I once asked a WW2 Vet if the book he was reading was about a local hero and he replied, "No, he just a guy who was doing what he was asked to do.' Knowing this Vet as well as i did I know that's how he saw his own service in the war. I know there are soldiers who went above and beyond what they were asked to do but the story of Alexander Schmorell written by Elena Perekrestov is story of a young man and his friends who worked to counter act the propaganda of the Nazis because of their faith.

In the mind of the Nazi party he was considered an Untermenschen, an inferior but he proved his humanity by standing against that mentality. With some friends, this young student started the Order of the White Rose and armed only the written word took on the Nazi Party. For his crimes he was arrested and executed in 1943..
In 2012 he was declared a saint in by the Russian Orthodox Church.

In a time when so many people live in fear this book is a reminder there are things worth dying for.

This book is about one of the lesser known saints and martyrs of the Russian Orthodox Church who was a part of the German Resistance during World War II who worked against the Nazi Regime. We get to know about his life and how he came to be a martyr as well as a saint. Alexander Schmorell was a part of the White Rose movement that opposed the Nazi regime and were persecuted for their convictions and action. This gives us another look at Germans during World War II, not all of them were Nazis or believed in the racial purity that the Nazis believed. There were those in Germany who secretly worked against the Nazi regime and Alexander Schmorell was one of them. I would recommend this book to others in order to learn about a little known saint in the 20th Century and about the German Resistance Movement during World War II.

This is an interesting book about the Alexander. I had not heard of him but did know a little about the White Rose group. This is an account of the movement along with the life of Alexander Schmorell. Recommended.

A member of the White Rose resistance movement, Alexander Schmorell followed and died for his convictions. This book shares details about his childhood, education and actions, and it describes how prison strengthened his faith. While the book read like a textbook, I appreciated its insights and the notes and resources shared at the end. Through this book, I have gained a greater appreciation for this saint and inspiration to follow my convictions no matter what the cost.

What an amazing, inspiring read. Profound and moving. The tragic story of young people standing up against opression and standing steadfast, true to their beliefs no matter the opposition or threat of death. It tells the story of the White Rose movement, but especially of Alxander Schmorrel. He truly is an inspiration.

I have ordered a copy for my own bookshelf.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.