FAQs


How many versions of Anne’s diary are there?
Anne started to write her first diary on her thirteenth birthday, June 12th 1942.  This diary she wrote for herself, and is referred to as version a. After hearing on the radio that the Dutch government in exile were collecting witness accounts of the war, she was inspired to write a diary for publication.  She edited and rewrote her first diary, taking out parts she deemed uninteresting and adding in others from memory.  This became version b. She also changed the names of others in hiding with her.

What language did Anne write her diary in?
She wrote it in Dutch.

Why do some people go under different names in the diary than in real life?
When Anne wrote version b of the diary she invented pseudonyms (made up names) for the people featured.  When Otto Frank, Anne’s father, had the diary published he chose to give the Frank family their own names but followed Anne’s wishes with the others.

Mr Fritz Pfeffer became Mr Albert Dussel
The Van Pels family became the Van Daans.

How did the diary get published?
Meip Gies, one of the helpers and Otto Frank’s secretary, found the diary in the annexe after the family were taken.  She kept the diary, unread and locked away.  When it became clear that Anne had died she gave it to Otto Frank, who had survived the war.
Otto, after long deliberation and discussion, decided to publish his daughter’s diary, using parts of versions a and b, this became version c.  Many publishers turned down the chance to publish Anne’s diary as a book so soon after the end of the war, the first 1500 copies were eventually published in the summer of 1947.

Is Anne Frank a ‘typical’ victim of the Holocaust?
In many ways Anne is an atypical victim. Her family had the foresight and means to be able to move away from Germany and go into hiding, all together. This was unusual. Most families who decided to hide were split up and many didn’t think that things could get worse and so didn’t even try to hide and were subsequently captured.

Anne Frank lived in relative comfort, albeit it in cramped conditions, and was able to maintain her education and activities, such as writing her diary or reading a steady supply of books, which would not have been an option for most. The Frank family also had a dedicated and trustworthy set of helpers - this was immensely important in their survival until 1944. It is only when Anne is deported to Westerbork and then Auschwitz and then Bergen-Belsen, that Anne becomes more of a ‘typical’ Holocaust victim, in that she died in a concentration camp of starvation and disease.

How did the Frank family know the other people who were in hiding with them?
The Frank and Van Pels families knew each other from 1937 as Otto Frank and Mr Van Pels were in business together. Otto Frank had hired Mr Van Pels for his vast knowledge of spices used in the butcher’s trade.
In Amsterdam, Fritz Pfeffer worked as a dentist, where he had a patient named Miep Gies. On November 16, 1942, thanks to Miep, fifty-three year old Fritz Pfeffer became the eighth person to move into hiding in the Secret Annexe.
How did the Frank family support themselves during their time in hiding?
Otto Frank’s business was prosperous and the Frank family found themselves relatively wealthy prior to going into hiding.  As their resources dwindled the helpers played a larger role in supporting those in hiding.  Mr Kugler bulk bought spices for the business and didn’t record them, passing the money directly to Otto Frank.  He also bought ration coupons on the black market to further support those in hiding.

How did the Frank family support themselves during their time in hiding?
Otto Frank’s business was prosperous and the Frank family found themselves relatively wealthy prior to going into hiding.  As their resources dwindled the helpers played a larger role in supporting those in hiding.  Mr Kugler bulk bought spices for the business and didn’t record them, passing the money directly to Otto Frank.  He also bought ration coupons on the black market to further support those in hiding.

How were the Secret Annexe inhabitants discovered?
The Secret Annexe inhabitants were discovered on the 4th of August 1944.  Someone had tipped off the Dutch Security Police.  At this time people were offered rewards for reporting Jews in hiding.  It is not known who reported the hiders, although it was reportedly a woman who made the phone call to the police. The reward was never collected.

What is the Secret Annexe like now?
The Secret Annexe was preserved by Otto Frank and Mr Kleiman and opened in 1960 as the Anne Frank House.  The Museum has had some renovations but the Annexe is still in its authentic state. In 2010, the Anne Frank House will be 50 years old.
See http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?PID=20&LID=2 for more information.

Who is Eva Schloss?
Eva Schloss is the ‘posthomous’ step-sister of Anne Frank.
See here for Eva's full story

How can I recognise Anne’s legacy and make a difference myself?
The Anne Frank Declaration is established to offer individuals a chance to pledge their support to standing up to prejudice and hatred.  For more information and to download your copy, go to http://www.annefrank.org.uk/files/afdec.pdf

Every year the Anne Frank Trust host The Anne Frank Awards to recognise individuals whose respect, principles and sense of responsibility have changed lives for the better.  If you know someone, nominate them here.  Winners are invited to a special awards ceremony in London and are taken to Amsterdam to see the Anne Frank House.  http://www.annefrankawards.org.uk/

Alternatively set up your own local Anne Frank Awards to recognise the hard work of individuals in your community.   Contact info@annefrank.org.uk for more information.