When Anne was born in 1929 to Otto and Edith Frank little did they know of the difficulties that would lie ahead of them and how well know their infant daughter would become wide.
Faced with the increasing dangers for all Jews the Franks fled Germany for the Netherlands when Anne is only four.
Until Anne is eleven years old life is ordinary. She enjoyed her home, friends, holidays at the shore and school even though she sometimes got into trouble for talking in class. Some of her favorite things to do were playing with her friends, going to parties and especially trips to the “Oasis” ice cream parlor, and riding her bike.
On Anne thirteenth birthday life for all Jews getting in creasing more difficult. Her most special gift was a red plaid diary. She immediately started writing her private thoughts.
By 1940 all Jews were made to register with German authorities and wear a yellow “star of David.” No longer could Jewish children even attend school. They and their parents could only shop at certain stores from 3:00-5:00.
During the many challenging months in Amsterdam, Otto and Edith Franks discussed the possibility of going into hiding upstairs from Otto Franks business the Annex. With the help of friends and co- workers.
Getting ready to move into the Annex Anne and her family had to wear layers of clothes, since as Jews they certainly couldn’t be seen carrying suitcases down a street. They could take only the necessary items, so not to look suspicious. They left behind most of their personal belongings; Anne even had to leave her cat “Moortje.” Some of the items Anne packed were; special diary, called “Kitty” curlers, hankies, schoolbooks and letters from friends and family members. The only clothes Anne was allowed to take were: 2 vests, 3 pair pants, two pair stockings, dress, skirt, jacket, shorts, lace up shoes, wool cap, and scarf.
Eventually the four other people joined the Franks Annex were: the Van Pels and their son Peter, and dentist Fritz Pfeffer. Daily life in the Annex was tense and always fearful that they would be found. However, after a period of time they all settled into a routine. Their day’s started at 6:45 am knowing they would need to stay quiet by 8:30/9:00 with the workers downstairs in the warehouse. They were free to move around while everyone was at for lunch. During the afternoons they spent most of their time reading and resting. Together the eight of them shared their goods days and bad ones, holidays, and birthdays. The constant closeness and never being able to open a shade and never ever walk outside. So the short visits by Miep and the other friends were looked forward to and necessary for their daily survival.
Of course, Anne dad still believed it was important for Margot, Anne and Peter to continue theirs studies. He helped them with language, algebra, geometry, geography and history. Anne very much disliked algebra/geometry. Anne spent much of her time writing her thoughts and feelings of their daily lives in her diary. She hoped to someday be a journalist.
Some of things Anne missed most during this time were the simple things like riding her bike, hearing the birds sing, getting a breath of fresh air, and laughing out loud with her friends. At time passed and she filled the birthday diary and another one, when that was filled she wrote in her dads blank accountant books and on loose-leaf paper.
By the time Anne turned 15 they had been in the Annex for almost two years. Freedom for the Jews seemed forever out of reach. Anne’s last entry in her diary was on August 4,1944. A typical morning was interrupted when Peter VanPels heard shouting from the offices downstairs. German police stormed into the Annex. Their life in hiding had tragically come to an end. They never new who had betrayed them.
After the raid the Nazis raided the Annex dumping the briefcase with Anne’s writings. Thankful Miep Geis was able to save these and her diaries. He locked them in his desk drawer knowing how important Anne’s writing had been to her.
Anne, Margot and her mother were first sent to Auschwitz. On arrival their heads were shaved and numbers tattooed on their arms. Otto Frank was sent to Auschwitz. By October Anne and Margot are moved to Bergen Belsen along with Mrs.VanPels
One day Mrs. Van Pels realized Hannah a childhood friend of Anne was across the straw covered fence in camp took Anne to the fence to speak with her, Hannah heard a sad broken girl not way she remembered her friend. Anne cried and said “I don’t know have any parents anymore, I have nobody anymore. Anne had given up convinced both parents were gone and Margot dying from typhus as Anne herself was. She died March 1945.
Barely alive Otto Frank is released from Auschwitz is told his wife Edith is dead. He heads home Amsterdam to find his daughters. Only to be told they also are gone. Otto Frank is the only person from the Annex to survive the camps.
Otto Franks friend Miep gives him Anne’s diaries to read. Amazed at what length and detail she had written about their time in the Annex. Otto Frank would spend the rest of his life spreading Anne’s thoughts ideals. With all she had been through as a child she never once spoke of hate in her writing only the goodness of people.
Her quote on July 15,1944 “It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet, I still believe, in spite of everything that people are truly good.”

Samantha Beckwith 7^th Social Studies Rossville Jr. High Holocaust Project Spring 2003

Bibliography

Anne Frank-Daily Life, Louis Bulow 2002-04Privacy, http://www.shoah.dk/Annefrank/new_page_13.htm

Overview: Anne and her Diaries “Anne Frank Diary Reference”

http://www.geocities.com/afdiary/overview.htm

Anne Frank “Beyond the Diary”, by Ruud van der Rol and Rian Verhoeven, Puffin Books, Published by Penguin Group 1995.