Sophie and Hans Scholl Memorial Foundation

The Sophie and Hans Scholl Memorial Foundation is dedicated to improve intercultural relations between US and Germany, by sponsoring young Americans to enroll in German-related university and college degrees.

The foundation was founded to educate the American public on the remarkable fate of two young resistance fighters in Nazi Germany, who lost their lives for their cause. Sophie and Hans Scholl, two siblings from Southern Germany, staunchly opposed to Hitler and paid the highest possible price. Disillusioned about the Nazi regime, they organized themselves with other students in the resistance group “White Rose”, designing and distributing pamphlets at the University of Munich that targeted fellow students and educated them on the lies behind the Nazi propaganda. On February 18, 1943, Sophie and her brother placed copies of their 6th leaflet in front of classrooms of Munich’s Maximilians University and threw some down from the third floor into the atrium. They were observed by the janitor, an ardent Nazi, and immediately arrested. Only four days later, both, together with another member of the “White Rose”, were sentenced to death by the People’s Court under the cruel and notorious judge Roland Freisler and guillotined that same day. Sophie Scholl was not yet 22 years old, her brother Hans not quite 25.

With their memory at heart, it is our aim to enable young Americans to broaden their horizon and equip them with the tools necessary to stand up for their ideals and against injustice – to make a difference. Just like Sophie and Hans Scholl.