Because of his work for the city, Jan was stationed to check those who were lucky enough to be returning from the concentration camps alive. He kept a post on the Franks. "Have you seen Mr. Frank?" He would ask. "No." They would reply. But one day in June 1945, Jan returned home with some happy news. "I've got good news for you, Miep! Otto is on his way here!" Miep was ecstatic. She and Jan ran to the window, and indeed, there was Otto Frank. Looking at him, you would still be able to see he was still perhaps somewhat malnourished. Miep ran to the door, and opened it. "Where's Edith?" She asked. "...she won't be coming back…" said Otto. Although Edith's passing was tragic, Miep still held hope for Margot and Anne. Otto had returned alone. There was no sign of any member of the Van Pels or Pfeffer by his side. Would they be coming back, too? Miep always sorted the mail, after which, she brought it to Mr. Frank. Looking through it, Miep noticed Otto had suddenly gone pale at one sheet of paper. What could possibly be written on it that would drain all the blood from his face in such a way? "Here," he said, handing the paper to Miep. "Read it." To Miep's horror, what was written on the piece of paper confirms everyone's worst fears. It was a letter.
"I hereby declare that Anne Frank and Margot Frank perished in the camp Bergen-Belsen, where I worked as a nurse.
Mrs. M. Brandis Brillux Schleiper"
The message was clear. Margot and Anne would never be returning, and neither would their mother, Edith. The Van Pels: Hermann and Auguste, along with their son Peter, were gone. Dr. Pfeffer is gone now, too. It was just Otto… he was the only soul survivor of the Secret Annex; the only soul survivor of his family. It was then that Miep made a remarkable move. She went to her desk and opened the drawer. She pulled every volume of the diary out, and presented them to Otto Frank with the words, "This is the legacy of your daughter, Anne." After much fuss and effort, Mr. Otto Frank published the diary of his youngest daughter, Anne. It was a book that told, and continues to tell, a remarkable and unforgettable story.
"Het Achterhuis - The Secret Annex"
*Made in memory of the Jews of the Secret Annex, their beyond generous helpers, and the victims and survivors of the Holocaust*
The Members of the Secret Annex
Otto Frank
5/12/1889 - 9/19/1980
Was a prisoner of Auschwitz. Survived, and later remarried a woman who was Holocust survivor. And lived until 1980, dying of lung cancer.
Edith Frank
1/16/1900 - 1/6/1945
Died at Auschwitz, as she had never eaten any food that was given to her, as she saved every scrap she was given for her two daughters, therefore, she died of starvation only three weeks before Auschwitz was to be liberated. Her body was destroyed
Margot Frank
2/16/1926 - 2/1945
Died at Bergen-Belsen. She was believed to have contracted a case of Typhus, as Bergen-Belsen had a lack of food, and a surplus of catchable and fatal disease. Believed to have died a few weeks before Bergen-Belsen was liberated. She was filed as being buried in a mass grave.
Anne Frank
6/12/1929 - 2/1945
Died at Bergen-Belsen. She was believed to have contracted a case of Typhus, as Bergen-Belsen had a lack of food, and a surplus of catchable and fatal disease. Believed to have died a few weeks before Bergen-Belsen was liberated, just like her older sister. It was later learned that upon deportation, all fussing between Anne and her mother disappeared. She was filed as being buried in a mass grave.
Hermann Van Pels
3/31/1898 - 10/1944
Died at Auschwitz. While working there, he was assigned to work on a railway, where it's believed he was thought to have injured his hand. After the war, two survivors recalled Hermann being taken to the gas chamber in October 1944
Auguste Van Pels
9/29/1900 - 4/1945
Not much is known about how she died. It's thought that she was first transported to Bergen-Belsen with Anne and Margot, and then put on another transportation to Theresienstadt, where a survivor claimed that Auguste caught Typhus and died during transportation, which was not an uncommon thing.
Peter Van Pels
11/8/1926 - 5/10/1945
Peter was first in Auschwitz, but was then dragged into a death march, bringing him to Mauthausen concentration camp. According to records, Peter made it to liberation, but died 5 days later, with his cause of death being filed as perhaps 'death march', but it's truly unknown.
Fritz Pfeffer
4/30/1889 - 12/20/1944
After being transported to Neuengamme concentration camp, although it's unknown how he got there. It was certain that he had to do hard labour under appealing conditions. After being in Neuengamme from November 1944, Pfeffer survived only until December 20, 1944, where he died of what was listed as enterocolitis, which is a gastrointestinal infection.
The Helpers
Victor Kuglar
7/6/1900 - 12/14/1981
When the Franks went into hiding, and Otto couldn't be the boss of Opekta anymore, Kuglar was one of the people who made sure the company kept on running. During the Annex's raid, Kuglar was arrested and sent to a camp, but managed to escape in March 1945. He was one of the two that had the idea of building the famous bookcase.
Johannes Klieman
8/17/1896 - 1/28/1959
Helped Kuglar keep the company running when the Franks went into hiding. He suggested getting the ANnex ready for a hiding place. The tensions of the hiding Jews cause tolls on his health. When the Annex was raided, Klieman was arrested along with Kuglar, but was soon released due to stomach complaints and poor health.
Bep Voskuijl
7/5/1919 - 5/11/1983
When the Franks went into hiding, it was Bep's job for retrieving bread, milk, and correspondence courses. Bep was not very aware of the preparation of the hiding place, if she noticed anything at all, she never asked any questions. She got along very well with Anne. Otto would later say that Anne was especially close to Bep, and that they were the two that were often sitting in a corner and whispering. Thanks to Klieman, who sent Bep away, she was able to avoid capture. Upon returning, she helped Miep preserve Anne's diary.
Miep Gies
2/15/1909 - 1/11/2010
The last surviving helper, living to the age of 100, Miep never considered herself as a hero. She just believed that she did what was right. When the Franks were in hiding, Miep had the job of buying meat, vegetables, and personal items that were asked for. Miep came to the Netherlands at the age of 11, due to health reasons. The Netherlands helped her health improve. She retold outside news to the Annex members. Miep was thankfully not arrested, and after the raid, she preserved Anne's diary, keeping them safe in her desk drawer until she gave them to Otto after learning that Anne was not to return.
Johan Voskuijl
1/15/1892 - 11/27/1945
Johan was Bep's father who also worked in the warehouse. He was the one who built the famous bookcase, but in 1943, he was found to have cancer, and stopped showing up to work. There's speculation that the Annex members would have survived the war had this not have happened. His replacement was not brought into the circle, and there's possible speculation that Johan's replacement could have been the possible existing betrayer.
Jan Gies
8/15/1905 - 1/26/1993
Jan was Miep's husband. They married in July 1941. Although he did not work in the warehouse, he often came to visit. With easy access, because of his job, and being able to visit those in hiding, he was able to illegally contain things such as papers and distribution coupons. He made sure to keep quiet about things, as well. He often took his lunch breaks in the Annex. He and Miep later took Otto in, when they found he was the only member to return.
Quotes of Anne Frank
"How wonderful is it that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world"
- Anne Frank
"Think of all the beauty left around you and be happy."
Anne Frank
"I don't think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains." - Anne Frank
"Whoever is happy will make others happy."
Anne Frank
"Where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again."
Anne Frank
"Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness." - Anne Frank
"In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank
"Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude."
- Anne Frank
"We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same." - Anne Frank
R E M E M B E R A N N E F R A N K
R E M E M B E R T H E
H O L O C A U S T