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jaesting's review against another edition
4.0
I have always been fascinated by the history of World War 2. I think it is because the number of family members I had serve during the time combined with working at an assisted living facility when I was in my early 20's where the majority of the residents were Jewish. I used to love listening to their stories. When author Frank McDonough wrote to me asking if I would like to read and review the book Sophie Scholl: The Real Story of the Woman who Defied Hitler, I of course accepted!
Sophie Scholl was a member of an underground, non-violent protest movement against Hitler's rule in Nazi Germany called the White Rose (die Weisse Rose). Mr. McDonough was offered to read through the diaries, personal letters written by Sophie and the transcript of her interrogation by the Gestapo. He compiled this intriguing biography from information gathered during his reading.
Scholl, a student who was 21 at the time of her death in February 1943, is a legend in Germany. The White Rose movement, which opposed Nazism by circulating thousands of leaflets telling German Christians that they had a "moral duty" to rise up against Hitler, the "messenger of Anti-Christ". The leaflets were dropped between 1942 and 1943 at Munich University. In February 1943 when Sophie Scholl along with her brother, Hans, and friend, Christoph Probst, were beheaded in Stadelhein Prison, Munich, for urging German students to rise up against Nazi terror.
Overall this was an excellent book. The historical events described catch your attention. The relationships between the Scholl children, their parents and various friends of the family is touching. If you don't like reading about historical happenings, this book may seem a little flat when you read it. I was looking forward to reading a great book about Sophie but to me it seemed that the first half of the book focused more on her brother Hans and her boyfriend Fritz and what happened to them while they were fighting in the war.
Sophie Scholl was a member of an underground, non-violent protest movement against Hitler's rule in Nazi Germany called the White Rose (die Weisse Rose). Mr. McDonough was offered to read through the diaries, personal letters written by Sophie and the transcript of her interrogation by the Gestapo. He compiled this intriguing biography from information gathered during his reading.
Scholl, a student who was 21 at the time of her death in February 1943, is a legend in Germany. The White Rose movement, which opposed Nazism by circulating thousands of leaflets telling German Christians that they had a "moral duty" to rise up against Hitler, the "messenger of Anti-Christ". The leaflets were dropped between 1942 and 1943 at Munich University. In February 1943 when Sophie Scholl along with her brother, Hans, and friend, Christoph Probst, were beheaded in Stadelhein Prison, Munich, for urging German students to rise up against Nazi terror.
Overall this was an excellent book. The historical events described catch your attention. The relationships between the Scholl children, their parents and various friends of the family is touching. If you don't like reading about historical happenings, this book may seem a little flat when you read it. I was looking forward to reading a great book about Sophie but to me it seemed that the first half of the book focused more on her brother Hans and her boyfriend Fritz and what happened to them while they were fighting in the war.
kiperoo's review against another edition
4.0
It was great to see a new book in English about Sophie Scholl. I've been studying the White Rose for years and am always interested in reading a new perspective on this tragic story.
There are many amazing sources in German, such as Barbara Leisner's excellent biography, but I don't believe that or many other works about the resistance group have been translated into English.
I was impressed with McDonough's research and the new details he presented. While meant for an adult audience, it should also have a strong appeal to young adults with an interest in World War II history.
There are many amazing sources in German, such as Barbara Leisner's excellent biography, but I don't believe that or many other works about the resistance group have been translated into English.
I was impressed with McDonough's research and the new details he presented. While meant for an adult audience, it should also have a strong appeal to young adults with an interest in World War II history.
rlangemann's review
3.0
A fairly recent biography on Sophie Scholl, this book has details not included in the other books I've read on the White Rose. It seems that the author had access to more documentation (including Gestapo records and trial transcripts), which serves to give the book a more credible and factual feel. The author seems to have a liberal bent, though he does make a strong effort to show how important some form of Christianity was to the members of the White Rose.
I'd have given it a much higher rating, except for the fact that there is some unneeded and not exactly edifying information included. I can't recommend this for younger readers, and even older readers could probably skip or skim chapter 4. Even so, the story is powerful. I'd recommend it for older readers interested in the activities of the White Rose.
I'd have given it a much higher rating, except for the fact that there is some unneeded and not exactly edifying information included. I can't recommend this for younger readers, and even older readers could probably skip or skim chapter 4. Even so, the story is powerful. I'd recommend it for older readers interested in the activities of the White Rose.
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