The Role of Jakob Schmidt

On February 18, 1943, Jakob Schmidt, a janitor at the University of Munich, unwittingly becomes a figure in a pivotal moment of resistance against the Nazi regime. As he cleans the campus, he encounters leaflets encouraging students to rebel against Nazi rule, which he dismisses and reports to the Gestapo. His actions lead to the arrest of two young students, Sophie and Hans Scholl, who are implicated in the distribution of these leaflets as members of the White Rose resistance movement. This incident highlights the conflict between ordinary citizens and those who oppose the totalitarian government during a time of severe repression in Germany.