Probst, Christoph
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As a young man, Christoph attended liberal [[boarding school]]s at [[Marquartstein]] and [[Schondorf]]. One of his classmates was [[Alexander Schmorell]]. Schmorell was born in the [[Ural Mountains]] of [[Russia]] and came to Germany with his father after his mother died. Both Christl and Alex shared experiences of losing their mothers, being half-hearted members of Hitler's Youth and both were forced to submit to the National Labor Service right out of high school.<ref>Melon, Ruth Bernadette. 2007. ''Journey to the White Rose in Germany''. p. 44-46. Indianapolis, IN: Dogdeer Publishing. ISBN 1598582496</ref> | As a young man, Christoph attended liberal [[boarding school]]s at [[Marquartstein]] and [[Schondorf]]. One of his classmates was [[Alexander Schmorell]]. Schmorell was born in the [[Ural Mountains]] of [[Russia]] and came to Germany with his father after his mother died. Both Christl and Alex shared experiences of losing their mothers, being half-hearted members of Hitler's Youth and both were forced to submit to the National Labor Service right out of high school.<ref>Melon, Ruth Bernadette. 2007. ''Journey to the White Rose in Germany''. p. 44-46. Indianapolis, IN: Dogdeer Publishing. ISBN 1598582496</ref> | ||
| − | Christoph Probst was regarded by the members of the "White Rose" as being very mature for his age. In ''The White Rose'' by Inge Scholl, she states, ''Christl admired and greatly respected his late father, a self-taught [[scholar]]. It may be that his father's early death accounted in large measure for Christl's exceptional maturity. He alone of the group of students was married; he had two sons, aged two and three. For this reason he was carefully excluded from political acts which might bring him into danger.'' <ref> | + | Christoph Probst was regarded by the members of the "White Rose" as being very mature for his age. In ''The White Rose'' by Inge Scholl, she states, ''Christl admired and greatly respected his late father, a self-taught [[scholar]]. It may be that his father's early death accounted in large measure for Christl's exceptional maturity. He alone of the group of students was married; he had two sons, aged two and three. For this reason he was carefully excluded from political acts which might bring him into danger.''<ref>Scholl, Inge, and Dorothee Sölle. 1983. ''The White Rose Munich, 1942-1943''. Middletown, Conn: Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 0585371008</ref>. |
At the age of 21, Christoph married Herta Dohrn and they had a son, Micha. Alex Schmorell became godfather to their second son, Vincent, and a third child, Katharina, would be born just before her father was executed. | At the age of 21, Christoph married Herta Dohrn and they had a son, Micha. Alex Schmorell became godfather to their second son, Vincent, and a third child, Katharina, would be born just before her father was executed. | ||
==White Rose== | ==White Rose== | ||
| − | + | [[Image:Weisse Rose Hamburg 05 Tafel en.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Memorial plaque at former bookshop in Hamburg, Germany where members of the "White Rose" met.]] | |
The ''White Rose'' consisted of Hans, Sophie, Christoph, Alexander Schmorell, Willi Graf, and Professor Kurt Huber. They produced six leaflets denouncing the Nazi regime. They began by anonymously mailing the leaflets to [[doctor]]s, scholars, pub owners and other names that they took from the phone book. Their actions took on a level of more danger, however, when they personally began leaving them on two different campuses, Ludwig Maximilians [[University of Munich]], where they studied, and the University in [[Hamburg]]. They plead with the German citizens to actively resist the current tactics that were being used to govern their country. | The ''White Rose'' consisted of Hans, Sophie, Christoph, Alexander Schmorell, Willi Graf, and Professor Kurt Huber. They produced six leaflets denouncing the Nazi regime. They began by anonymously mailing the leaflets to [[doctor]]s, scholars, pub owners and other names that they took from the phone book. Their actions took on a level of more danger, however, when they personally began leaving them on two different campuses, Ludwig Maximilians [[University of Munich]], where they studied, and the University in [[Hamburg]]. They plead with the German citizens to actively resist the current tactics that were being used to govern their country. | ||
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==Death== | ==Death== | ||
| + | [[Image:Grab Sophie und Hans Scholl Christoph Probst-1.jpg|thumb|200px|Grave of [[Hans Scholl]], [[Sophie Scholl]], and Christoph Probst, in the Ostfriedhof, next to the Stadelheim prison in Munich.]] | ||
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After intense interrogation, Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were brought before the People's Court on February 21, 1943. Judge [[Roland Freisler]] presided over the hearing. The outcome of the trial was that all three were guilty of [[treason]] and condemned to [[death]]. Lawfully, there was a ninety day waiting period before the death sentence could be carried out, enough time to appeal the decision, but the rules were not followed. The three students were executed by [[guillotine]] in [[Munich]]'s Stadelheim Prison a few hours after the trial. | After intense interrogation, Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were brought before the People's Court on February 21, 1943. Judge [[Roland Freisler]] presided over the hearing. The outcome of the trial was that all three were guilty of [[treason]] and condemned to [[death]]. Lawfully, there was a ninety day waiting period before the death sentence could be carried out, enough time to appeal the decision, but the rules were not followed. The three students were executed by [[guillotine]] in [[Munich]]'s Stadelheim Prison a few hours after the trial. | ||
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Shortly before Christoph was executed, he was allowed a visit from a [[Catholic]] [[Priest]]. Christoph requested [[baptism]] into the Catholic faith; he was probably influenced by the devoutness of his friend, Willi Graf. Shortly after Christoph embraced the Catholic faith, he was executed by guillotine on February 22, 1943. | Shortly before Christoph was executed, he was allowed a visit from a [[Catholic]] [[Priest]]. Christoph requested [[baptism]] into the Catholic faith; he was probably influenced by the devoutness of his friend, Willi Graf. Shortly after Christoph embraced the Catholic faith, he was executed by guillotine on February 22, 1943. | ||
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==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
| − | A trafficway in Innsbruck was named for Christoph Probst. Two signs in the square in front of the university indicate Christoph-Probst-Platz.[ | + | A trafficway in Innsbruck was named for Christoph Probst. Two signs in the square in front of the university indicate Christoph-Probst-Platz. |
| − | + | ||
| + | In a ''Newsday'' article in February 1993, [[Holocaust]] [[History|historian]] Jud Newborn stated that ''You can't really measure the effect of this kind of resistance in whether or not X number of bridges were blown up or a regime fell... The White Rose really has a more [[symbol]]ic value, but that's a very important value.'' | ||
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| + | Chris Zimmerman in his book ''The White Rose: Its Legacy and Challenge'' wrote ''The White Rose is a radiant page in the annals of the 20th Century. The courage to swim against the stream of public opinion, even when doing so was equated with treason, and the conviction that death is not too great a price to pay for following the whisperings of the conscience.''<ref> [http://www.raoulwallenberg.net/?en/holocaust/articles/sophie-scholl-white-rose.2786.htm Sophie Scholl and the White Rose] ''Raoulwallenberg.net.'' Retrieved December 17, 2007.</ref> | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 05:58, 17 December 2007
Christoph Probst (November 6, 1919 - February 22, 1943) was a student of medicine at the University of Munich during Adolf Hitler's reign in Germany. During his studies, he became acquainted with Hans Scholl, founder of the White Rose (Weiße Rose) resistance group. Probst and Scholl shared a dislike for fascism, for Hitler, and for the unfair treatment that the Jews were receiving at the time.
The "White Rose" consisted of Hans and his sister, Sophie Scholl, Alexander Schmorell, Willi Graff, and Professor Kurt Huber. Probst became a member, but because of his young family he kept a lower profile.
Life
Christoph Probst was born to Hermann and Katharina Probst. His father, Hermann Probst, was his greatest influence. Hermann Probst was an independent scholar of Asian culture and Eastern religions, who specialized in the study of Sanscrit. Christoph prospered in the intellectual climate of his father's home. Christoph's parents divorced when he was very young and his father remarried only to later commit suicide when Christoph was a teenager.
As a young man, Christoph attended liberal boarding schools at Marquartstein and Schondorf. One of his classmates was Alexander Schmorell. Schmorell was born in the Ural Mountains of Russia and came to Germany with his father after his mother died. Both Christl and Alex shared experiences of losing their mothers, being half-hearted members of Hitler's Youth and both were forced to submit to the National Labor Service right out of high school.[1]
Christoph Probst was regarded by the members of the "White Rose" as being very mature for his age. In The White Rose by Inge Scholl, she states, Christl admired and greatly respected his late father, a self-taught scholar. It may be that his father's early death accounted in large measure for Christl's exceptional maturity. He alone of the group of students was married; he had two sons, aged two and three. For this reason he was carefully excluded from political acts which might bring him into danger.[2].
At the age of 21, Christoph married Herta Dohrn and they had a son, Micha. Alex Schmorell became godfather to their second son, Vincent, and a third child, Katharina, would be born just before her father was executed.
White Rose
The White Rose consisted of Hans, Sophie, Christoph, Alexander Schmorell, Willi Graf, and Professor Kurt Huber. They produced six leaflets denouncing the Nazi regime. They began by anonymously mailing the leaflets to doctors, scholars, pub owners and other names that they took from the phone book. Their actions took on a level of more danger, however, when they personally began leaving them on two different campuses, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, where they studied, and the University in Hamburg. They plead with the German citizens to actively resist the current tactics that were being used to govern their country.
Christoph joined the White Rose resistance after it had already begun making leaflets. He was careful not to write any of the five leaflets printed because he wanted to protect his family. The members wrote, printed and distributed all six leaflets. On February 18, 1943, the Scholls were distributing the sixth leaflet at the university when they were discovered by the caretaker, who delivered them to the Gestapo.
The only thing Christoph wrote for the White Rose was the design for the sixth leaflet that Hans Scholl had in his pocket at the time of his arrest. They were searched and the police found a handwritten draft. They took the letter from Hans, went to the Scholl apartment until they found the matching handwriting, and issued an arrest for Christoph Probst. Both Hans and Sophie Scholl tried to deny involvement by Christoph. They begged for his freedom. They asked for clemency during interrogation and the trial for the sake of Christoph's wife and his two little boys, and his newly born daughter. Herta Probst was sick with childbed fever at the time Christoph was arrested.
Death
After intense interrogation, Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were brought before the People's Court on February 21, 1943. Judge Roland Freisler presided over the hearing. The outcome of the trial was that all three were guilty of treason and condemned to death. Lawfully, there was a ninety day waiting period before the death sentence could be carried out, enough time to appeal the decision, but the rules were not followed. The three students were executed by guillotine in Munich's Stadelheim Prison a few hours after the trial.
Shortly before Christoph was executed, he was allowed a visit from a Catholic Priest. Christoph requested baptism into the Catholic faith; he was probably influenced by the devoutness of his friend, Willi Graf. Shortly after Christoph embraced the Catholic faith, he was executed by guillotine on February 22, 1943.
He is buried at Perlach Cemetery, Stadelheimer Strasse, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Legacy
A trafficway in Innsbruck was named for Christoph Probst. Two signs in the square in front of the university indicate Christoph-Probst-Platz.
In a Newsday article in February 1993, Holocaust historian Jud Newborn stated that You can't really measure the effect of this kind of resistance in whether or not X number of bridges were blown up or a regime fell... The White Rose really has a more symbolic value, but that's a very important value.
Chris Zimmerman in his book The White Rose: Its Legacy and Challenge wrote The White Rose is a radiant page in the annals of the 20th Century. The courage to swim against the stream of public opinion, even when doing so was equated with treason, and the conviction that death is not too great a price to pay for following the whisperings of the conscience.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Melon, Ruth Bernadette. 2007. Journey to the White Rose in Germany. p. 44-46. Indianapolis, IN: Dogdeer Publishing. ISBN 1598582496
- ↑ Scholl, Inge, and Dorothee Sölle. 1983. The White Rose Munich, 1942-1943. Middletown, Conn: Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 0585371008
- ↑ Sophie Scholl and the White Rose Raoulwallenberg.net. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Melon, Ruth Bernadette. 2007. Journey to the White Rose in Germany. Indianapolis, IN: Dogdeer Publishing. ISBN 1598582496
- Hanser, Richard. 1979. A Noble Treason: the revolt of the Munich students against Hitler. New York: Putnam. ISBN 0399120416
- Scholl, Inge, and Dorothee Sölle. 1983. The White Rose Munich, 1942-1943. Middletown, Conn: Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 0585371008
External links
- Christoph Probst Spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- Hornberger, Jacob G. The White Rose: A Lesson in Dissent Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- Christoph Probst Jlrweb.com. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- Ginder, John. 2001. The White Rose: Student Resistance in Germany During WWII Wagingpeace.org. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- Photos: The White Rose Fcit.usf.edu. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- Keeler, Bob. 1993. Anti-Nazi Movement Still Inspires Germans recall rare courage of White Rose Jlrweb.com. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- Marcuse, Prof. Harold. 1993. Marcuse Remembering the White Rose:German Assessments, 1943-1993 History.ucsb.edu. Retrieved December 16, 2007.
- Wittenstein, George J. 1997. Memories of the White Rose Historyplace.com. Retrieved December 16, 2007.
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