diary. On 22 June 1941, Germany declared war on Russia. Soon after, Graf was transferred to Russia, where he would stay until he was allowed to return to Munich to continue his studies in April 1942. During these deployments, he saw terrible things that traumatized him and began to destroy his faith in humanity. As he later wrote to a friend while stationed in Russia, "A war has started that I can’t compare to anything else, even here in this land that has always been a mystery to us." In his army medic files it was observed that his care of the ill was "exemplary". Dr. Webel, the Chief Medical Officer, said that Graf "showed himself to be an intrepid medic who never thought about his own safety." Graf was granted the Iron Cross, 2nd class with swords, for his actions. In April 1942, Graf was temporarily relieved of duty and sent to the University of Munich to continue his studies. While there, he met Hans Scholl and Alexander Schmorell. Work in the White Rose Summer 1942 Graf met Hans Scholl and Alexander Schmorell soon after transferring back to Munich. He was introduced to them by Christoph Probst, who took part in fencing with Graf. When Scholl met Graf, he remarked, "he is one of us." Around this time, Graf began to take part in discussions with Scholl, Schmorell, Probst, and their friends. The activities of the White Rose first started in the June 1942. After their experiences at the Eastern Front, having learned about mass murder in Poland and the Soviet Union, Scholl and Schmorell felt compelled to take action. From end of June until mid of July 1942, they wrote the first four leaflets. Quoting extensively from the Bible, Aristotle and Novalis, as well as Goethe and Schiller, the iconic poets of German bourgeoisie, they appealed to what they considered the German intelligentsia, believing that these people would be easily convinced by the same arguments that also motivated the authors themselves. These leaflets were left in telephone books in public phone booths, mailed to professors and students, and taken by courier to other universities for distribution. Graf was not part of the group at first. He was officially brought in to the group on 10 July 1942. Deployment to Russia July–November 1942 A few weeks later, Scholl, Schmorell, and Graf were deployed to the Russian Front over the