Final answer:
The White Rose's actions reminded other Germans of their own potential to oppose the regime's inhuman policies, thus inducing a sense of shame for their inaction or complicity during the Holocaust as Germany pursued a path of confronting its past.
Step-by-step explanation:
The actions of the White Rose, a non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany, led by students including Sophie Scholl and her brother Hans, could elicit shame among other Germans as they showcased a courageous stance against the tyrannical and genocidal policies of their own government. The White Rose disseminated leaflets that were highly critical of the Nazi regime and called for active opposition to Hitler's dictatorship. This bravery and moral fortitude highlighted the complicity or inaction of the broader German population during the Holocaust and the various atrocities associated with World War II. It reminded those who were passive or supportive of the regime of their potential to have stood against the injustices, contradicting the prevailing ideology of the time that aimed to dehumanize and exclude certain groups under the guise of national strength and racial purity.
As the Allies liberated concentration camps and the full extent of the Holocaust became known, Germans were confronted with the consequences of these policies, prompting a collective reckoning with their past. This shame was further compounded by the fact that other nations, while having their own histories of oppression and colonial violence, did not fully address their actions, whereas Germany made efforts to confront and acknowledge the crimes committed by the Nazi regime.