What happened to Anne Frank and her family? Learn the sad truth of Anne Frank’s fate and that of her family.
What is Anne Frank all about?
Anne Frank was born three years before her sister Margot in 1929 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Germany was experiencing high unemployment at this time and extreme poverty. This was also the time of Adolf Hitler’s rise and that of his supporters who held a strong hatred for Jews and blamed these people for the problems in the country. Hitler gained followers by exploiting the anti-Semitic sentiments.
Anne’s parents Otto and Edith Frank decided to move to Amsterdam because of the increasing anti-Semitism and dire economic conditions. Otto Frank established a business in Amsterdam that dealt in pectin – a substance commonly used to make jam.
Anne adapted quickly to her new life. She became familiar with the Dutch language, met new friends and attended a Dutch school in her neighborhood. Otto persevered despite the challenges he faced in setting up his business. His plans to establish a company in England failed despite his attempts. The situation improved after he expanded his business by selling herbs and spices along with pectin.
On September 1, 1939 Nazi Germany invaded Poland. On May 10, 1940 the Nazis invaded the Netherlands. The Dutch army was defeated in five days. The Nazis began to impose increasingly restrictive laws, regulations and rules that made it difficult for Jews as time went on. Anne was barred from many places such as parks and cinemas. The business of her father was confiscated, as Jews could no longer own their own businesses. Anne was forced to attend a separate Jewish school, as were all Jewish children.
What happened to Anne Frank
Nazis gradually increased their measures against Jews. The Nazis began by requiring Jews to wear the Star of David as part of their clothing. Rumors spread that eventually all Jews would be forced to leave Holland. Margot’s parents became suspicious when she received a summons on July 5, 1941, ordering her report to an alleged “labour camp” located in Nazi Germany. The parents were suspicious and doubted it was about work. They decided to hide the next day to avoid persecution.
Anne’s dad began preparing an underground hiding place at Prinsengracht 263 in the spring of 1943. His former colleagues helped him, and four others soon joined. Anne was forced to hide in a small, cramped place. She had to be incredibly quiet.
Anne was given a diary just before she went into hiding at her 13th birthday. Anne kept a diary of the events in the Secret Annex for two years. She wrote down her thoughts and feelings and began a novel. She also transcribed passages of books into her “Book of Beautiful Sentences.” She used writing to express herself and pass the time.
Anne was inspired by a Radio Orange appeal from the Dutch Minister of Education in England, who urged individuals to save their war diaries, documents and other records. She rewrote her diaries to create a coherent narrative. The result was “Het Achterhuis”, a continuous narrative.
What happened to Anne Frank after she was captured?
Anne and her hiding companions were devastated by a turn of events before they could finish rewriting their diary. Police officers discovered them and arrested them on August 4, 1944. They were arrested along with two of their accomplices. To this day, the reason for the police raid is unknown. The raid did not destroy all of Anne’s work. Two other people managed to recover the documents and return them before the Secret Annex, on Nazi orders, was destroyed.
The Secret Annex was transported by the Sicherheitsdienst, the German security police. They were detoured through Amsterdam prison and the Westerbork Transit Camp. The three-day train trip was grueling, with Anne and more than a thousand other people crammed in cattle wagons and facing a lack of water and food. A barrel served as a toilet.
After arriving at Auschwitz the Nazi doctors made a selection to determine which people would be suitable for forced labor. Around 350 people were murdered in the gas chambers immediately after Anne’s transport arrived. Anne, Margot and their mother were sent to a women’s labor camp while Otto was sent to a men’s camp. Anne was deported again in early November 1944. She was sent to Bergen-Belsen with Margot and left their parents in Auschwitz.
Bergen-Belsen was a horrifying place, with extreme cold, dampness and contagious diseases. Anne and Margot both contracted typhus. Margot died first in February 1945. Anne followed shortly after. Anne’s father Otto is the only survivor from the Secret Annex. He was liberated by the Russians from Auschwitz and learned the death of his wife Edith during his long journey back to Holland. On his return to The Netherlands, he was devastated by the news that Anne and Margot had died.
How long did Anne Frank spend in hiding?
The Secret Annex (also known as Het Achterhuis in Dutch) was Anne Frank’s hideout and the place where she kept her diary. In it, she wrote about her experiences of World War II during the German occupation. Each day in the Secret Annex was unique, but there were certain daily routines that she followed. We can reconstruct the Secret Annex’s typical Sunday and weekday by using Anne’s diaries and short stories.
The alarm clock of Mrs. Van Pels and Mr. Van Pels would ring at 6:45 in the morning. Hermann Van Pels would get up, turn on the kettle, and go to the bathroom. Fritz Pfeffer could use the bathroom after fifteen minutes. Anne was removing the blackout screens on the windows. Each occupant of the Secret Annex would take turns using the bathrooms. The men working in the warehouse began their day at 8:30 am while the office assistants were still not there. It was important that the people hiding in the warehouse did not make any noise, because it could raise suspicions amongst the staff. The helpers were to begin their work at 9:00 am in the office located above the warehouse. Secret Annex occupants moved carefully in their socks to keep quiet, but were less concerned by the noise from above. The rest of the morning consisted of reading, studying and preparing for lunch.
Lunch break began at 12:30pm when the warehouse workers left for lunch. This gave the helpers, and those hiding in the Secret Annex some time to themselves. Around 12:45, some of the helpers would go to the Secret Annex for lunch. Usually Johannes Kleiman Victor Kugler and Bep Voskuijl. Johan Voskuijl was initially often present, Bep Voskuijl’s father. Jan Gies would sometimes join them, even though he worked elsewhere. Miep Gies stayed in the office most of the time to watch over things. It was refreshing to see the faces of those who were hiding and hear the latest news. They would listen to the BBC news at 1 pm. At 1:15pm, lunch would be served, and the helpers would then return to work at 1:45pm.
After cleaning up the house, the majority of residents would nap in the afternoon. Anne would use this time to study or write. Around 4 o’clock they would take a coffee break, and then start preparing dinner. The warehouse workers left for home at 5:30 pm. Bep Voskuijl, the helper, would visit the Secret Annex often to see if anyone needed anything. Bep Voskuijl left the Secret Annex around quarter past six. The Secret Annex occupants were no longer in their hiding place, but dispersed throughout the building.
The Secret Annex was a place where evenings were filled with different activities. Hermann Van Pels would sort the mail for the day, Peter Van Pels retrieve the bread that was left in the office and Otto Frank would type business letters. Margot and Anne handled administrative tasks. Edith Frank and Auguste Van Pels would cook dinner. After the meal, they would read, talk, or listen to the radio. Around 9pm, they began preparing for the evening, rearranging their furniture.
What country was Anne Frank hiding in?
Anne Frank was in hiding in The Netherlands. In her diary, she described the miserable days in her life. The Secret Annex had a rhythmical Sunday, which was characterized by activities like scrubbing and sweeping. The people who lived in the secret place started their day slowly. Fritz Pfeffer, the first one to get up and go to the bathroom was at 8 am. The Van Pels’ family was not far behind. Anne was “ordealing” watching Fritz Pfeffer for 15 minutes.
The Frank family was entitled to use the facilities from 10:15am onwards. On Sundays, breakfast was served at 11:30am. After 45 minutes, people began to do various chores, including cleaning carpets, doing laundry and making beds.
After a brief break, during which the group listened to the latest news, they continued cleaning and tidying until two o’clock. Then, they listened to the radio, watched a music show, and took a coffee break. Then, they took a long siesta, and went to bed for several hours. Anne was astonished by the adults’ need to sleep constantly.
Anne thought Sundays were the saddest day of the entire week. She would walk from room to room and up and down stairs, feeling as if her wings were torn, fluttering futilely against the bars in the darkness. She would feel a longing for the fresh air and laughter of outside, but no longer tried to respond. She would sleep on a divan to relieve the intense fear and silence, and pass the time.
They would listen to the radio broadcast a concert before dinner. After the meal, and after the dishes were done, Anne was “overjoyed”, as yet another tedious Sunday at the Secret Annex was over.
Who turned in Anne Frank?
The shocking revelations of the investigation as shown on CBS’s 60 Minutes pointed to an unanticipated suspect: Arnold van den Bergh. A prominent Jewish notary, who was desperate for his family to be protected, was found to be responsible. Alexandra Jacobs a reviewer at The New York Times deemed the argument for van den Bergh’s involvement “convincing, even if it wasn’t conclusive”. The reaction of countries that were closely involved in the story to this revelation was not favorable. Ambo Anthos, a Dutch publisher, announced in March they would stop publishing the book and remove it from the stores. This was a response to the critical report of five Dutch historians. HarperCollins Germany has postponed publication of the book but plans to release a revised edition later this year.
Francine Sullivan is a poet who became a biographer in her 74th year. Her work on Anne Frank was radically different. She was an emerita English Professor at the University of Toronto. She had written 14 books including “Stalin’s Daughter”: The Extraordinary Life of Svetlana Aliluyeva in 2015, as well as “Villa Air-Bel”: World War II Escape and a House In Marseille. Sullivan is passionate about uncovering archival materials and locating interviewees who are in far-flung places. She confesses that she loves the thrill of the chase and finds the subtext as fascinating as the main narrative. Delving deeper into the subject involves meeting people, geographic locations, and political situations, which results in an enriching experience.
A team of researchers from different disciplines worked together to research her book. They used innovative methods such as crowdsourcing, artificial intelligence and criminal profiling. Sullivan was the synthesizer of all findings, an area in which she has extensive expertise. Her early life was not a precursor to her being the narrator for such a famous Holocaust story. Sullivan says, “I never expected this to be my life’s path.”
The Climax of Anne Frank’s Life
Anne’s diary soared across the world, inspiring hearts and minds. Otto’s father was forever changed by the words of a young girl with aspirations and dreams, written on pages. Otto was moved by Anne’s unwavering determination and her desire to become a journalist or writer. He felt compelled share her story.
3,000 copies “The Secret Annex”, which had just been printed, were a sign of hope in the summer of 1947. They had no idea that this was only the beginning of a remarkable journey. The book, like a messenger, transcended all language barriers. Its words were translated into 70 different languages, and reached the most remote corners of the world. The book found a place in readers’ hearts, provoking empathy, understanding and a determination to stand up against racism, discrimination and the hatred directed at the Jewish community.
The stage and screen, as the world focused on Anne’s story came to life, bringing her words to life. Her story unfolded in front of audiences, captivating them with her resilience and her enduring spirit. In the midst of it all, an oasis of remembrance, education, and inspiration was created – The Anne Frank House. It stands proudly as a testimony to the enduring legacy left by one girl’s words.
Otto became Anne’s guardian, as he was a guide in preserving her memory. He remained committed to the Anne Frank House, and later the museum that it became, until his death in 1980. He had a deep hope in his heart that every reader of Anne Frank’s diary will be awakened to the dangers of racism and discrimination and the importance of love and acceptance.
Anne’s journal, which was once a whisper, has become a symphony for resilience and an anthem of justice and compassion. Her timeless and universal words continue to echo throughout history, inspiring future generations to fight against hatred and celebrate diversity. We find courage in her pages to bring empathy and understanding into the darkest corners. Anne’s spirit continues to live on and reminds us of the power that a single voice can have in changing the world.