Anne Frank Biography
The Diary of Anne Frank is one of the most widely read books in the world but her
time in hiding was just one part of this remarkable girl's short life.
Anne Frank is famous for the diary that she kept from 12 June 1942 until 4 August 1944.
She was born on 12 June 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany, and was the second daughter of Otto Frank
and Edith Frank-Hollander. Her sister Margot was three years older. She enjoyed four happy years
growing up in Frankfurt until the Nazi's came to power.
Of German Jewish descent, she and her family moved to Holland in 1933, where her father set up a
business. By 1934, Edith and the two girls were living in Amsterdam, where they both attended
school. From a young age, Anne showed an aptitude for reading and writing, while her outspoken
and energetic personality shone through.When Holland was occupied by the Nazis in 1940, their
heritage put the family under threat.
The family were subjected to the same rules as German Jews, namely Jewish children could only
attend Jewish schools, they faced curfews, were not allowed to own a business and were forced to
wear a yellow star. Otto transferred his shares in his company to a friend and resigned as director
leaving the family with enough income to survive.
On her 13th birthday, Otto gave Anne an autograph book bound with white and red checked cloth
and closed with a small lock. She proceeded to use this as her diary, with the first entries detailing
how her family were segregated and discriminated against. In July 1942, her sister Margot received a
call up notice from the Central Office of Jewish Emigration ordering her to report for a relocation to
a work camp. This made the family move into hiding earlier than planned.
On 6 July 1942, Anne, her sister Margot and her parents went into hiding, along with four other
families. Their hiding place, the annexe, was in a specially prepared space above the offices of their
business.
Whilst in hiding, they were supported by a group of friends, who brought them food as well as
anything else they needed.
Anne started each diary entry 'Dear Kitty' and what followed was an incredibly candid and eloquent
account of her life in confinement. It expresses her fear, boredom and confusion at the situation she
found herself in.
As well as giving the reader an insight into of what it was like to live under such extreme
circumstances, it also shows Anne struggling with the universal problem of growing up.
Her diary ends in 1944 when the annexe was raided by the Nazi authorities. Anne and Margot were
first sent to Auschwitz and then to Bergen-Belsen where they died of typhoid in 1945.
She was survived only by her father Otto. Anne's diary was kept safe by the family friend, Miep
Gies, who gave it to Otto when he returned to Holland. When Anne was still alive she had
expressed interest in having her diary published as a record of her experience. After her death, her
father edited it, and it was first published in 1947.
'The Diary of Anne Frank' is an exceptionally popular and well known piece of writing. It has been
translated into 67 languages and is especially popular with young people.
Source - http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/anne-frank.html?
Comprehension Questions
1. When & where was Anne Frank born?
2. What was her sister called?
3. What year did the Frank family leave Germany & where do they go?
4. Why did they leave?
5. In 1940 life for Jewish people changed, how and why?
6. How old was Anne when she had her diary for her birthday?
7. When did the Frank family do into hiding and why?
8. What did Anne take with her?
9. Where did they hide?
10. Who else hid there with the Frank family?
11. How long did they hide for?
12. When were they discovered?
13. What happened to them when they were found?
14. What happened to Anne’s mother?
15. What happened to Anne and her sister?