[3] In the summer of 1939, Werner became the first member of the Scholl family to openly resist the Nazi regime when he resigned from the Hitler Youth, a decision that barred him from being able to take the Abitur.

[3] Werner Scholl was drafted into the Reich Labour Service in 1941, immediately after graduating from high school.

Along with his parents, Werner travelled to Munich for the trial on 22 February, storming into the courtroom just as Roland Freisler was about to give the verdict.

After helping Traute Lafrenz clear out incriminating evidence from Sophie and Hans' living quarters,[4] Werner and his parents then left Munich, distraught but hopeful that they could petition for clemency.

[4] Soon after, the entire Scholl family was arrested, with the exception of Werner, who had gone back to the Russian front soon after Hans and Sophie's execution.

Sippenhaft was a major deterrent for anyone considering resisting the Nazi Regime; if they were captured, not only would they suffer, but their family would too.