Omar Bennett
Anne Frank was a German-born Jewish girl who kept a diary documenting her life in hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Her diary, which was published posthumously in 1947, has become a classic of war literature, offering a glimpse into life in hiding from Nazi persecution. Anne Frank's legacy continues to be invoked around the world as a powerful symbol and warning of the inhumanity of the Holocaust, with her diary helping the world learn about the horrors of the Nazi genocide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 June 1929 |
| Place of birth | Frankfurt, Germany |
| Diary received | 12 June 1942 |
| Went into hiding | 6 July 1942 |
| Arrested by Gestapo | 4 August 1944 |
| Died | February/March 1945 |
| Place of death | Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, near Hannover |
| Number of copies of her diary sold | 30 million |
| Date diary was published | 1947 |
| Original title of the diary | Het Achterhuis |
| English title of the diary | Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl |
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What You'll Learn
Anne Frank's diary
Anne Frank is known for her diary recounting her life in hiding from Nazi persecution during World War II. She received the diary as a birthday present on June 12, 1942, her 13th birthday, and began writing in it immediately. Anne and her family went into hiding in July 1942 after her sister Margot received a summons to report to a concentration camp. They hid in the annex of her father's business premises in Amsterdam, along with four other Jews. Anne wrote about her life and the people around her, including day-to-day annoyances and her fear of capture. She also wrote about typical adolescent issues and her hopes for the future, which included becoming a journalist or writer. Anne's last diary entry was on August 1, 1944, three days before the hiding place was discovered by the Gestapo.
The diary has also had a significant impact on notable figures such as Hillary Clinton, Nelson Mandela, and Václav Havel. In 1994, Hillary Clinton, in her acceptance speech for an Elie Wiesel Humanitarian Award, read from Anne Frank's diary, speaking of how it awakened people to the "folly of indifference". That same year, Nelson Mandela addressed a crowd in Johannesburg, saying that he had read Anne Frank's diary while in prison and derived much encouragement from it. He drew parallels between her struggle against Nazism and his struggle against apartheid. Similarly, Václav Havel spoke of Anne Frank's legacy being "very much alive" and able to address political and social changes in former Eastern Bloc countries.
The publication and ownership of Anne Frank's diary have been the subject of some controversy. After Anne's death, her father, Otto Frank, received the diary from Miep Gies, a non-Jewish friend who helped the family while they were in hiding. Otto Frank shared portions of the diary with family and friends and sold a sanitized version to a Dutch publisher. The diary has since been translated and published in multiple languages, with Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and the Anne Frank Fonds, a foundation set up by Otto Frank, disputing legal ownership of her legacy. Despite these debates, Anne Frank's diary continues to resonate with people worldwide, with approximately 30 million copies sold to date.
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Her legacy as a writer
Anne Frank's writing has had a profound and enduring impact on the world, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and move people. Her diary, "The Diary of a Young Girl", offers a unique perspective on the Holocaust, providing a window into the life of a young girl navigating adolescence and the horrors of war. Anne's writing is characterised by her remarkable courage, pragmatism, self-analysis, and literary talent.
Anne received her diary as a birthday gift on June 12, 1942, and began writing two days later. She used it as an outlet to express her thoughts and feelings, documenting her experiences in the Secret Annex, where she and her family were hiding from Nazi persecution. Anne's writing served as a means of survival, helping her cope with the fear and challenges of her situation. She wrote about her daily life in hiding, her relationships, and her hopes for the future, which included her dream of becoming a writer or journalist.
After Anne's untimely death at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, her father, Otto Frank, discovered her diary. Initially reluctant to read it, he eventually found the strength to do so and was deeply moved by his daughter's words. Otto played a crucial role in bringing Anne's diary to the world, compiling and publishing "The Secret Annex" in 1947. He added Anne's original diary entries, reinserted passages she had left out, and included some of her short stories. The book was later translated into multiple languages, adapted for stage and screen, and became the most widely read diary of the Holocaust.
The impact of Anne's writing is evident in the words of notable figures. Eleanor Roosevelt described the diary as "one of the wisest and most moving commentaries on war and its impact on human beings". John F. Kennedy highlighted Anne's compelling voice, stating that "no voice is more compelling than that of Anne Frank". Nelson Mandela, while imprisoned, drew encouragement from Anne's words, finding parallels between her struggle against Nazism and his fight against apartheid.
Anne Frank's writing continues to resonate with readers worldwide. Her ability to express her thoughts and emotions with honesty and insight has ensured her immortality as a writer. Her legacy lies in her powerful message of courage, hope, and the affirmation of the fundamental goodness of humanity, even in the face of immense adversity. Anne Frank's diary has become a symbol of the Holocaust, serving as a reminder of the importance of remembering and learning from the past.
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Her impact on Holocaust education
Anne Frank's diary has become a seminal first-person account of the Holocaust, providing a crucial first-hand account of the experience of Dutch Jews during the Holocaust. Published in America in 1952 as 'The Diary of Anne Frank', it has been the most widely read book about the Holocaust in America. In a 1996 survey at the University of Michigan, it was named the predominant source of Holocaust education, with over half the students surveyed having read it in high school.
Anne's diary has sparked controversial arguments and debates about its use in schools. Some scholars argue that Anne's diary does not represent the majority of victims, but that it sparks an interest in children to learn more. Others, like Alvin Rosenfeld, argue that students should be made aware of the differences between themselves and Anne Frank, and that the diary should not be interpreted as a way for students to feel personally close to her.
Despite these controversies, Anne's diary has had a powerful impact on many students, moving them to study the Holocaust and understand why such atrocities occurred. Anne's story has been adapted into numerous films, stage productions, and a graphic biography, making her an iconic figure and the most well-known victim of Nazi persecution.
In 1994, Hillary Clinton read from Anne Frank's diary in her acceptance speech for an Elie Wiesel Humanitarian Award, saying that Anne "awakens us to the folly of indifference and the terrible toll it takes on our young". Similarly, Nelson Mandela, upon receiving a humanitarian award from the Anne Frank Foundation in 1994, said that he had read Anne Frank's diary while in prison and "derived much encouragement from it". He likened her struggle against Nazism to his struggle against apartheid.
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Her family's hiding place
Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1929. Her sister Margot was three years older. In 1933, the year Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power, Anne's family moved to Amsterdam, where her father, Otto Frank, started a company.
In 1940, Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands, and the Dutch army surrendered within a week. The Nazis began introducing laws that discriminated against Jews, making more and more places off-limits to Anne. In 1941, Anne lost her German citizenship and became stateless.
In 1942, Margot Frank received a notice from the Central Office for Jewish Emigration ordering her to report for relocation to a work camp. This prompted the Frank family to go into hiding in the annex of Otto's business premises at Prinsengracht 263. Four other people joined them: the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer. The hiding place was cramped, and Anne had to keep quiet and remain hidden.
During the two years in hiding, Anne wrote about her life in the Secret Annex, as well as her feelings and thoughts. She also wrote short stories and started working on a novel. Anne's father, Otto, helped publish her diary after the war, and it has since been translated into around 70 languages and adapted for stage and screen. The hiding place became a museum in 1960, known as the Anne Frank House.
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Her family's arrest
Anne Frank was a German-born Jewish girl who kept a diary documenting her life in hiding from Nazi persecution during World War II. On August 4, 1944, after two years in hiding, Anne and her family were discovered and arrested by the Gestapo. This event marked a tragic turning point in Anne's life and the lives of those hiding with her, ultimately leading to their tragic fate.
The Franks Go into Hiding
Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in July 1942, shortly after Anne's sister Margot received a call-up to report for a "labour camp" in Nazi Germany. Suspecting that this call-up was not about work, Anne's parents, Otto and Edith Frank, made the difficult decision to go into hiding to escape persecution. Anne's father, Otto, had already prepared a hiding place in the annex of his business premises at Prinsengracht 263 in Amsterdam. The family was joined in their hiding place by four other people: the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer.
The Arrest
On August 4, 1944, the hiding place was raided by the Sicherheitspolizei, also known as the Gestapo, along with Dutch police officers. SS Hauptscharführer Karl Josef Silberbauer was in charge of the operation. Between half past ten and eleven in the morning, the police officers arrived at the building and discovered the entrance to the Secret Annex, a concealed room behind a revolving bookcase. The people in hiding, including Anne and her family, were taken by surprise and ordered to put their hands up in the air. They were gathered downstairs and had to hand over their valuables. Anne's diary papers were also taken and fell to the floor.
The Aftermath
Following their arrest, Anne and her family were transported to concentration camps. Anne and her sister Margot were sent to Auschwitz and later transferred to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they sadly perished, presumably of typhus, a few months later. Of the eight people from the Secret Annex, only Anne's father, Otto Frank, survived the concentration camps and the war. He returned to Amsterdam after the war, where he found that Anne's diary had been saved by his secretaries, Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl. Otto Frank published his daughter's diary in 1947, and it has since been translated into numerous languages and adapted for stage and screen.
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Frequently asked questions
Anne Frank's diary documents her life in hiding from Nazi persecution during the German occupation of the Netherlands. It also includes her thoughts, feelings, and experiences during this time.
Anne Frank's legacy is a powerful warning of the inhumanity of the Holocaust. Her diary has sold about 30 million copies to date and has been translated into around 70 languages. It has also been adapted for stage and screen.
On 4 August 1944, Anne Frank and her family were arrested by the Gestapo. Anne and her sister Margot were sent to Auschwitz before being transferred to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they died.
There have been legal battles between the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, which preserves the secret annex site as a museum, and the Anne Frank Fonds, a foundation set up by Otto Frank that owns the rights to the text.
Anne Frank's writing has been described as "extraordinarily good". She is admired for her courage and pragmatism, as well as her ability to analyse herself. Her diary has helped the world learn about the horrors of the Nazi genocide of European Jews.
