Born: 1909 (Vienna, Austria)
Died: 2010
Biography:
Hermine Miep Gies was born on February 15, 1909, in Vienna, Austria. At the age of eleven, due to food shortages in Austria after World War I, she was brought to Leiden, Netherlands, to live with a Dutch family as a foster child. Initially intended to stay for only six months, her stay was extended to a year due to her frail health. However, Gies became so attached to the family that she chose to remain with them for the rest of her life.
In 1933, Gies began working for Otto Frank, a Jewish businessman who had recently moved to the Netherlands with his family to escape Nazi persecution in Germany. Gies quickly formed a close bond with the Frank family and became a trusted friend and confidante to them. Little did she know that her involvement with the Franks would eventually lead her to play a vital role in one of the most famous stories of human resilience and hope during World War II.
When the Nazis occupied the Netherlands, the Frank family, along with four other Jews, went into hiding in a secret annex located above Otto Frank’s business premises. Gies, along with her colleague Bep Voskuijl, played a crucial role in helping to sustain and protect the hidden group. They provided them with food, clothing, and other basic necessities, risking their own lives in the process. Gies and Voskuijl were the only non-Jewish employees of Otto Frank who were aware of the secret annex.
During the twenty-five months that the Frank family spent in hiding, Gies continued to support and encourage them. She became a source of solace and strength, bringing a sense of normalcy to their confined existence. She often shared news and updates from the outside world, and even brought books and educational materials for Anne Frank.
However, tragedy struck when the annex was discovered by the Nazis in August 1944. The Frank family, along with their fellow hidden companions, were arrested and deported to concentration camps. Gies and Voskuijl managed to retrieve Anne Frank’s diary, which she had left behind, and kept it safe with the hope of returning it to her someday.
Unfortunately, Anne Frank did not survive the war, and it was only in June 1945 that Otto Frank, who had miraculously survived Auschwitz, returned to the Netherlands and learned of his daughter’s death. Gies, devastated by the news, handed over Anne’s diary to Otto, who later compiled and edited it for publication. The diary, first published in June 1947, has since become one of the most important literary works of the 20th century, offering a firsthand account of the Holocaust and inspiring millions of readers worldwide.
After the war, Gies continued to work with Otto Frank, assisting him in various ways. She played a crucial role in the preservation and dissemination of Anne Frank’s legacy, ensuring that her words would forever be remembered. In 1987, Gies collaborated with Alison Leslie Gold to write the book Anne Frank Remembered: The Story of the Woman Who Helped to Hide the Frank Family, offering her own account of the events and the lasting impact they had on her life.
Miep Gies lived a long and inspiring life. She passed away on January 11, 2010, at the age of 100, just a month before her 101st birthday. Her courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication to protecting the Frank family’s legacy have made her an enduring symbol of resistance against oppression and a source of inspiration for generations to come. Her selfless actions during World War II have forever cemented her place in history as a remarkable woman who made a difference.
Awards:
– Honorary Citizen of Jerusalem (1995)
– Yad Vashem Righteous Among the Nations (1972)
– Raoul Wallenberg Medal (2010)