Conscience before Conformity: Hans and Sophie Scholl and the White Rose resistance in Nazi Germany

by Paul Shrimpton

Conscience before Conformity tells the story of German students who dared to speak out against Hitler and the Third Reich, and died for their beliefs. Operating under the name of the White Rose, they printed and distributed leaflets condemning Nazism and urging Germans to offer non-violent resistance to the 'atheistic war machine'. By looking at the cultural and religious journey of the protagonists, Hans and Sophie Scholl, we can see what made them change from active participants in the Hitler Youth to leaders of the White Rose resistance. These modern-day heroes were deeply influenced by intellectuals they met in secret, and by the writings of great Christian thinkers such as St Augustine, Pascal, Georges Bernanos, and Bl. John Henry Newman. What they learnt gave them the strength to put their consciences before conformity to the Nazi lie.

Genres: History, World War II

328 pages, Paperback

Published February 16, 2018

Reviews

[WSF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Shrimpton's excellent book includes a telling quote from Hermann Goring: 'I don't have a conscience,' he said, 'Hitler is my conscience.' For twelve years, between 1933 and 1945, millions of Germans outsourced their consciences to Hitler. Answers to the question of why so many Germans accepted the atrocities of the Nazi regime sometimes emphasise the effectiveness of the regime's propaganda or the terrorism of the Gestapo. This book's greatest accomplishment, I think, is its precise mapping of a journey by which two young Germans, initially enthusiastic members of the Nazi youth leagues, restored the sovereignty of their own individual consciences through an often agonising process of introspection and moral self-persuasion. Once they made their conscience their guide, neither the regime's propaganda, society's conformity or the terrors of the Gestapo could stand against them. Some commentators on the White Rose group dismiss them as a flash-in-the-pan, foolhardy actors in a hopeless cause. Their methods of exhortation and non-violent resistance, however, reflected the destination of their moral journeys; they were not, for instance, political ideologues who acted out of ready-made 'them-and-us' (e.g. pro-communist, anti-fascist) prescriptions. Their pushing back against fascism was part of a personal, organic, spiritual maturation, undertaken individually, even if in response to shared influences. As such, it was more hard-won, more heroic, more profound, because it did not covet any approbation for itself.

[Stephani Richards-Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend Dr. Shrimpton's book, Conscience Before Conformity. It is a "must read" for anyone interested in the White Rose and Nazi resistance in general. He is a well regarded historian and made use of copious footnotes in telling their story. He made a significant contribution to the scholarship because he explored the Scholl's cultural and religious journey, providing a context to their actions. He discussed their personal motivations in deciding to resist and engages the reader through his careful attention to detail and insightful storytelling. What I especially liked about his book is the approach he took in highlighting the ecumenical spirit of the White Rose and their mentors. Truly inspirational and a great read!

[Christopher Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic work. Detailing the resistance to the Nazi regime by this group of young people, the book portrays the details of their lives leading up to the choice of resistance: the reading, thoughts, prayers, journals, and lectures of the various members in the White Rose movement.

[Leslie Benvenuti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book about a piece of history of which I was unaware. If you are interested in WWII and German youth resistance, this is a must read!