Anne Frank: A Brief Overview

Early Life in Germany

• Born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in 1929.
• Sister: Margot Frank, three years older.
• Family faced antisemitism and economic difficulties during Adolf Hitler’s rise to power.
• Moved to Amsterdam to escape persecution.
• Otto Frank (father) started a business in pectin.

Life in the Netherlands

• Anne adapted quickly, learning the language and attending a Dutch school.
• Otto Frank’s business struggled but later expanded to include herbs and spices.
• 1939: Nazi Germany invaded Poland, starting WWII.
• 1940: Nazis invaded the Netherlands, quickly affecting Jewish life.
  • Jews faced increasing restrictions (e.g., limited access to public spaces and loss of businesses).
  • Jewish children forced into separate schools.

Hiding in the Secret Annex

• Jews required to wear a Star of David; rumors of deportation circulated.
• Margot received a call-up for a labor camp in July 1942.
• The Frank family went into hiding in a concealed part of Otto’s business, known as the Secret Annex.
• Supported by Otto’s former colleagues, they shared the space with four others.
• Conditions were cramped and frightening.

Anne’s Diary

• Received a diary as a gift for her 13th birthday.
• Recorded daily life in the annex, feelings, and thoughts.
• Was inspired to rewrite her diary into a continuous story titled Het Achterhuis (The Secret Annex) after hearing a radio appeal.

Discovery and Arrest

• On August 4, 1944, the Secret Annex was raided by police.
• Anne and others were arrested; two helpers were also detained.
• Much of Anne’s writing was preserved by two helpers, despite the raid.

Deportation to Auschwitz

• Transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau via Westerbork transit camp.
• Faced brutal conditions during the three-day journey.
• Upon arrival, selection determined forced labor or death.
• Anne, Margot, and their mother sent to a women’s labor camp; Otto to a men’s camp.

Final Days and Death

• November 1944: Anne and Margot sent to Bergen-Belsen camp.
• Died of typhus in February 1945, shortly after Margot.
• Otto was the sole survivor of the Secret Annex group.

Legacy of Anne’s Diary

• Otto Frank published Anne’s diary in 1947 as Het Achterhuis.
• The book was translated into 70 languages and adapted for stage and screen.
• Anne Frank’s story gained global recognition, leading to the establishment of the Anne Frank House museum.
• Otto Frank remained engaged with the museum, promoting awareness of discrimination and racism until his death in 1980.