The Netherlands, during WW2, was invaded by the Nazis and later occupied by them. The Nazis believed that the German people, specifically the ones with blond hair and blue eyes, were the superior and dominant race, and destined to rule the world. This affected many people during this crisis, mostly Jews, because they had different beliefs than the Nazis, and were seen by the Nazis as inferior. Many Jews were killed in horrible ways, and many more would drastically change their lifestyle because of this.One of these poor people was named Anne Frank, a 12 year old Jewish girl who kept a diary. She and her family went into hiding from the German occupation of Amsterdam during the second world war in a tiny annex right in the center of town.
On August 1st, 1944 Anne Frank made her last diary entry because three days later she was captured by the Nazi Gestapo after almost two years in hiding in the annex. I’ve been studying World War II over the last couple years, and I learned a lot from the diaries and writings of Anne Frank.
Outside the Anne Frank House
My family went to Amsterdam recently and we went to the annex, called the Anne Frank House, or Anne Frank Huis in Dutch. This is where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis. When we first entered, I noticed how small it was, it was about the same size as a small apartment, yet many people stayed in hiding here for years inside it. I noticed the brutal circumstances and fear they must have gone through. Living everyday in fear they would be caught by the Nazis. They couldn’t go outside, they always had to be quiet and they had to rely on the kindness of friends to bring them food and supplies. One of the things that really impacted me was the sacrifice of one human being for another and how risky and dangerous it was to hide people. The people who helped Anne and her family risked their own lives by hiding them, giving them food, shared their small living space, and offered their friendship.
The actual diary of Anne Frank
Anne Frank kept a diary and she is now famous for the diary she kept, which told of the horrible conditions those in fear lived in. Writing was her therapy. She didn’t think that anyone would be interested later in the musings of a thirteen year old girl, but said that she was writing anyway because she felt like writing. Even with such scary conditions – she knew if they were found, it was certain death – she kept her hopes high that the allies would retake Amsterdam and she would be saved. The saddest part is that the allies would retake the Netherlands only a few weeks after they were found and sent to a prison camp. Her messages and writings remained hopeful, despite the dark and scary circumstances of life as a Jew in hiding under German occupation. Anne Frank even wrote, “Where there’s hope, there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.”
Anne Frank
Anne Frank’s family, Edith, Margot, and Otto Frank, were all sent to die in a concentration camp, Anne Frank died in Bergen Belsen concentration camp, due to Typhus fever. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, would later go on to publish his daughter’s diary, which would become one of the most read books in the world.
Anne Frank gave the world a new point of view. She was only a teenager when she died but left an impact that no one would ever forget. Anne Frank was one of the few who could keep her hopes up, even in times like World War II. Her dream was to be a published author, and I’m glad her father made that happen even though it was after her death. Her writing teaches us the everyday stress and horror of living as a Jew in hiding during the second world war and she has inspired people for generations.
