The story of Anne Frank is a poignant reminder of the human cost of prejudice and discrimination during one of history’s darkest periods, World War II. Anne, a young Jewish girl, was forced into hiding with her family to escape Nazi persecution. Her diary, written during this time, offers an intimate glimpse into their lives and has become a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. But Where Did Anne Frank Hide? Let’s delve into the details of her secret refuge.
Who Was Anne Frank? A Young Life Interrupted
Anne Frank in 1942, Photo Collection Anne Frank House
Alt text: Portrait of Anne Frank in 1942, a young diarist who hid from the Nazis during World War II.
Annelies Marie Frank, known to the world as Anne Frank, was born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany. Her hometown was once a vibrant city, but by the time of her birth, Germany was facing significant economic and social turmoil. The rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party brought with it a wave of antisemitism, blaming Jewish people for the country’s problems.
As life became increasingly dangerous for Jewish families in Germany, Anne’s parents, Otto and Edith Frank, made the difficult decision to move. In 1933, when Anne was just four years old, the family relocated to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, seeking safety and a new beginning. In Amsterdam, Anne embraced her new life, learning Dutch, attending school, making friends, and enjoying typical childhood activities like reading and playing.
However, the peace was not to last. The outbreak of World War II and the subsequent Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in 1940 drastically altered life for Anne and her family once again. The Nazi regime imposed increasingly harsh restrictions on Jewish people, systematically stripping them of their rights and freedoms. Jewish people were prohibited from visiting certain public spaces, restricted in where they could shop, and eventually, even excluded from attending regular schools. Anne’s father, Otto, like many other Jewish business owners, was forced to give up his company.
The Secret Annex: Anne Frank’s Hiding Place
In 1942, the threat to Jewish families in the Netherlands escalated dramatically. When Anne’s older sister, Margot, received a call-up notice to be sent to a labor camp, the family knew they had to take drastic action. To avoid deportation and almost certain death, they made the life-altering decision to go into hiding.
For months, Anne’s father, Otto Frank, had been secretly preparing a hiding place. This refuge was located in the back annex of his business premises at Prinsengracht 263 in Amsterdam. To Anne, this hidden space became known as the “Secret Annex.”
Anne (right) pictured with her older sister, Margot in 1933. Photo Collection Anne Frank House.
The entrance to the Secret Annex was cleverly concealed behind a bookcase, specifically built to hide the doorway, ensuring their refuge remained undetected. Otto Frank enlisted the help of four trusted employees – Miep Gies, Bep Voskuijl, Johannes Kleiman, and Victor Kugler – who became known as ‘the helpers’. These brave individuals risked their own lives to provide the Frank family and those who later joined them in hiding with essential supplies like food, clothing, and information from the outside world. Unbeknownst to most working in the warehouse, the Secret Annex became home to not just the Frank family, but eventually to seven individuals seeking to evade Nazi persecution.
The Frank family were the first to move into the Secret Annex. Soon after, they were joined by Hermann and Auguste van Pels, along with their son Peter. Later, Fritz Pfeffer, a dentist and friend of the family, also joined them in hiding, making it a total of eight people living in cramped and confined conditions.
Life Inside the Secret Annex
Life in the Secret Annex was incredibly challenging. Confined to a small space, the eight inhabitants lived in constant fear of discovery. To maintain secrecy and avoid detection by those working in the warehouse below, they had to adhere to strict rules. They had to remain silent during the day, were forbidden from flushing the toilet during working hours, and could only move around very quietly. Anne rarely had the opportunity to open a window and never stepped outside for over two years.
Despite the grim circumstances, Anne found solace and expression in writing. On her 13th birthday, just before going into hiding, Anne received a diary as a gift. She named her diary “Kitty” and poured her thoughts, feelings, and experiences into its pages. Her diary entries document the everyday realities of life in hiding – the challenges of confinement, the fear of being caught, the small joys, and the hopes for the future. She wrote about her dreams of becoming a writer, her observations of her fellow inhabitants, her frustrations, and her longings for freedom and normalcy.
One diary entry vividly captures the ever-present fear:
“Footsteps in the house, the private office, the kitchen, then… on the staircase. All sounds of breathing stopped, eight hearts pounded… Then we heard a can fall, and the footsteps receded. We were out of danger, so far!”
These words offer a chilling glimpse into the constant tension and anxiety that permeated life in the Secret Annex.
Betrayal and Tragedy
Anne Frank’s first, red chequered diary. Photo Collection Anne Frank House.
Tragically, after over two years in hiding, their sanctuary was betrayed. On August 4, 1944, Nazi officers raided Prinsengracht 263 and discovered the Secret Annex. The eight inhabitants were arrested and taken to Westerbork, a transit camp in the Netherlands. From there, they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a Nazi concentration and extermination camp in Poland. Upon arrival, the men and women were separated. Later, Anne and her sister Margot were moved to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
Conditions in Bergen-Belsen were horrific. Overcrowding, starvation, and disease were rampant. In February 1945, just months before the end of World War II, both Anne and Margot succumbed to typhus. Their mother, Edith Frank, also perished in Auschwitz. Otto Frank was the sole survivor of the eight who had hidden in the Secret Annex.
Anne Frank’s Enduring Legacy
Anne’s father, Otto, (middle) pictured with the four helpers who brought the family supplies while they were in hiding, in 1945. Photo Collection Anne Frank House.
After the war, Otto Frank returned to Amsterdam, where he was given Anne’s diary by Miep Gies, one of the helpers who had bravely preserved it. Initially hesitant, Otto eventually read Anne’s words and was deeply moved by her powerful writing and mature insights. He made the decision to fulfill Anne’s dream of becoming a writer and published her diary in 1947 under the title “Het Achterhuis” (The Secret Annex).
Since then, “The Diary of a Young Girl” has become one of the most widely read books in the world. Translated into over 70 languages, it has sold millions of copies and continues to resonate with readers of all ages. Anne Frank’s diary serves as a crucial historical document, providing a personal and deeply affecting account of the Holocaust and the devastating impact of Nazi persecution. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of tolerance, understanding, and the fight against prejudice.
In 1960, the former hiding place at Prinsengracht 263 opened as a museum, the Anne Frank House. Today, it welcomes over 1.2 million visitors annually from across the globe, who come to learn about Anne Frank’s life, her diary, and the historical context of her story. Visiting the place where Anne Frank hid, the Secret Annex, offers a profound and tangible connection to her story, ensuring her voice and her message of hope and humanity continue to be heard by generations to come.
