The move by Hitler effectively merged the offices of both the President and Chancellor into one role, and therefore completed what the Nazis referred to as Gleichschaltung (or ‘Co-ordination’) by establishing Hitler as both Germany’s head of state and head of government.

Centred around Hans Scholl and his sister Sophie, the small group of university friends who formed the White Rose printed and distributed anti-Nazi leaflets but were spotted by university janitor and Nazi Party member Jakub Schmid who immediately called the Gestapo.