Willi Graf's family moved to Saarbrücken in 1922, where his father ran a wine wholesaler's, and was the manager of the Johannishof, the second largest banquet hall in Saarbrücken. He went to school at the Ludwigsgymnasium. It was not long before he joined, at the age of eleven, the Bund Neudeutschland, a Catholic youth movement for young men in schools of higher learning, which was banned after Hitler and the Nazis came to power in 1933. In 1934, Graf joined the Grauer Orden ("Grey Order"), another Catholic movement which became known for its anti - Nazi rhetoric. It, too, was banned and for this reason, it formed many splinter youth groups.

Graf showed conviction in his beliefs at a young age. Although compulsory at the time, he refused to associate with the Hitler Youth. While other future members of the White Rose initially embraced the Hitler Youth, Graf never did so. Moreover, in his address book he crossed out the names of friends who had joined the Hitler Youth. In 1935, at the age of 17, Graf and a few friends marched in an annual May Day parade. The parade was a dominated by swastikas, brown - shirted Hitler Youth troops marching in formation, and "Sieg Heils." However, Graf and his friends were not wearing brown, marching in step, carrying swastikas, or shouting "Sieg Heil." Instead, they marched under their tattered school flag, making great effort to stand out from the Nazi masses.

After his Abitur, the German equivalent of Baccalauréat, in 1937, Willi Graf did his six month Reichsarbeitsdienst and afterwards began his medical studies. In 1938, he was arrested along with other members of the Grauer Orden and charged by a court in Mannheim with illegal youth league activities – the Bünde having been banned – in relation with his unlawful field trips, camping excursions and other meetings with the Grauer Orden. The charges were later dismissed as part of a general amnesty declared to celebrate the Anschluss. The detention had lasted three weeks. His time in jail did not weaken his resolve to participate in anti - Nazi activities or organizations.

In early 1940 Graf was conscripted into the German army as student - soldier. From 1940 to 1942, Graf participated in various war deployments in Europe as a medical orderly. During these deployments he experienced the depths of war which included seeing the Warsaw ghetto in Poland, harsh treatment of Russian civilians, and being forced to consume horse meat due to ration shortages on the Russian front. He was horrified by the suffering he witnessed. In his army medic files it was noted that his care of the ill was "exemplary." It was also noted by Dr. Webel, the Chief Medical Officer, that Graf "showed himself to be an intrepid medic who never thought about his own safety." Graf was granted the service medal, 2nd class with swords, for his actions. In 1942, as a member of the Second Students' Company in Munich, he came into contact with the Nazi resistance organization, the White Rose. He became an active member of this resistance group that centered around Hans and Sophie Scholl. Graf's main role in the White Rose was function as a recruiter in other cities around Germany. He also participated in anti - Nazi and anti - Hitler graffiti campaigns.

On 18 February 1943, Willi Graf, along with his sister Anneliese, was seized in Munich. On 19 April 1943, he was sentenced to death at the Volksgerichtshof for high treason, Wehrkraftzersetzung (undermining the troops' spirit), and furthering the enemy's cause. Willi Graf was beheaded on 12 October 1943 at Stadelheim Prison in Munich, after 6 months of solitary confinement. During this 6 month period the Gestapo tried to extract information from Graf about other White Rose members and other anti - Nazi movements. While under interrogation Graf yielded no names, and took on blame for White Rose activities in order to protect others who had not yet been arrested. His grave is in the St. Johann Cemetery in Saarbrücken. Seven schools in Germany have been named after him, among them the Willi - Graf - Gymnasium in Munich and Saarbrücken - St. Johann; a student residence in Munich also honours Graf by bearing his name.

In 2003, Willi Graf was posthumously awarded the status of honorary citizen of Saarbrücken.