The Kreisau Circle and The White Rose Opposition to the Nazi Regime

Origins of the Kreisau Circle Founded in the wake of Hitler’s ascension to power Founder members were … German gentry and aristocracy – von Moltke was a descendent of the famous military family Named after the location of von Moltke’s estate in Silesia Helmuth James Graf von MoltkePeter Yorck von Wartenburg

Ideas and Actions The Circle had members from across society – about 20 prominent members They were concerned with building a liberal and humanist society post Nazi era They were influenced by the church and had Christian values at their core They met for three big conferences at the villa in Kreisau between September 1942 and Spring 1943 They created a manifesto called ‘Basic Principles for the New Order’ in August 1943 Von Moltke was against assassinating Hitler for fear he would become a martyr

Results von Moltke was arrested in January 1944 by the Gestapo Other members were arrested after the von Stauffenberg Bomb Plot of July 1944 Some were executed in the immediate aftermath of the Bomb Plot von Moltke was executed in January 1945, having been found guilty of treason. He had no role in the bomb plot and wrote to his wife he was being killed merely for thinking

Origins of the White Rose Non-violent, intellectual resistance group Founded by a Philosophy Professor and students at the University of Munich Their activities started during WW2 but they did have contact with the Kreisau Circle Willi Graf Kurt Huber Sophie and Hans Scholl Christoph Alexander Probst Schmorell

Actions and Ideas The came from a variety of religious backgrounds and some had been members of the Hitler Youth and the BDM when it was made compulsory In the summer of 1942 some served for 3 months at the Russian Front and this influenced their thinking and actions Between June 1942 and February 1943 they printed anti-Nazi leaflets and distributed them around the university campus On 18 th February 1943 the Scholl’s were caught dropping leaflets around the campus and arrested. Other members were arrested in the coming months von Moltke helped to smuggle the text of the 6 th leaflet out via Scandanavia to the USA. In July 1943 copies were dropped by aircraft over Germany

Results Sophie and Hans Scholl and Christoph Probst were put on trial on 22 nd February 1943, found guilty and beheaded the same day Alexander Schmorrel and Kurt Huber were beheaded in July 1943 and Willi Graf was also beheaded on 12 th October 1943 In 2012 Schmorrel was made a Saint by the Orthodox Church They are now remembered as one of the bravest opponents of Nazi rule A film, The White Rose, was made in 1982 to great acclaim

White Rose Memorial – Ludwig Maximillain University of Munich