We watched the excellent movie "Sophie Scholl: The Final Days" ("Sophie Scholl -- Die Letzten Tage") on our coach television monitor during the drive to Munich. It was a good choice, since the 21-year-old Sophie and her brother Hans were students at the University of Munich when they were arrested for distributing anti-Nazi literature in 1943. One week later they were both dead -- tried and executed by a guillotine. Several of us visited the university building where they distributed the literature and were arrested. I wondered if the fresh flowers at the memorial were in honor of her approaching birthdate -- May 9. It's an incredible story and the movie, directed by Marc Rothemund and filmed in Munich, was nominated for the 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.
Her last words?
"How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause. Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?"
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