The Life of Anne Frank

In 1933, the Nazis began to execute their plan to round up all the Jews within Europe and relocating them into concentration camps. There, they would be executed or forced to labor until death. In 1942, when the Nazis began to invade their country, the Frank family, who were Jewish, went into hiding in an attic of a warehouse and office building. The Franks’ daughter, Anne, kept a diary throughout their entire stay in the so-called “Secret Annexe.” Although all the members of the Frank family, except Mr. Otto Frank, perished during the control of the Nazis, Anne’s diary is still in existence today. Minutes before the Frank’s were captured in their hiding place after a two-year stay, Anne wrote in her diary the words, “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” How could a young girl who had to go through so much torture say such a thing? The answer is in the story of her everlasting courage and hope.

Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929, in the German city of Frankfort. Before Anne Frank went into hiding, she lived a joyful wonderful life along with her sister Margot and loving family. Anne and Margot’s mother and father would get mad at them from time to time but they always loved them and would do anything to keep them safe. She also had many friends. Anne was able to attend school with other races of children and have respect and freedom.

However, this was all going to end, when the Nazis had gained power in some parts of Germany. Nazis hated Jews and blamed them for all of there problems and just didn’t like them overall because of their race. The Nazis wanted all Jews to be killed. Otto Frank, Anne’s father, did not hesitate to wait for the Nazis to come into full power. In 1933, the Franks left Frankfort. Mrs. Frank and the two girls joined her mother in Aachen, near the Belgian border. Otto Frank went to Holland and started a business in food products. In the spring of 1934, the Franks reunited and settled in Amsterdam.

For a while Anne Frank lived in Amsterdam happily, like she did in Frankfort. She attended Montessori School and had a lot of friends. Anne was not very intelligent, but her sister was an A student. Her father was still worried for in Germany the Nazis gained almost complete power.

In 1940, the Germans invaded and conquered Holland. Anne’s life had changed by the Germans taking control. She could not go to her school, and was to attend the Jewish Lyceum. No Jews were allowed out on the streets at night. A lot of time the Nazis would invade little towns and destroy Jewish people’s houses, shops or kill them on the spot. And things were not getting any better for the Jews.

In 1941, the Germans had their first round-up of Jews in Amsterdam. Five months later, the Germans sent for 16-year-old Margot Frank to report for deportation. Otto Frank, however, had contact with Dutch friends, and were able to hide out in the attic of a house. The morning after Margot was summoned they left Amsterdam and went to the attic of the house called the Secret Annexe.

In the Secret Annexe the Van Daan family joined them. There was Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan and their son Peter. Later, an elderly dentist, Alburt Dussel, was invited to share their refuge. The eight Jews hid in the Secert Annexe for many years. Otto Frank’s Dutch friends, brought them food and even gifts. The news in the fall of 1942 was terrifying for the Franks. The roundup of Jews from Holland was proceeding according to plan. While the Franks were in hiding, Germany was at the height of invasion.

But of August 4, 1944, the Gestapo broke into the Frank’s hiding place. The eight Jews together were taken to Gestapo headquarters in Amsterdam. The Franks, Van Daans, and Mr. Dussel were sent to Westbrook. All but Mr. Frank died during their imprisonment. As a result of the awful conditions, abuse and inhumanity that no human should have to go through.

Anne Frank was a girl who lived with her family during the time of while the Nazis took power. She only kept her diary while hiding from the Nazis. This diary told the story of horror that the Nazis carried out. Anne Frank hid from the Nazis for many years, writing what happened day by day in her life.

She was torn away from her happiness and placed into the harsh and cruel reality of the Nazi’s realm at only thirteen years of age. The Jews were show all this hate only because she was Jewish. She stayed locked up in the top level of the warehouse with her family and another for almost twenty-five months, never being able to step foot outside. Such cruelty and life of fear would make almost any teenager completely depressed and more miserable than words can say. Anne Frank managed to keep her hope for a better tomorrow and her respect for the human race a feat so great for such a young girl.

Anne made a very powerful statement in her last words in her beloved diary. To truly believe such a thing after being abused by the Nazis is quite remarkable, indeed. I am very sure that most people, including myself, I know would never even be able to begin to forgive a group of people that have caused so much killing and hate. But Anne was able to look beyond all of that which shows how she had a good heart and for that I really respect her.