Secret State Police [Gestapo]
State Police Headquarters Munich
Munich, March 23, 1943 Continue reading
Secret State Police [Gestapo]
State Police Headquarters Munich
Munich, March 23, 1943 Continue reading
1H 47/43
In the Name
Of the German People Continue reading
Chief Prosecutor of the People’s Court – Berlin, February 21, 1943
H = Main Volume, S = Supplemental Volume.
Indictment Continue reading
With regards to Operation to scatter leaflets
In the university on February 18, 1943 Continue reading
Munich, February 19, 1943
To Mr. Bormann, Reichsleiter Continue reading
When we were finished duplicating our leaflets, we took the duplicating machine to the property Leopold Str. 38, studio, cellar, purely out of security considerations. Hans Scholl /added by hand: and/ I carried this out. In so doing, we were in agreement that production of leaflets would be only temporarily suspended and that should the appropriate occasion arise, we would do it again. Continue reading
The night of February 15/16, 1943, we painted the words Down with Hitler – again using the template – in several places on the way back from the telegraph office, where we had deposited the last of our leaflet mailing. We used black paint black tar-based paint to do so. This was the same paint we had used for the first night of the operation. Continue reading
A third time – the night of February 15 / 16, 1943 – Hans Scholl, Willi Graf, and I painted graffiti as we went from the telegraph office to Scholl’s residence. I still remember well that we painted the inscriptions “Down with Hitler!” and “Hitler the Mass Murderer!” on the walls of Hugendubel Book Store.
That night, Hans Scholl and I painted while Willi Graf merely stood watch, to protect us from being caught unawares. We wished to take our propaganda primarily to the bulk of the nation, which was impossible to this degree through distribution of flyers. Continue reading
Aicher arrived around 3 pm. We all went for a walk through the English Gardens. I could tell from their conversation that Sophie Scholl and Aicher were very close friends [Note 1]. Continue reading
However, the second and third times the graffiti appeared, I did think about Hans Scholl. But I only learned about it [for sure] when he showed me the leaflet. Continue reading
After I have been urgently admonished to tell the truth, I must admit that I saw the leaflets to students called “Students” [Kommilitonen] in Hans Scholl’s room. This was the day before they took these things (that is, the leaflets) out of Scholl’s apartment. Continue reading
During this time, Harnack had a political discussion with the accused Huber, during which Huber championed federalist ideas and Harnack – at least from the accused Huber’s point of view – championed Communist ideas. Continue reading
[Gisela Schertling:] Harnack was introduced to me on a Tuesday, either February 8 or 9, in [Hans] Scholl’s apartment. Schmorell was also present on that occasion. I was present for their conversation, and it lasted more than an hour. Continue reading
And as a matter of fact, the next day I observed or rather Hans Scholl himself told me that he and Willi Graf had done as he had said. That time, they painted with green paint. I emphasize this because I had nothing to do with it.
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Source: Schmorell’s initial interrogation.
When I learned about the graffiti the next day at the university, it was clear to me that only Hans Scholl and Willi Graf could have done this. But I kept silent about my suspicions with Hans Scholl. I did not want to say anything to him about it, because he had made it clear that he would rather I know nothing about it. Continue reading
On February 8, 1943, Schmorell and I left my apartment at about 11:30 pm. We intended to refresh the graffiti at the university. We used green oil-based paint to paint graffiti on the university in several places, namely using the template that you already know about. Continue reading
A few days later, I was once again in Scholl’s residence. When I left in the evening, Hans Scholl told me that he would be painting graffiti again the next night. The graffiti that we had painted days earlier had long been removed. As he alluded to this, Hans Scholl said he would be taking his friend Willi Graf with him.
And as a matter of fact, the next day I observed or rather Hans Scholl himself told me that he and Willi Graf had done as he had said. That time, they painted with green paint. I emphasize this because I had nothing to do with it. Continue reading
It also appeared suspicious to me that Hans Scholl and Willi Graf left the apartment around midnight on February 8/9. Continue reading
I am alarmed by the revelation that Hans Scholl misused my kindness to Geyer in such a rude fashion. In no case did I ever give Geyer or Scholl or any other person permission to take green enamel paint from my studio (which Hans Scholl, Alexander Schmorell, and Willi Graf used to paint the slogan “Down with Hitler!”) or to store other objects for the production of their seditious leaflets in my basement. Continue reading
Schmauβ: In the night of February 8/9, 1943, the words “Down with Hitler” with a crossed-out swastika were painted on the university building, this time using green oil-based paint. The word “Freedom” was painted four times on the university building.
Source: ZC13267, Schmauβ’s report dated February 20, 1943.
…up and down in front of the fountain or rather the grounds in front of the entrance to the university to protect Scholl from possible surprise. It was fairly dark that evening, yet I could still see the inscriptions that Scholl was painting, because I would occasionally walk up to the entrance to the university so I could see what was going on for myself. Continue reading
I admit in particular that I knew that Hans Scholl and Willi Graf participated in the graffiti operation at the university, or at least I could assume so from the circumstances. I myself cannot explain why I did not denounce them. Continue reading
A few days later, I was once again in Scholl’s residence. When I left in the evening, Hans Scholl told me that he would be painting graffiti again the next night. The graffiti that we had painted days earlier had long been removed. As he alluded to this, Hans Scholl said he would be taking his friend Willi Graf with him.
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Source: Schmorell’s initial interrogation.
Question: In conclusion of your now comprehensive interrogation I would pose the question to you, whether you would not perchance wish to make a statement of your own accord that could contribute to a better understanding of the matter, or of something that has not yet been clarified. Continue reading
When I arrived at the university on Thursday, February 4, 1943 around 10 am for Professor Huber’s lecture, I saw that the word “Freedom” had been painted twice on the right side of the entrance to the university in large letters. Continue reading
With regards to the graffiti, Hans Scholl told me that he and Willi Graf had painted it on several streets at night. I already knew what the graffiti said because of being at the university. [Note 1] That was on the day of the first time that it was painted. Continue reading
The next day, I was able to determine that the words were still present on a barricade at the corner of Ludwig and Von-Der-Tann Streets. I also saw that several places where we had painted graffiti had been covered up.
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Source: Hans Scholl’s fourth interrogation, February 20, 1943
About 1/2 an hour later, around 11 pm, he left the house in his everyday clothes. I do not know whether he took a briefcase or anything else that would hold [materials] along with him. Continue reading
At the beginning of February 1943, Hans Scholl (together with Schmorell) painted such graffiti on several buildings in Munich using black tar-based paint. The places included the pillars of the university, the National Theater, the Ministry of Economics, and the Playhouse [Note 1]. … Continue reading
To return once again to the possession of the revolver that was seized [from my residence]: I expressly declare that I did not carry this [revolver] during our graffiti operations, because I did not even own it at that time. … As far as I know, only Hans Scholl carried a firearm during the graffiti operations, and /added by hand: he/ would have made use of it had we been caught. I do not know whether Willy Graf carried a firearm. Continue reading
As we had previously arranged, Schmorell and I met the evening of February 3, 1943 in my apartment. Schmorell brought the template, paint, and paint brushes. Shortly after midnight, we left my apartment with these things, intending to use the template to paint [our graffiti] in every suitable place. Continue reading
At the end of January, Hans Scholl and I came up with the idea of reinforcing our treasonous propaganda by painting “Down with Hitler!” and “Freedom!” [Note 1]. For this purpose, I prepared a template “Down with Hitler!” in my residence. I brought this to Scholl, so we could use it in the ensuing nights. I bought a can of tar-based paint at a specialty store (I believe it was Finster and Meissner) near the Hofbräuhaus. We took the green paint from Eickemair’s [sic] studio; he knows nothing about any of this. We were also able to take the paint brushes from the studio. Continue reading
At the end of January 1943, the accused Scholl decided to also make propaganda [Note 1] by painting graffiti on buildings. This was at Schmorell’s suggestion. Schmorell made a template for him with the words “Down with Hitler” and a crossed-out swastika, and procured paint and paintbrush. Continue reading
In the course of our propagandistic activity, we have principally focused our recent thoughts on preparing leaflets that are directed at the student body. We believed that the majority of students are revolutionary and easily enthused, and above all that they dare to risk an undertaking [like this]. Continue reading
Only at the beginning of January 1943 when I met Wilhelm Geyer and after Hans Scholl had asked that I make my studio available to Geyer for the remainder of his local work (approximately 8 weeks) was there even the possibility that besides me and Mr. Mayer the janitor a third party could enter my studio. Continue reading