Anne Frank project
My Essay;
My Speech:
The Life of Anne Frank
By: Ashlyn VanDine, Core 3
“What is done cannot be undone, but one can prevent it happening again”. This is a quote by Anne Frank.. She is referring to Hitler during his World War II reign of Germany and the Holocaust. What Hitler has done can not be undone but we can prevent it from happening again in the future. Over 6 million people died during the Holocaust. Anne was only one of the 6 million who perished. Anne Frank was a very courageous teenager who impacted society with her diary that showed what really happened to Jews during the Holocaust.
Anne Frank was born Annelies Marie Frank on June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany to Edith and Otto Frank. She had one sister, Margot, who was three years older. The Frank family was a typical upper middle-class German-Jewish family. However, life as the Frank family knew it would soon change. Anne lived during an extremely unsettled time when many major events that are now important parts of history occurred. Hitler became leader of Germany in 1933 when Anne was only 4 years old. At that time, Anne’s father, Otto, was offered a job in Amsterdam. After years of experiencing anti-Semitism in Germany, he took the job and moved the entire family to get away from the war that was bound to happen. In 1934 Anne began attending Amsterdam’s Sixth Montessori School. She was a smart student with many friends who lived a happy and normal childhood in Amsterdam.
Four years later, in 1938, anti-Semitism in Germany was rising. An event now referred to as The Night of Broken Glass occurred. The Night of Broken glass is when hundreds of synagogues were burned, numerous homes and stores owned by Jews were ransacked, about 1,000 people were killed and more than 30,000 Jews were sent to concentration camps. In 1939 when Anne was 10 years old World War II was declared by Britain, France, Austria and New Zealand. In April of 1941 all Jews were forced by Hitler and the Nazi Party to wear yellow Stars of David to be easily identifiable. Then, on July 5, 1942 one of the Frank family’s worst fears came true. Margot, Anne’s older sister, got a letter saying she was going to be relocated to a concentration camp. Anne’s family, who had been preparing and planning to “disappear” for the safety of their lives, went into hiding in what they called the Secret Annex, an empty space at the back of Otto Frank’s company building, the very next day. Anne’s family, her father’s business partner’s family and Fritz. Pfeffer, a German dentist, were in hiding for a little over two years together, never stepping out of the building into the outside world, and it was during this time that Anne wrote of her experiences in her diary.
For Anne’s 13th birthday she got a red checkered diary just weeks before her family went into hiding. When Anne found out she and her family had to move into the Secret Annex for their safety, Anne brought her diary with her, one of her most treasured items because she loved to write. While in hiding, she wrote in her diary the life of a hidden Jewish teenager with her family and friends. She included all of her personal secrets as well as her experiences during the Holocaust. She especially wrote about not getting along with Mr. Pfeffer, the eighth person to join the annex. Sometimes she just got annoyed with everyone, but could never be alone. When Anne’s family was discovered in the Secret Annex, and they were taken to concentration camps, Anne’s diary was left behind laying on the floor, scattered in pieces. A close friend of the family and employee of Anne’s father, Miep Gies, later found the scattered pieces of Anne’s diary and knowing how important it was to Anne decided to keep it, hopeful for Anne’s safe return. After the war was over and Anne’s father, Otto, learned of Anne’s death, Miep handed Anne’s diary over to Otto who eventually decided the diary should be published for all to read. The publication of Anne’s diary made a huge impact on society. It allowed the whole world to experience Anne’s emotions and the real life of a Jewish teenage girl in hiding during World War II.
Anne had courage even when bad things happened. She showed courage by staying hidden for more than two years without ever going outside, watching the world before her pass by while not being a part of it. While in hiding Anne wrote in her diary that she knew she would survive and everything would go back to the way it was before the war. She remained positive and optimistic even in the most trying times. She only stayed hidden in the Secret Annex because she knew if she had quiet courage and hope that was their only way to survive. Even when she longed to go outside the annex she stayed to protect everyone else. She always had hope even when she felt like she had nothing left to live for. Anne wrote, “When I write, I can shake off all my cares.” On August 4, 1944 the Secret Annex was found, given away by a man wanting a reward. Anne and her family and friends were sent to concentration camps. The women were separated from the men. That was the last time Otto ever saw his wife and daughters. On January 6, 1945, Anne’s mother died of starvation. In March of the same year only two weeks before the camp's liberation, Margot and Anne died of Typhus within days of each other. Anne’s body finally gave up, but her belief, hope, optimism and courage never died.
Anne Frank lived during a very difficult time when Hitler was dictator of Germany, the world was at war, and Jewish people were being killed. She lived through many major events now marked in history. Anne was courageous in many ways including spending more than two years in hiding and fighting for her life while in a concentration camp. Anne always dreamed of being famous one day, but she never thought that the diary she shared her personal story in daily would one day be shared with the world and would be what she became famous for. Anne revealed the truth about the Holocaust through the eyes of a teenage Jewish girl. As Anne said, “What is done cannot be undone, but one can prevent it happening again”.
Sources
My Speech:
I am Anne Frank. I am famous for my diary that is now published as “The Diary of a Young Girl”.
I was born on June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany. I grew up in Amsterdam and until I turned 13 I lived a normal life. I was smart and had a talent for writing.
I was 10 years old when World War II was declared. By the time I was 12, all Jews, like me, were forced to wear the yellow Star of David to be easily identifiable by the Nazi Party. For my 13th birthday, I received a red checkered diary. Just weeks later, my family and I went into hiding in a Secret Annex where we remained for more than 2 years in hopes of saving our lives. I wrote in my diary about our experiences during this time.
On August 4, 1944 the Secret Annex was found. My family was taken to concentration camps. I left my diary behind. It was found by one of my father’s employees who kept it in hopes of my return. I died from Typhus just weeks before my camp was liberated. I was 15 years old.
I was only 1 of 6 million people who died during the Holocaust. My father was the only survivor in my family. He published my diary.. I didn’t survive, but my story did; the true story of a Jewish teenage girl in hiding during the Holocaust. I always wanted to be famous, but never expected to be for what I wrote in my diary. “What is done cannot be undone, but one can prevent it happening again.” -Anne Frank
Go Ashlyn! Loved your essay.
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