Anne Frank was a German-born Jewish girl who, along with her family and four others, hid in the second and third floor rooms at the back of her father’s Amsterdam company during World War II. The Frank family were loyal citizens of the empire and expressed their support with targeted donations. In 1907, Michael Frank donated money for the construction of a rest house. Anne Frank was 13 years old when she had to go into hiding with her family to escape from the National Socialists. She lived in a secret annex for 25 months with her family and other acquaintances.
On September 3, 1944, Anne Frank and her family were deported from the Westerbork concentration camp to Auschwitz. Otto Frank realized that they would have to hide from the Nazis in order to survive. In July 1942, the family moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands after Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party gained control over Germany. By May 1940, the family was trapped in Amsterdam by the German SS and police.
On August 4, 1944, the German SS and police discovered the hiding place, and it has been long thought that the authorities acted after being tipped off by an anonymous source. In an interview with CBS in 1964, Otto Frank recounted what happened when his family was put on the cattle cars to Auschwitz a month after their capture. Anne and Margot were transported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in early November, where Edith, their mother, died of starvation in January 1945.
Anne and Margot died from disease in March 1945, with Otto Frank being the only one of the two sisters to die. Both were buried in one of the mass graves at Belsen. At the end of the war, all the members of the Frank family, except for Mr. Frank, died as victims of the Holocaust during World War II.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| The Frank family | Edith Frank dies of starvation and exhaustion in Auschwitz-Birkenau on 6 January. Anne and Margot die from disease in March 1945. Otto Frank is the only one of … | annefrank.ch |
| List of people associated with Anne Frank | The two sisters died, evidently a few days apart, sometime in February 1945. Both were buried in one of the mass graves at Belsen, though it is unknown to this … | en.wikipedia.org |
| The main characters | Anne Frank House | During the Second World War, Anne Frank’s family went into hiding in the Secret Annex with the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer. Get to know them here. | annefrank.org |
📹 Anne Frank betrayal suspect identified after 77 years – BBC News
A suspect who may have betrayed Anne Frank and her family to the Nazis has been identified in a new investigation. The Jewish …
What Happened To Otto Frank During The War?
Otto Frank and others in hiding were arrested, leading to feelings of guilt for Otto as they also took Johannes Kleiman and Victor Kugler. After several days, they were transported to Westerbork transit camp, where men and women were separated in prison barracks. Otto had previously served in the German army during World War I, from 1915 to 1918, achieving the rank of lieutenant and receiving the Iron Cross for his service. He enlisted to assist as a range-finder in an artillery regiment on the Western Front, participating notably in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
After the war, Otto fled Nazi Germany with his family in 1933, seeking refuge in Amsterdam. Their peaceful life was disrupted by the Nazi invasion in May 1940. Otto, having been decorated for bravery in WWI, managed to escape the anti-Jewish persecutions that escalated thereafter.
In the wake of their arrest, Otto's family went into hiding but ultimately faced betrayal. Out of eight individuals in the Secret Annex, only Otto survived the Holocaust. His wife, Edith, was murdered in Auschwitz, while daughters Anne and Margot succumbed to typhus in the concentration camp. Following his liberation from Auschwitz, Otto returned to Amsterdam as the war ended, living to recount his family's tragic experiences.
In 1980, Otto passed away at the age of 91 in Basel, Switzerland, marking the end of a remarkable yet sorrowful legacy marked by loss and resilience. His daughter Anne's diary remains a poignant reminder of the human spirit amidst unimaginable adversity. Only Otto lived to share their story following the horrors of the Holocaust.
What Happened To Peter Schiff And Anne Frank?
In 2008, a childhood friend of Peter Schiff revealed that he possessed a photograph of Schiff, suggesting he was the same Peter mentioned in Anne Frank's diary. Unfortunately, this Peter also perished in Auschwitz on May 31, 1945. Schiff was Anne Frank’s boyfriend and her "great love," with his presence recorded in her diary starting January 6, 1944, after she had been in hiding for over a year and a half. Schiff's background includes his parents’ divorce in 1931 and his mother’s later marriage to an advertising designer.
The article notes that despite the widespread popularity of "Anne Frank's Diary," the specifics of Schiff’s appearance remain largely speculative. His tragic fate is confirmed, as records indicate he was deported to various concentration camps, ultimately leading to his death in Auschwitz. Anne Frank last saw Schiff shortly before entering her hiding place but later reminisced about him in her diary. She described him as her "one true love." Ultimately, Otto Frank, Anne's father, was the only survivor and became the custodian of her diary.
Their fates mirror each other, with both dying in camps—Anne in Bergen-Belsen from typhus shortly before liberation. A photograph of Schiff will be displayed at the Anne Frank House museum in Amsterdam.
Why Did Fritz Pfeffer Share A Room With Anne?
Fritz Pfeffer's medical degree proved crucial for the Frank family during their time hiding, as they were unable to seek medical assistance. As Pfeffer entered the Secret Annex on November 16, 1942, he shared a small room with Anne Frank, which led to a challenging living situation. Margot Frank adjusted the arrangement by moving into a room with their parents, allowing Pfeffer and Anne to coexist in close quarters. Their relationship was marked by tension, as noted in Anne's diary. Pfeffer attempted to mediate conflicts between the two families but soon grew fatigued by the persistent disputes.
Originally, Margot and Anne had shared a room, but the arrival of Pfeffer necessitated this change. In the cramped quarters, conflicts arose over personal space, particularly concerning a desk that both Anne and Pfeffer used for their respective activities—Anne for her diary and Pfeffer for studying Spanish. Despite his personal struggles, Pfeffer, a dentist associated with Miep Gies, who assisted the Frank family, chose to remain in hiding rather than fleeing or awaiting deportation.
He had previously lived an isolated life, and now shared living space with a teenager in a highly precarious situation. This relationship ultimately contributed to both individuals' difficulties during their time in the annex, reflecting the strain of their intertwined circumstances in a time of crisis. The dynamic of sharing a room impacted Anne significantly, capturing a poignant aspect of her experience during the Holocaust.
What Happened To Everyone In The Secret Annex?
On 3 September 1944, the eight occupants of the Secret Annex, after being discovered on August 4, were transported by train from Westerbork transit camp in the Netherlands to Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. They had been in hiding for over two years, relying on six helpers for food and necessities. The group included Otto, Edith, Margot, and Anne Frank, Hermann, Auguste, and Peter van Pels, and Fritz Pfeffer. Following their arrest during a raid by Nazi authorities, only Otto Frank survived the camps.
The van Pels family faced tragic fates: Hermann van Pels died in Auschwitz on September 6, 1944, the first such victim among the group. Unfortunate events continued, with Margot and Anne Frank succumbing to starvation and disease in the camps. Peter van Pels also perished shortly before his camp's liberation in 1945.
The helpers, Johannes Kleiman and Victor Kugler, who contributed significantly to the wellbeing of those in hiding, were arrested alongside the eight but managed to evade the camps’ worse outcomes. Tragically, although many people worldwide have learned and been inspired by Anne's story, her ordeal illustrates the brutal reality behind the Holocaust— a grim historical legacy commemorated through her diary. The Secret Annex, where they hid, ultimately became a symbol of both courage and the tragic loss of innocent lives.
Why Was Frank Castle'S Family Killed?
Colonel Ray Schoonover and Operation Cerberus leader William Rawlins orchestrated the assassination of Frank Castle's wife and children to silence him, prompting Castle's quest for revenge. Portrayed by Jon Bernthal, Castle's singular mission became to avenge his family's murders by eliminating crime in New York City. Marvel Television's The Punisher expands on Castle's backstory, detailing the murder of his family. While Season 2 of Daredevil touched on his origin, the solo series reveals the true culprits behind their deaths.
In various adaptations, Castle's family is brutally killed, setting him on a violent path as the Punisher. In Punisher 2, Castle becomes involved with the Hand, killing enemies in brutal fashion. The violent event that leads to his transformation unfolds when Castle's family tradition in Central Park turns tragic, as gangs ambush them after a supposed meeting.
Rawlins and Schoonover's botched assassination attempt, disguised as a gang incident, ultimately results in the death of Castle's family. The narrative shifts through comics and screen adaptations, presenting different villains. Ultimately, Castle's past as a sniper and his family's tragic demise intertwine, driving his relentless hatred for crime while also confronting his haunting memories of the violence he endured.
What Happened To Van Pels' Family?
Peter van Pels, born on November 8, 1926, in Osnabrück, Germany, was the son of Hermann and Auguste van Pels, a Jewish family that fled to Amsterdam in 1937 to escape Nazi antisemitism. During World War II, Peter and his family, along with the Frank family, sought refuge in the Secret Annex for over two years. On August 4, 1944, they were betrayed and arrested by the Gestapo, marking the end of their hiding. Hermann van Pels was murdered in Auschwitz shortly after their arrival that same year.
Auguste van Pels was later deported to a different camp, where she died in the spring of 1945. Peter faced a harrowing fate; he was subjected to a death march from Auschwitz just before its liberation. Although he survived the march, he ultimately died in Mauthausen, Austria, on May 5, 1945, just three days prior to the camp's liberation by American forces. The van Pels family's tragic story is intertwined with that of Anne Frank, whose diary provides significant insight into their lives and relationships during their time in hiding. Their experiences highlight the profound impact of the Holocaust on individual lives and families during this dark period in history.
Did Anne Frank Do Anything With Peter?
Anne Frank and Peter van Pels developed a romantic relationship while hiding during World War II in the Secret Annex. Initially, Anne found Peter annoying and lazy, but as they spent more time together, her feelings evolved. They would kiss and cuddle in Peter's room and the attic, fostering a deeper connection. Despite this closeness, Anne eventually realized that Peter might not fulfill the role of the close friend she had desired, leading her to create some emotional distance. Peter, however, continued to pursue their relationship.
The Secret Annex housed eight people, including Anne's family and the Van Pels family, causing tension between Anne and her mother, who felt a loss of control as Anne grew closer to Peter. Peter, the only boy in the other family, was initially 15 when they entered hiding. While Anne had fleeting mentions of another boy named Peter before the war, her sentiments shifted towards Peter van Pels as they shared intimate moments filled with deep conversations.
These developments in their relationship were significant not just for their personal connection, but also as a source of comfort during the harsh realities they faced. Anne's diary entries reflect the depth of their bond and the emotional sanctuary they found in each other amidst adversity.
How Many People Did Jan Gies Save?
Jan Augustus Gies (18 August 1905 – 26 January 1993) was part of the Dutch Resistance during World War II, alongside his wife Miep Gies. They played a crucial role in hiding Anne Frank, her family, and four others from Nazi persecution in a Secret Annex in Amsterdam. Prior to this, Miep worked as a typist until she lost her job due to the economic crisis. With limited opportunities, she met Jan around 1940 and they frequently brought books to the people in hiding, often sharing meals with them during his lunch breaks.
After the Frank family and their companions were arrested on August 4, 1944, Miep preserved Anne Frank's writings, keeping them safely in her desk until they were returned to Otto Frank, the only survivor from the group. Miep became known worldwide for her efforts to save Anne's diary. Both Miep and Jan risked their lives to provide food and information to those in the Secret Annex. Later in life, Gies would receive numerous inquiries about Anne Frank and the war, highlighting her impact as a key figure in the Dutch Resistance. Miep Gies passed away in 2010 at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and compassion.
📹 How did Nazis murder Anne Frank? Life of Anne Frank in the Secret Annex and her painful death – WW2
Death of Anne Frank & Her Life in Secret Annex in the Shadow of Nazi Regime – Holocaust -World War 2. The 10th of May, 1940, …
Problem is not the one who betrayed Anne to save himself. The problem is the one who destroyed the person to the point he could be able to sacrifice Anne. I was born during the war in Rwanda. I saw with my eyes, when a parent abandoned their children to save themselves. I saw one who killed his close neighbors. Many betrayed their loved one. I know they loved them but broken.
My grandfather’s best friend survived the atrocities of the concentration camps. He used to say “The worst of us survived the camps. The best of us died almost immediately by refusing to put their own survival before others”. He wouldn’t have been surprised at all by the Frank family being betrayed by one of their own because he witnessed what people were willing to do to survive
This man was a victim of his circumstances, not a betrayer or traitor. Most people will turn on you based on public opinion or fame. Unfortunately this was a matter of life and death and a real breakdown in humanity. People shouldn’t have been put in that type of predicament anyways, if we’re discussing choices and morals. The entire Holocaust was sickening. From the medical experiments with Mengele to the selling of the hair of Jews as fabric.
When I was a child, I thought the man who betrayed Anne Frank and the other 8 people in the Annex was someone completely beyond redemption, but after perusal this, it completely changed my perspective. He was just doing what he had to do to survive. If he didn’t reveal the information about Anne Frank and her family, he and his own family probably would have been executed. So he was just doing what he had to do to survive. People would be betrayed no matter what he did.
It is easy to condemn Mr. Vandenburg but until you have walked a mile in his shoes try and avoid passing judgement. If it came down to protecting your family over people you don’t know most people would do exactly the same thing. I am not saying he was right, it was a despicable act but none of us will know what pressures he was under that caused him to make such a choice.
As a kid, I always imagined the person who ratted out Anne’s family to be someone vile, sinister or unforgivable to no redemption, however, it’s seems as if they were just another product of their time of someone who was unfortunately put in the same situation as thousands of other living during the Holocaust. I can’t even fathom having to pick over the safety of my own family in comparison to another, but my heart will always go out to both families & any others who were affected by this terrible time in human history.
Calling someone a traitor based off of circumstantial evidence is honestly disrespectful in my opinion,because imagine they’re not guilty and we all just accept it. I feel awful for his family due to that issue, like imagine no matter how hard you say my relative didn’t do this no one would listen to you. as much as I would like to know who did it because I’m always curious about these things I’d like to find it out not at cost of pointing fingers and saying it was a he said she said type scenario! Edit: wow this absolutely blew the HECK up! Thank you all for that and also I have a lot of comments under this one and I just want remind everyone I’m open to discussing this but keep it respectful and on the point. I’ve seen many comments de-rail the subject entirely. I understand this topic has a very thin rope to walk across and sometimes people fall by mistake but please just keep it respectful. I wanted to say something about it,thank you 🙂 (I also fixed a few things in the original comments because I wrote it late at night and what i say then can sometimes be hard to understand)
My soul aches for both families and making a decision that brings horrific consequences for an entire family with either choice must be agonizing…especially since both families contained children. The perhaps worst part is they were mere months away from freedom for both families, but did not know that at the time, obviously. The current situation just brings up this story once again, and ‘they’ can ban this story all they want, it’s all over the internet and will always be known.
Due to how little information they’ve released, it makes me wish they hadn’t given a name. The man may be dead, but he has descendants. If it was my grandfather, I would want someone to be sure before they call the news stations. If it was him, then it was him. But the way this whole thing was presented didn’t do this ‘breakthrough’ justice.
If you read “Nothing to Envy” stories of North Korean survivors you come to realize that the nicest people died first in the North Korean famine. Those that shared food, shared resources would die. Those that were cutthroat and stole survived. Similar stories came out of the holocaust, the famine in China. I tell my wife she would be the first to go in such a crisis because of her kind heart. Survival of the fittest in these instances means that the ultimate survivors go on to breed and the result is a group of people whose personality changed versus a group that wasn’t exposed to such horror. Over decades North Koreans vs South Koreans, although originally genetically the same, may have very different genetic personalities.
Poor girl and her family. Hiding for so long living in fear as many Jews did. Hes not here to defend himself, but as said, in order to save his own family he was put in a position to give up another family. We don’t know the circumstances. The enemy here were the nazi’s. One of the most disgusting evil things to happen to humanity from the hands of others. She always wanted to be a famous author and she got that but unfortunately never got to see her dream come true. Special girl x
I remember reading Anne Frank’s diary in 6th grade, and being disturbed for several years on what kind of person could have had the heart to turn her and her family in. As time went on and as I learned more about history, wars, and psychology, it became more obvious that it’s in our human nature to do the unthinkable if it means ensuring the survival of our loved ones, or even to protect ourselves. Unfortunately, it’s also human nature to be greedy and desire power, financial well-being, etc – and hoped that wasn’t the reason why the Frank family was turned in. Anyways; clicked on this thinking it was finally known who the person was – but guess it’s still possibly a mystery since evidence seems to be based on just an anonymous letter. If it was van den Bergh, then guess I’m glad it didn’t turn out to be the heartless and greedy villain type; as it seems he was forced to do it to protect his own loved ones.
What a shitty situation to be put in. Everyone can judge this person and give their two cents about his actions but we’ll never truly experience what he went through. To choose between your family and the life of someone else. To call him a traitor and say he betrayed is a gross oversimplification of what happened. He was a guy who had no choice but was forced to make one regardless and live with the guilt of it. I suspect almost everyone here, myself included, would have done exactly as he did when the lives of your loved ones are on the line. Blame the people who put him in the situation, not the man himself.
Statistically speaking, most people, including the news readers and the people who called this person a ‘betrayer’ would have done EXACTLY the same thing. This isn’t simply just a morality issue – this is doing what you have to do to either survive or save your loved ones. From looking at history, most people would sell out others with much less on the line.
What happened during this time is something that should truly never be forgotten. How easy it is to blind people in hatred, how that hatred turns people into monsters, and how those monsters damage the world in ways that are still being felt about eighty or more years later. Do not be so easily swayed by hate. Do not follow those who try to unite in hate.
“What humanity may be capable of” ? How callous and cruel. The subjection of this man, his family, like millions of families, do not deserve to be demonized in their attempts for safety. We are incredibly fortunate to have primary accounts such as Anne Frank’s, but to perceive a man who saved his family as a traitor is wrong. These humans were all victims. What a complete lack of empathy or historical imagination to label this poor soul a traitor. Shame on you, this is not “investigative reporting”, this is inflammatory clickbait journalism to misrepresent the horrors of this moment in history. There is an actual traitor in this story, and it is the countless of people in power then who waited many years to intervene, and those in power who continue to enable the rise of Nazism in our modern day. It is an ultimate shame that, these are the traitors to these victims.
How is he a traitor? He did everything to save himself & more importantly his family. He was himself a victim of the circumstances. I don’t think that qualifies anyone to be a traitor. Anyone should be called a traitor if He / She willingly betrays someone who trusted them without any meaningful reason or for their own personal gain.
First of all, entirely circumstantial. Second of all, I hope it’s widely understood that he was also a victim. Very, very many people were forced to make these terrible decisions, it shouldn’t make a difference that a child of the family he was forced to give away had her journal published. The only people that reserve the right to call him guilty or even culpable are the people who lived in similar circumstances, and I guarantee that most of them would hold him harmless with the understanding that he was only trying desperately to protect his own family.
Anne Frank’s diary was written in Old Dutch. One guard came and arrested the family. His name was Karl Silberbauer. After the family was all out, he collected Anne’s diary and gave it to Miep Guess, Guess gives it to Anne’s father, Otto Frank. I written Miep Gies in 2003 and she sent me a very nice picture of her.
It really hurts me when I know Anne was sacrificed by someone. A part of her life incidents was given in my NCERT book for class 10 by CBSE. I remember reading how she loved her grandmother and how she felt alone even if she had everything she needs but not a true friend. I am recollecting those words of Anne through this when she said “paper has more patience than people” in her diary.
We can’t criticize him, if we don’t understand the serious situation he was in. During that time, betrayals were something really common. People show their rawest emotions, as they fight over each other for their own lives. Parents to children. Siblings to siblings. Friends to friends. They still love each other, and heartbroken. But as their lives are at stakes, they have no choice but to give up everything they’ve built together. I feel super sorry for the ones who didn’t want such stories to happen, but have to save themselves. Let’s not judge anyone and call him a ‘traitor’ when he’s trying to save himself and his family. We have no choice but to betray our closest allies to save our families. It’s natural. And how you describe him as a devil who shows his true colors at dark times, it disgusts me.
I met Anne Franks cousin. Her cousin is such a great man, and deserves to be honored everyday for his strong survival of the Nazi Regime. I find this disgusting that a man, had three children put to death. People do not think about the stuff they’ve done until it comes back and haunts them. Its disgusting.
To be honest nobody today can blame or point fingers at any Jewish person or what they did to survive in those days,whether this is true or not all these Jewish people were facing decisions for their lives and the lives of their families,I am sure some made deals to save their families and I don’t blame them or feel shame towards them because not one of us has walked a mile in their shoes,those times were living hell and must never be repeated.
Why have they been trying to seek the identity of the betrayer? Anne and her family were just one of thousands of families that all suffered the same fate so why does it matter WHO it was in this instance? Especially considering the “traitor” was Jewish and were probably in a very difficult situation where many of us would’ve done the same in order to protect our families.
I was 13 when I read the Diary of Anne Frank. She was my first crush. I can’t forget even now 45+ years later her bravery and strength. It’s because of her I speak out against the marginalization of people. The cruelty of others, especially those that are less fortunate. Those that like to tell us that those who are different, less fortunate than us are the cause of all our problems, want us looking down so we don’t look up.
I’m so confused as to why people are arguing about this. A man was given the option to save his family and himself or rat out Anne. Of course, he’s going to choose to save his family. Honestly, either way, he would’ve still been known as either ‘the man that betrayed Anne Frank’ or ‘the man that betrayed his family for an outsider’ Neither is okay!
I am currently reading Anne Frank’s diary and about to finish it. I am so amaze of how a teenage girl wrote her diary that she well described every person in the annexe, their experienced hiding and their lives during war that it seems like you are in that actual moment. I pray for Anne’s soul. She was truly a dreamer.
A young teen Jewish male helpedvthe Nazis find many Jewish families. After the war he eventually founded the WEF, the virtue signaling Nazis reimagined. One of the biggest accomplishments of the Nazis was to convince people that they were far right. In fact, they were socialist, just right of communism.
So interesting! I live in the Netherlands for very long, I speak fluent Dutch, and I know so much about Anne Frank. I don’t really like this country, but the way, that locals used to hide Jews during WW2 and save their lives, earns much respect. Shameful for all Nazi collaborators, who helped to kill innocent people. Don’t forget, that not only Germans and Austrians committed atrocities and brutally conquered territories in Europe, BUT ALSO Romanians, Italians, Hungarians, Bulgarians, some Dutch, some Danish, etc.
It’s absolutely horrendous to think that a girl my age had been forced into hiding for two years, only to be dragged out and put into a concentration camp…and then die….. she had a whole life ahead of her… And Peter Van Daan as well. And Margot Frank. And the thousands of other kids robbed of childhood. It could happen to me, ya know? All the government (or a large organization) has to do is say the word and I could be the next Anne Frank in a matter of months. It’s sad, honestly. How humans can kill eachother like that. Well you know what’s gonna happen if no ones different?? The world is gonna be bitter about everyone being the same. And it’s gonna be a neverending cycle of hate. Let’s face it: humanity is never going to be perfect. But there HAS to be enough people out there who still want to try, that’s why we need to learn from history so things like these won’t happen again.
Very good friends of my family were named Vandenburg ! The couple’s families had immigrated before the war, when they were teenagers. He always regretted that he had not been in the Netherlands, to fight for his country. No matter how futile his fighting might have been, he still regretted not having the opportunity.
I have this girl’s book slash diary. I tried reading it but it made me angry and sad. She was completely innocent and just a little girl who was excited for her birthday to arrive and see what kind of presents she got. I picked the book out myself and bought it with my own money. Anne was a very good-natured kid, silly and free-spirited. She was a really really good person from the things I was reading about her.
I can’t believe people are making excuses for him. Of course the Nazis created this situation. But he killed 8 people including children so he could live a few more years. Just because someone else does something terrible that suddenly excuses you being selfish and turning on other people? He was a coward. He was an adult man who had lived over 50 years but choose to have children executed so he could live. Absolutely disgusting behavior. Everyone making excuses would probably do the same thing. This shows how easily this happened in Germany and that people haven’t really learned from it, under the same circumstances many people today would turn on everyone around them.
There’s a difference between a betrayer and a father who tried his best to protect and keep his family safe from the atrocity that is wartime. Also, I really find this witch-hunt particularly disturbing ; WWII was a terrible event, no doubt, but it ended almost 80 years ago and dragging someone’s reputation in the dirt without regards of the situation at the time.
I’ve known, probably since my teens, that my parents would always pick me and my siblings over themselves and certainly over any other family’s. The vast majority of all parents would. And while it shatters that innocent world of ethical and moral beliefs one lives in as a kid, it’s a sobering realization of how human all people are.
I believe they will live with that guilt for the rest of their lives. My grandfather was also betrayed by someone he helped to settle in Singapore in the 1940s who was forced by the Japanese to find those who were anti – Japanese. My ganddad was dragged away according to my dad and was never seen again. Heard the person’s family was in peril so he snitched.
Why the need for this? All it serves is to place unnecessary shame on the man’s descendants. Today, our peers are not war-time citizens who were forced to make tough choices for their lives. Privileged youngsters who can afford to learn about our terrible history without being a part of it. Our goal is to stay away from pointing fingers and simply say together ‘Never Again’.
I feel compassionate for the betrayer. Can you imagine being in a situation where you know that your family will be sent to the gas chambers if you won’t collaborate? It’s a double edged sword because if you don’t betray your friends then your family will suffer but if you betray then another family will suffer.
Another good example of historical stories, and one with a happier ending than most is that of Robert Clary. Just about any American over 30 might know him as ‘Le’bo’ from the sitcom ‘Hogan’s Heroes.’ In Europe, people may know the show as ein Käfig voller Helden or, ‘A Cage Full Of Heroes.’ Robert Clary wrote a book called ‘From The Holocaust To Hogans Heroes’ which he tells his story. In short, he was captured at the beginning of the war and survived in large part due to his entertainment background. He was spared because he could sing and dance. Liberated at the end of the war he came to learn that a large portion of his family survived as well, literally bumping into one of them on the street. While the horrors from WW2 are important to remember, it is also good to see that there were a few happy endings.
This goes to show how privileged people are today, and how quickly and easy it is for us to judge people. Straight out called him a betrayer. I mean, this was a war! What would you do if you had to choose between saving your family, and someone else’s? But no, let’s sit in a peaceful part of the world full of privilege and judge the decisions made by those that lived through perhaps the darkest time in modern history, because we ‘woke’ or have ‘the right to’.
I am so fiercely proud of the United Kingdom for never surrendering to Nazi Germany. Our island was never seized and our citizens, though under siege, were never subject to Hitler’s rule. We fought from the very start to the bitter end. The odds were often stacked against us and we never wavered. I take great pride from being a citizen of the UK.
We had a chapter in our english book i think in highschool here in india in my state board Seeing this name (Anne Frank)in my notification brought back so many memories of that time I don’t remember the entire story but only a little bit of it and i would love to reseach more on what was the entire story Sorry for bad english its not my first language
The other incredible ‘horror’ is that the Allied Forces seemed unaware of the death camps themselves, such that we don’t have evidence that specific effort was made in the war to end because these existed. Instead, only a while after the war, that these concentration camps and the horrors – atrocities – committed were to come to light. (Has anyone also wondered how, after the collapse of the USSR, there was never any internal Russian investigation into their own systematic interment and detention camps etc. as the country transited into so-called democracy and economic redevelopment? We know Gulag etc were true.)
These disgusting Nazi pigs caused this, not the so-called “betrayer” that the pigs coerced. Anne’s diary is the most moving book I’ve ever read, and I still shed a tear sometimes when I reflect on it (and I’m a 58 year old male). I’ve also been to the house and viewed the diary, and I’ve been to Auschwitz. RIP Anne, and all the other victims of this hideous atrocity.
I always thought, and still do, that Ans van Dijk was the perpetrator. She was Jewish and to save herself she agreed to go undercover and help locate Jews in hiding. She did this time and again and even gave up her family members too. She was captured in 1946 hiding out at a friend’s house in Amsterdam and was tried and shot by firing squad. There are many details about her that make her just as possible as this guy.
Anne Frank gives the Holocaust a face, this is what one of my history professors at university always said. People have an emotional connection to Anne Frank, due to her diary. What happened to her and her family is beyond tragic, but what we tend to forget is that Anne was 1 of 6 Million Jews who faced the same tragic destiny. This man protected his family from this destiny, he is not the villian of this story. The villians are the people who killed 11 million people. The way this report tries to villanize this man disgusts me. He did what all of us would do, he did everything to protect his family.
I’m sorry but it’s pretty easy for those who aren’t in fear for their lives and the lives of their family to call someone a “betrayer”. No one knows what they would do in this situation, no matter how much they think they’d be the hero. The consequences for this person would have been beyond gruesome. What is the right thing to do? Let your family be murdered/tortured or let a stranger be murdered or tortured? We sit in our comfortable homes in a modern world with confidence that our doors won’t be kicked in by monsters willing to drag us into the street and shoot us in the head and we cast judgement on a man simply trying to stop this from happening to his family. Disgusting.
I have to agree with some of these comments here, I honestly thought the person who betrayed the Franks was a vile scumbag for so many years, but after hearing this, it completely changed my perspective on this. He was just a victim of the circumstances and regime at the time. He was looking out for his own family. He literally had no good choice.
People forget that They USED EVERYTHING THEY could to get INFORMATION FROM YOU. Threaten your kids, Family and knowing Your Loved ones Daily routines is a A Scary realization. When somebody knows all the places your loved ones will be at or going to be at is Problematic. Now you deal with anxiety of dealing with that information…🙇♂️🙏
Rip you dear angel I’ve just finished your diary I’m sorry for reading your private thoughts I think we would have been good friends I refuse to let your tragic story define who you was as a person. In a world full of despicable cruelty you was the biggest brightest ray of sunshine forever in my heart Yours Tom ❤
It was a tragic and tough time for others. The guy was obviously forced and threatened to give their whereabouts away, or else he and his family would be harmed. And after probably living in guilt, he’s being called a traitor for being put under pressure. He pretty much had no choice. Either way, lying or not, would have devastating consequences. He probably was even trying to hold out as long as he could until he couldn’t anymore. History exists so we can learn. We shouldn’t judge what we hadn’t experienced.
In all honesty who wouldn’t have done what this man did in order to save his family. During a time where millions of people were being killed by the Nazi’s I bet few had that option, if he didn’t betray her family both his and the Franks would have died because eventually someone would have taken that offer or they would eventually find them themselves.
when i was 10, i read annes diary, and i remeber thinking, damn, at 15 ppl must be really mature! and now that im a year older than what anne was when she died, i realize that it was not only mature, but incredibly thoughtful and genius . and then it hits me, that her talent could only be nurtured till 15, imagine what an actress or writer shed have made if shed survived
I came into this believing this man to be a bad person for doing such a thing, but reading the comments genuinely gave me a different opinion. I would do anything to save my family, now I understand why he did what he did. He was a victim as well, doing what he could for his family. Cant even imagine how heavy this has weighed on him all these years.
I write my humble words before I will watch the documentary. Like so many, I read her thoughts, and I did some many years ago. An innocent girl coming of age, trying to understand the world around her. But more than anything, I think she was trying to understand herself and, under the worst of circumstances. I cried when I read it. why? because she had an inquisitive mind and a future ahead of her to explore the world and her thoughts. Was it the manager of her father’s business? Now I will watch with focus. RIP dear Anne.
Her story makes me happy and sad at the same time. She was the person who was filled with joy and happiness and wanted to live and enjoy the life and also wanted to become a writer. I don’t understand how come person filled with so much of life can be betrayed by her own family member. She was the true jem. And she deserved better.
In the grand scheme of things, did it truly matter who turned her in? Whether it was a neighbor who had no other choice or a nazi informant, What matters most is remembering who the real enemy is: the one who started the war, the one who started the sick, animalistic program of hunting Anne Frank and human beings, the people and mindless followers who were hunting after them like rabid wolves. Remember who the real enemy was. Remember the millions of innocent lives lost in the ensuing wars. If you forget, history will only repeat itself.
Honestly if it was my blood and flesh vs theirs and I was the deciding factor whether mine or theirs went to the chambers, I would have dropped the chivalry act and without thinking twice I would have saved my own which I am sure ANYONE in that position during that period would have done. This wasn’t “betrayal” this was an act of survival. This should be seen in the same way that every soldier saw the war by killing others – Its them or me and I chose me.
All people are capable of betraying each other, especially if its to save their own skin. The reason concept of heroes and good samaritans are celebrated and praised is sadly a lot of people look out for their own self interest first. There’s a difference between doing what is right and what is easy.
REST IN PEACE TO ALL YOUNG AND OLD WHO DIED AT THE HANDS FROM THE COMMAND OF THEN A MAN OF NO MERCY IN WHAT HE ORDERED JUST BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT RELIGION REST IN PEACE ALSO TO ANNE WHO BARLY GREW TO BE AN ADULT AND YOUNG GIRLS AND BOYS HER AGE .GODBLESS THEM🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🙏AMEN🌷🙏
This is not presented accurately. As part of the Jewish Council, he knew the Franks were hiding since they could not be found despite being on this lists of all jews living in Amsterdam. However turning that list over to the Nazis, doesn’t implicate him. There were lots go jews that went into hiding. Furthermore, there is no indication he knew of their hiding place or where to look for them as they told very few people. Additionally, his family eventually also went into hiding and were still in hiding when the arrest of the franks took place, making all of these allegations completely false.
So he did it to save his own family from the gas chambers and shes calling her book the betrayal of Anne Frank? In reality faced with such a situation i think no one would have much of any choice but to have done what he did. A lot of horrible things happened during that war, and it isn’t the fault of someone put in an impossible situation.
But you tell us nothing about him beyond generalities-most Jews in that place and time had their and their families lives at stake. How was he in the position to know that, and where, the Franks were hiding? What was this letter that Otto Frank got-someone ratted the betrayer out or what? Make a bit longer of a article and tell us something interesting.
I honestly don’t blame the man! If they gave me a choice for me and my family to die or someone else’s family as sad as it is I would give them up! If it was me alone that they threatened I hope I would have had the courage to not give them up and go down myself but we will never know if we have that courage until its tested, I beleive I do, I hope I do, but we really never know…
How is someone being threatened with not only their own death, but that of their own immediate family members, a betrayer? It’s called survival in a most heinous situation. Was this person supposed to save a stranger in Anne Frank & family instead of himself and his own family? Blame the Nazis, not the victims.
When Dad was stationed in peace-time Germany in the late 60’s, he took us on a history tour of Europe one summer when I was about 12. (Dad had served in WWII and fought in Battle of the Bulge, then rejoined Army after 16 year break in service). As part of that tour we saw, among other things, the concentration camp at Dachau and also Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam.