Heap and Exclamation! Publishers. Please contact us for permission to quote.
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