Born: 1929 (Frankfurt, Germany)
Died: 1945
Biography:
Annelies Marie Frank, better known as Anne Frank, was a German-born Jewish girl who became one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany, Anne and her family eventually moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands, seeking refuge from Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party’s control over Germany.
In her early years, Anne lived a relatively normal life. However, by May 1940, the Frank family found themselves trapped in Amsterdam due to the German occupation of the Netherlands. As the persecutions of the Jewish population intensified in July 1942, Anne and her family went into hiding. They found refuge in concealed rooms hidden behind a bookcase in the building where Anne’s father, Otto Frank, worked.
During her time in hiding, Anne received a diary as a birthday present. She saw this diary as a trusted companion and confidante, pouring her thoughts, fears, and hopes onto its pages. In her regular entries, Anne captured the everyday life in hiding under Nazi persecution. She documented the challenges, the tensions, the fears, and the small joys that came from living in their cramped secret annex.
Tragically, on August 4, 1944, the Gestapo discovered the hidden annex and arrested the Frank family. Anne, along with her sister Margot, were eventually transported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in November 1944. Sadly, Anne and Margot both died, most likely from typhus, in February or early March 1945.
After the war, Otto Frank, the only surviving member of the family, returned to Amsterdam. To his surprise and immense sadness, he learned about the deaths of his daughters. However, his hope was restored when he discovered that Anne’s diary had been saved by his loyal secretaries, Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl. Remembering Anne’s desire to become a writer, he dedicated himself to fulfilling her greatest wish. In 1947, he published The Diary of a Young Girl, which provided a poignant and intimate account of Anne’s life in hiding. The diary, originally titled Het Achterhuis in Dutch (lit. the back house), quickly gained fame and has since been translated into over 70 languages. It has become one of the world’s best-known books and has served as the basis for numerous plays and films.
Anne Frank’s diary offers a unique insight into the life of a young Jewish girl during the Holocaust. Through her words, readers are able to witness the resilience, determination, and strength that Anne displayed in the face of unimaginable adversity. Anne’s diary continues to inspire and educate people around the world, ensuring that her story and the stories of countless others who suffered during the Holocaust are never forgotten.