In wartime Munich, the courageous Sophie Scholl, along with her brother Hans Scholl and fellow members of the White Rose student organization, embarks on a dangerous mission to distribute leaflets against the Nazi regime. With an excess of leaflets on hand, the siblings decide to take their message to Munich University, where they secretly leave stacks near lecture halls. In a moment of urgency, Sophie races to the top floor to drop a collection of leaflets over the railing, but their plan takes a turn when a vigilant janitor apprehends them until the Gestapo arrives.
The duo finds themselves confined in the grim Stadelheim Prison, where Sophie faces intense interrogation from Gestapo investigator Robert Mohr. She initially claims innocence, suggesting she merely stumbled upon the leaflets and acted impulsively. However, just as her release seems imminent, the Gestapo discovers compelling evidence linking her and Hans to the distribution of the anti-Nazi propaganda. Consequently, Sophie is placed with fellow dissident Else Gebel, who shares a similar fate—fighting against oppressive regimes.
In a moment of deep conviction, Sophie reveals her involvement, contradicting Hans's insistence that he alone is responsible. Determined to shield her fellow activists, she asserts that the leaflets' circulation was a joint effort by the siblings. Mohr, leveraging the knowledge of their father's imprisonment, tries to persuade Sophie to align with the laws sustaining their society, portraying them as protective; she fiercely argues that such laws eroded freedom of speech and condemned the atrocities committed by the Nazis. Despite her passionate counterarguments, including the denial of the extermination of Jews as wartime fabrication, Mohr brushes some of her claims aside while slyly affirming others.
Alongside Hans and their friend Christoph Probst, a devoted father of three, Sophie faces serious charges: treason, demoralization of troops, and aiding the enemy. During their show trial presided over by the notorious Roland Freisler, Probst is the first to be scrutinized. Freisler's disdainful demeanor manifests as he dismisses Probst's desperate pleas, showcasing his clear bias against the defendants. Undeterred, Hans voices out against the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime and firmly believes in the inevitable downfall of their harsh rule. In an assertive declaration, Sophie rebuffs suggestions of her being merely led by her brother, highlighting the silent agreement among many with her ideals. Freisler's verdict is swift; all three are deemed guilty, with each defendant allowed a final statement. Sophie's poignant warning resonates: > "where we stand today, you [Freisler] will stand soon."
As Sophie grapples with the devastating news of her imminent execution, which contravenes the usual 99-day waiting period, she finds solace in a final statement and receives a blessing from the supportive prison chaplain. After an emotional farewell with her parents, who express pride in her actions, she shares a final moment with Hans and Christoph over a cigarette. As she steps into the courtyard, Sophie makes the bold observation, "The sun is still shining." Ultimately, a pardon is denied, leading to her execution by guillotine, a tragic fate she meets with unprecedented courage. Hans and Christoph follow suit shortly thereafter, as a chilling caption reveals the fate of many adherents of the White Rose who faced execution or imprisonment.
In the evocative conclusion, leaflets descend from the heavens over Munich, signifying the enduring legacy of the White Rose, as copies of their manifesto were surreptitiously delivered to the Allies, who later disseminated millions of copies throughout Germany, igniting the flames of resistance.
