Thirty years ago, when I was first introduced to White Rose friends and their utter courage during a dark era, I knew I wanted to tell their story. I had ample experience writing stuffy scholarly theses and essays. You know the ones. Liberal use of passive voice, plenty of quotes from professors on the dissertation committee, dense. Not fun to read. Voice completely lost. And if that thesis or dissertation happens to be written in German, you can go three pages without starting a new paragraph.
Even in July 1994 as I saw White Rose resistance with starry eyes, buying into Inge Scholl legend, thinking “what a sweet story this is!,” I knew I wanted to tell their story. I wanted readers to hear their voices, to experience Erich Schmorell laughing as he recounted Alex’s rescue of Limburger cheese, to catch the smile in Lilo’s voice as she envisioned Hans, Christl, Willi, and of course Alex sitting like grownups on her sofa, chomping on pipes that had no tobacco. Readers should empathize with Susanne Hirzel’s annoyance at her father’s blind patriotism, wrestle with Willi Graf as he struggled with nightmares earned on the Russian Front. I wanted everyone to laugh along with me as Traute led her Gestapo interrogator down her carefully planned primrose path, knowing that a young, sweet woman was able to outsmart a man who would later be found guilty of violating basic human rights at his trial in Nürnberg.
And that is how it was written, those first several drafts. No footnotes, just like Marshall Dill’s history of Germany that I’ve read and re-read many times since it was first assigned as a world history textbook. That was the feel I was going for.
But… I had to add footnotes. The true story is so – extraordinary? So gut-wrenching? That without footnotes, doubters questioned the story’s veracity.
Footnotes or no, I still wanted to tell their story. If I could have done so, I would have personally visited every single person who’s interested in White Rose resistance and sat at their kitchen table, telling this amazing story to them over coffee (and cake, of course). I would have personally traveled to every Holocaust remembrance day at every university and narrated this heartrending history to students and professors alike.
Sadly, those options are not viable.
When Substack added podcasts to its repertoire, I saw the opportunity to do what I’ve wanted to do for thirty years: Tell you this story. Yes, I’m reading the written words. But as you will see, those written words represent the narrative that till now has been captured solely on paper or in a digital space.
Now I can speak them aloud. And as I do so, I’m visualizing your kitchen table, your back porch, your view of the Manhattan skyline, your glimpse of a garden or parking lot or brick wall or mountains or busy street, whatever your window opens to – and we are sitting and talking, like friends would do, about other friends eighty years ago who gave that ultimate sacrifice – for liberty, for justice, for freedom, to do what was right and good and just. If only it were a conversation and not a monologue…!
Fair warning. This is my first-ever podcast or audio book. I initially tried to do this with my computer’s microphone and quickly scrapped that idea. I bought a podcast microphone and set it up in my office, which overlooks a cornfield. This first microphone isn’t all that great. As things progress, I hope the sound quality improves. You get to grow and learn with me.
I’m not working out of a soundproof studio. I do shut doors that allow street noises in, so huge tractors rumbling by should not interrupt the recording. But I’m leaving my back windows open. You may occasionally hear my neighbor’s rooster crowing – he talks 24 hours a day – or perhaps even birds.
And yes, I am going to mess up non-German, non-English names. I can tell you right now that when I’m reading about Constantin Carathéodory, I will not pronounce his name correctly, no matter how hard I try. And I’ve tried. And please do not laugh when I try to say French or Russian names.
I’m reading White Rose History, Volume II without skipping anything. Not letting you off the hook! But I may tweak text when reading, as spoken word has a different rhythm than written.
Also, I’m using the text field for Substack podcasts for notes and bibliography. Since the text is spoken, my process for doing this may evolve. But I want you to be able to check things out for yourself. That’s part of the historical process, asking questions, not accepting facts at face value.
If you purchased White Rose History, Volume II before April 30, you’ve automatically been added as paid subscriber to this podcast or audio book. If you become a paid subscriber to this podcast, please contact me if you’d like a 50% discount coupon for the digital version of the History.
Finally: You will also have to bear with me when I reach parts of the story that still get to me, that still make me cry. You’d think after thirty years, I’d be immune to the emotions their lives and deaths evoke. But no. I don’t pause the recording when tears come. Perhaps you will understand why.
Please use the comments section for suggestions, questions, observations. That is your way of responding, as we drink coffee on your back porch or kitchen table.
Goal is to post a 10-15 minute recording per day. Wish me luck!
Oh, and in case you’re interested, I like chocolate cake with my coffee.
© 2024 Denise Elaine Heap. Please contact us for permission to quote.
To order digital version of White Rose History, Volume II, click here. Digital version of White Rose History, Volume I is available here.
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