Wonderful Women: Sophie Scholl

Sophie Scholl is one of those people whose lives should be taught in every school in every nation. But it's surprising to learn just how few people have heard of her.

Scholl was born in 1921 in a small German town, the fourth of five children. In 1942, she enrolled at the University of Munich, studying biology and philosophy. Around that time, a group of young men at the university, including Scholl's brother Hans, formed a Nazi resistance group called The White Rose.

Several members of The White Rose had spent time fighting on the eastern front and had witnessed Nazi atrocities firsthand. They authored political leaflets describing the horrible war crimes of the Nazis and instructing Germans to passively resist them. Although Sophie did not author any of the leaflets, she did help distribute them, and it was while she was distributing them on campus that she was arrested on February 18, 1943. Three days later, Sophie, Hans, and their friend Cristoph Probst were tried for treason, convicted, and sentenced to death in a ridiculous parody of a trial, wanly defended by court appointed attorneys. They were beheaded just hours after their sentences were handed down. Impressed by their dignity and bravery, the guards of the prison violated regulations by letting the three friends see each other before they died. Hans and Sophie were allowed to see their parents, but none of Probst's family was aware that he had even been arrested, and his wife was in the hospital giving birth to their third child.

Sophie Scholl's last words were: "How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause? Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?"

Sadly, the democratic uprising that Sophie envisioned never took place, and several more members of The White Rose were executed or sent to concentration camps.

A quality little film about Sophie Scholl was nominated for best foreign language film a few years ago - it's called Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, and it's worth adding to your Netflix queue. Another film about Scholl featuring Christina Ricci has been in development purgatory for years and looks like it's finally gone off the rails.

Wonderful Women - Minnie Vautrin

Today I'm introducing a new semi-regular feature on The Daily Lalee: Wonderful Women and Marvelous Men.  There are many stories of striking heroism that become obscured by time and indifference.  WW/MM will shake the cobwebs off some of these stories and shine light on the lives of people who should be remembered. 

If you know a story of forgotten heroism, please let me know!  I will do my best to include it in a future WW/MM feature.

Minnie Vautrin was born in Illinois in 1886 and spent much of her childhood working to save money to go to college.  After graduating cum laude from the University of Illinois in 1912, she went to China and helped found a girls' school in Nanking.  In 1937, when Japanese soldiers perpetrated what is now known as the "Rape of Nanking," Vautrin, along with a group of concerned foreigners, created the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone to enforce a neutral area where Nanking residents would be safe from violence.  The Safety Zone leaders stayed in Nanking to protect its people, despite many opportunities to flee.  During this time, Vautrin welcomed thousands of refugees into her school and kept marauding troops at bay with little other than her wits.  Her tireless negotiations with Japanese officers probably saved thousands of lives.

Vautrin could not be in all places at all times, and so could not always protect her charges in the Safety Zone.  From time to time, Japanese soldiers would enter the Safety Zone, often using the excuse that they were searching for prostitutes and other criminals, then carry off dozens of women, and rape and execute them at will.  The stress of her daily heroism and the haunting images of the many months of the massacre took a serious toll on Vautrin.  In 1940, she suffered a mental breakdown and returned to the United States on furlough.  A few months later, she killed herself. 

American travellers to China have told me that the events of World War II are still very present for the people of China, especially the elderly, and that they continue to be deeply emotional about the American contribution to the protection of their country.  These feelings are certainly present in Nanking, where residents still refer to Vautrin as "The Goddess of Nanking."