This is one of my favorite leaflets from Die Weiße
Rose. I enjoy their observation that "German intellectuals fled to
their cellars, there, like plants struggling in the dark, away from light and
sun, gradually to choke to death."
One cannot blame them in some ways, since from the very beginning the
National Socialists were backing their words with violent street thugs in
brown shirts. And so many among the very wealthy and the highly trained
professional classes threw themselves into the arms of the powerful like
hypocrites and whores.
But even if we rightfully condemn the failure of those whose obligation it is
to speak, how often are we seeing this in our own time?
When the economy was very obviously building towards the financial crisis of
2008, how many economists were ignoring the bubble conditions, preferring to
keep their noses in their statistics, a willful condition that I call data
blindness. How many lawyers look at outrageous miscarriages of justice
and say and do nothing? How many of those who have been blessed by
circumstances sit back and smugly attribute their good fortune to their
natural superiority as a the new ubermensch?
It is not safe to see too much, and even less safe for the career minded to
speak out against the actions of powerful insiders who control the
benefactions of position, and the perks of the privileged class.
It is much more judicious to hide one's nose in a selective book of statistics,
ignoring the reality, and relying instead on being data blind or ideologically
blind to what is really happening.
It is easier to say 'I didn't know of this injustice' and afterwards,
'who could see such a thing approaching?'
And then to do it all over again.
The White Rose
Second Leaflet
Munich, 1942
We will not be silent.
It is impossible to engage in intellectual discourse with National Socialist
philosophy, for if there were such an entity, one would have to try by means
of analysis and discussion either to prove its validity or to combat it. In
actuality, however, we face a totally different situation.
At its very inception this movement depended on the deception and betrayal of
one's fellow man; even at that time it was inwardly corrupt and could support
itself only by constant lies. After all, Hitler states in an early edition of
"his" book (a book written in the worst German I have ever read, in
spite of the fact that it has been elevated to the position of the Bible in
this nation of poets and thinkers): "It is unbelievable, to what extent
one must betray a people in order to rule it."
If at the start this cancerous growth in the nation was not particularly
noticeable, it was only because there were still enough forces at work that
operated for the good, so that it was kept under control. As it grew larger,
however, and finally in an ultimate spurt of growth attained ruling power,
the tumor broke open, as it were, and infected the whole body.
The greater part of its former opponents went into hiding. The German
intellectuals fled to their cellars, there, like plants struggling in the
dark, away from light and sun, gradually to choke to death.
Now the end is at hand. Now it is our task to find one another again, to
spread information from person to person, to keep a steady purpose, and to
allow ourselves no rest until the last man is persuaded of the urgent need of
his struggle against this system. When thus a wave of unrest goes through the
land, when "it is in the air," when many join the
cause, then in a great final effort this system can be shaken off.
After all, an end in terror is preferable to terror without end.
We are not in a position to draw up a final judgment about the meaning of our
history. But if this catastrophe can be used to further the public welfare,
it will be only by virtue of the fact that we are cleansed by suffering; that
we yearn for the light in the midst of deepest night, summon our strength,
and finally help in shaking off the yoke which weighs on our world.
We do not want to discuss here the question of the Jews, nor do we want in
this leaflet to compose a defense or apology. No, only by way of example do
we want to cite the fact that since the conquest of Poland three
hundred thousand Jews have been murdered in this country in the most
bestial way.
Here we see the most frightful crime against human dignity, a crime that is
unparalleled in the whole of history. For Jews, too, are human beings - no
matter what position we take with respect to the Jewish question - and a
crime of this dimension has been perpetrated against human beings.
Someone may say that the Jews deserve their fate. This assertion would be a
monstrous impertinence; but let us assume that someone said this - what
position has he then taken toward the fact that the entire Polish
aristocratic youth is being annihilated? (May God grant that this program has
not yet fully achieved its aim as yet!)
All male offspring of the houses of the nobility between the ages of fifteen
and twenty were transported to concentration camps in Germany and sentenced
to forced labor, and all the girls of this age group were sent to Norway,
into the bordellos of the SS!
Why tell you these things, since you are fully aware of them - or if not of
these, then of other equally grave crimes committed by this frightful sub-
humanity? Because here we touch on a problem which involves us deeply and
forces us all to take thought.
Why do German people behave so apathetically in the face of all these
abominable crimes, crimes so unworthy of the human race? Hardly anyone thinks
about that.
It is accepted as fact and put out of mind. The German people slumber on in
their dull, stupid sleep and encourage these fascist criminals; they give
them the opportunity to carry on their depredations; and of course they do
so.
Is this a sign that the Germans are brutalized in their simplest human
feelings, that no chord within them cries out at the sight of such deeds,
that they have sunk into a fatal consciencelessness from which they will
never, never awake?
It seems to be so, and will certainly be so, if the German does not at last
start up out of his stupor, if he does not protest wherever and whenever he
can against this clique of criminals, if he shows no sympathy for these
hundreds of thousands of victims. He must evidence not only sympathy; no,
much more: a sense of complicity in guilt.
For through his apathetic behavior he gives these evil men the opportunity to
act as they do; he tolerates this "government" which has taken upon
itself such an infinitely great burden of guilt; indeed, he himself is to
blame for the fact that it came about at all...
Please make as many copies of this leaflet as you can and
distribute them.
