Berry Library Hosts “White Rose: The Student Resistance Against Hitler” Exhibit

Salem, Mass., Feb. 8, 2017 — The most prolific movement against Nazi policies during Hitler’s reign was the White Rose. Wednesday night was a time for influential leaders at Salem State to encourage the power of students’ voices and to allude that today’s students should be doing the same against the powers of the recently elected president.

White Rose was founded during World War II by Hans and Sophie Scholl, Christoph Probst, Willi Graf and Alexander Schmorell in order to speak out against Nazi genocidal policies. They produced five leaflets in total denouncing the regime and enlightening those who would read what Hitler was really doing. They were mailed throughout Hamburg, Freiburg, Berlin and Vienna before two of the students were caught and executed.

German Consul General in Boston Ralf Horlemann, left, and Chris Mauriello, right, of SSU’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, addressing attendants about the White Rose movement in the Berry Library on Feb. 8, 2017, at Salem State University in Salem, Mass.

“I hope that the people start to think about resistance to a dictatorship and how difficult it can be,” said Ralf Horlemann, German Consul General in Boston.

The first floor of the library was filled with more than two dozen large poster boards that offered a mixture between pictures from the White Rose group and things they accomplished and text to educate visitors on the importance of their work.

Dozens walk through the White Rose exhibit in Berry Library at Salem State University on Feb. 8, 2017. in Salem, Mass. The moving exhibit shows the courage of a select few to stand up Hitler by sharing leaflets distributed in a few cities.

The guest speaker did not shy away from correlating what the White Rose members did to what students can do now concerning the fears of President Trump’s Administration.

“Think about what it means also in our time and in our society to stand up on your own,” said Horlemann.

World War II Germany was filled with bystanders who went along with what Hitler told them, because to do otherwise would mean death. Hitler had a firm grasp on the country and everyone was too scared to stand up to the tyrant. This is why the White Rose was so spectacular. They secretly spoke against the dictator and encouraged others to do so as well, the consul general said.

“I thought the exhibit was great, but the message was diminished when the speakers thinly veiled their connection between Hitler’s regime and Trump,” said Olivia, one of the exhibit’s visitors.

People who have the ability to shape children’s and young adults’ minds need to put their own fears aside and objectively teach and inform their pupils.

“The right to speak up and speak out is important, especially during social injustice,” said Gail Gasparich, Dean of College of Arts and Sciences.