The Young German Christians Who Spoke Truth to Power
By Teresa Limjoco
One used his Faith as a shield in the face of brutal Gestapo interrogation; he did not talk. Another converted on his way to the guillotine. All were inspired by the heroic resistance of one Catholic bishop. Today, they would be regarded as very odd, indeed. What would modern Germans think of university students with strong Christian beliefs -- many sustained by a deep attachment to Catholicism -- defying the government? It is almost unheard of.
In this look back at the heroic young Germans who died defying the Nazi terror, Teresa Limjoco reveals the truth about where their strength came from.
n the 1930s, they were young, middle class and well-educated. They
discussed philosophy, sang in a Bach choir, enjoyed music, poetry, art, and books. They could easily have continued with such lives, but their consciences were awakened as they watched 1930’s Germany succumb to Nazi barbarism.
Moving beyond the passive ‘inner emigration’ most intellectuals resorted to, these University of Munich students formed the 'White Rose' ('Die Weisse Rose'), a resistance movement which dared to speak truth to power.
It would cost them their lives.
Speaking Truth to Power
Enthusiastic Hitler Youth members as teens, siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl grew disillusioned when the anti-Jewish hooliganism of Kristallnacht in 1938 revealed the ugly, ruthless face of Nazism. Disillusion would turn to outrage as they learned of ever-escalating heinous Nazi attacks on defenseless Jews.
In 1941, Hans heard of a homily preached by von Galen, the Roman Catholic bishop of Munster, (pictured right page) who bravely denounced Nazi euthanasia of the disabled and mentally ill. In this, Hans - a medical student who had served as a medic on the Eastern front - found his inspiration.
I
REGINA | 114