Helmuth Huebener: The Young Latter-day Saint Who Exposed Nazi Lies

Published November 4, 2025 at 3:59 PM MST

During Hitler’s rise to power, a young Latter-day Saint named Helmuth Huebener dared to defy the regime. He was 17 years old when Nazis executed him for telling the truth. Filmmaker Matthew Whitaker and scholar Alan Keele tell his story.

At the time, listening to BBC broadcasts was illegal, but Huebener tuned in anyway — and learned the truth about Nazi propaganda. With two friends, he printed and distributed leaflets exposing government lies. He was arrested, tried as an adult and became the youngest member of the German resistance to be executed. We are talking to BYU professor emeritus Alan Keele and filmmaker Matthew Whitaker to explore Helmuth Huebner’s life, his resistance and why his story still matters.

GUESTS –

Alan Keele | Professor emeritus of German language and literature at Brigham Young University. His book about Helmut Huebener is called “When Truth Was Treason,” which was adapted into a documentary and a new film.

Matthew Whitaker | Filmmaker His new film about Helmut Huebener is called “Truth and Treason.

Thurs., Nov. 6, 2025 at 9 a.m. and Sat., Nov. 8 at 11 a.m.