June 27 - June 28, 1942.
Summary:
The second leaflet is not paid for out of Alexander Schmorell’s allowance, as he could not ask his father for an advance without giving away their activity. So Hans Scholl asks Dr. Muth for money, while Lilo gives Alex what she can afford to donate.
Hans Scholl writes the first part of Leaflet II, needling Nazi leaders with derogatory remarks about Hitler’s bad German in Mein Kampf, while highlighting Hitler’s declaration that, “You would not believe how one must deceive a nation in order to rule it.”
The students still mistakenly think that if they could just show German intellgentsia and academics that they had been duped, those people would rise up.
Alex’s portion of Leaflet II focuses on more practical matters. He relates the information obtained from Manfred Eickemeyer about the cold-blooded murder of 300,000 Jews in Poland, along with Nazi etermination of the Polish aristocracy. While Hans Scholl appeals to German intellectualism and political theory, Alex addresses German crimes against humanity.
Setting themselves apart from other dissidents of the era, the students challenge their fellow citizens. They tell them that they already KNOW about German atrocities and are choosing to ignore them. This, they write, makes them every bit as guilty as the perpetrators.
There is strong evidence of Christoph Probst’s involvement in this leaflet as well. The leaflet ends with a nonsequitur, quotes from Lao-tse’s writings about The Great Man, about the nature of a kingdom, of government.
Alex takes extra leaflets to Lilo’s home for storage. She puts some leaflets in the broom closet in her basement, others she stows on an open shelf in her living room. She is not ready to commit to open action, but she keeps her promise to Alex to be there for him.
There is something oddly poetic about the leaflets’ being hidden in a broom closet.
Hans Scholl warns Lilo against full-on participation, a warning she is willing to heed. He uses the word “danger” to describe their undertaking. That corresponds exactly with her understanding of their pursuits.
Why This Matters:
Even now, there are two separate yet equally effective - and necessary - forms of resistance. The first lays bare the intellectual dishonesty of a political movement. Hans Scholl’s exposing the National Socialist ideology as empty, as worthless, played a role in their work. Alexander Schmorell’s tack of decrying specific war crimes, specific crimes against humanity, also had great value, perhaps for some readers, even more. Both Hans and Alex issued strong calls to action, making it clear that anyone who read their words and did nothing was guilty.
Lilo’s willingness to be there for her friend Alex, to give him space to Be, a place to store leftover leaflets, exemplifies the sort of support, the “allyship” that is equally necessary when confronting injustice.
As you read the words of writers who speak out against injustice, who speak on behalf of freedom and rightness, are you more motivated by those who expose intellectual dishonesty, or by those who decry specific acts of injustice?
In the comments, name writers (or journalists) whose work in either area influences you. Let’s give these important people the respect they are due!
White Rose History, Volume II, pages 83-85.
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