Sophie and Fyodor, Dostoevsky and the White Rose — Report by Holger Kusse

On November 1, 2021, the leading research fellow of the Laboratory, Professor of the Dresden University of Technology, Holger Kusse made a presentation within the framework of the seminar 'West and East: Universalism of Culture'

November 11, 2021 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Fyodor Dostoevsky, and in the same year, May 9, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sophie Scholl. The coincidence of two major anniversaries is an accident, but also a good reason to talk about the influence of Dostoevsky on members of the White Rose non-violent resistance group. The speaker relied primarily on the letters and diaries of the activists Hans and Inge Scholl to demonstrate the extent to which they were influenced by the religious-conservative literature of their time (for example, Werner Bergengrün, as well as Thomas Mann) and religious thinkers such as Augustine and Pascal. In this context, they also perceived Dostoevsky. Important for the perception of Dostoevsky and especially for the enthusiastic attitude of Hans Scholl to Russia was Alexander Schmorell. The publicist Karl Muth also had a great influence, he introduced the work of Nikolay Berdyaev to Hans Scholl. In general, it can be said that the perception of Dostoevsky among the White Rose members was primarily religious and mystical.

Watch the video on YouTube.