Our inspiration

Anne Frank’s inspirational life and heart-breaking death are the drivers behind everything we do here at the Anne Frank Trust UK.

When she was 15 years old, Anne was murdered by the Nazis just for being Jewish. Since her death, her Diary has become world famous. It is the greatest book ever written by a teenager.

 .

.

Who is Anne Frank?

.

Anne Frank and her family were Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany. When Anne was 4 years old, the Franks fled to Holland to escape from the Nazis’ vicious antisemitism (which means racism towards Jewish people). Anne lived safely in Amsterdam, Holland, with her parents and sister until the start of World War Two. Then the Nazis invaded and started deporting Jews to concentration camps.

In 1942, a few days after Anne’s 13th birthday, the Frank family went into hiding. They lived for over 2 years in a secret annexe (or hidden apartment) above Mr Frank’s workplace in central Amsterdam. Four other Jewish people hid with them. Some non-Jewish friends risked their lives to bring them food. They hoped the Allied armies, including Britain and the USA, would arrive in time to liberate them

But in 1944 the Secret Annex was discovered by the Nazis. All the people hiding there were arrested and transported to concentration camps. Separated from their parents, Anne and her sister died of disease and starvation in Bergen-Belsen Camp in February or March 1945. They were among 6 million Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust (the Nazi genocide of Jewish people), along with thousands of others killed because they were black, disabled, gay, Gypsy-Roma or just didn’t fit with the Nazis’ prejudices.

Of the 8 people who hid in the secret annex, only Anne’s father Otto survived. When he arrived back in Amsterdam after the war, he read the diary Anne had been writing during their time in hiding. He realised it was a remarkable book. Following Anne’s wishes, he had it published.

.

.

The global phenomenon

.

Since its publication in 1947, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank has become one of the most popular and important books in the world.

It has sold 36 million copies, been translated into over 70 languages, and adapted into films, plays, graphic novels, works of art, music, podcasts and YouTube videos.

The secret annex in Amsterdam, where Frank wrote the diary, is now the Anne Frank House Museum. It is visited by over a million people a year.

Anne Frank has influenced many world leaders, including Nelson Mandela, JF Kennedy and Barack Obama. She has inspired anti-prejudice education programmes in countries across the globe, including the Anne Frank Trust here in the UK.

.

Anti-prejudice education

.

How does Anne Frank teach us about prejudice?

Anne’s death is a reminder of what can happen if prejudice is not challenged. Prejudice can result in terrible discrimination against groups of people just because of who they are, like the Nazis’ persecution of the Jews. It can lead suddenly to genocide, like the Holocaust.

Your stories matter

 Anne’s Diary shows that your voice can make a difference. By telling her own story, Anne shared her experience of prejudice with millions of people across the world. Faced with appalling hatred, she responded with humanity and truth.  Using her creativity, she reached across differences to build understanding.  Parts of Anne’s experience are unique to being Jewish in the historical context of the Holocaust, but she writes so honestly and warmly that we can all relate to many of her feelings.  She shows us that everyone’s experience matters, especially if we have lived with prejudice ourselves. We can all tell our stories, build understanding, and speak out for a better world.

 

Anne Frank Day 12 June

Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany, on 12 June 1929. Many people around the world remember Anne every year on this date.

Find out more

The best way to get to know Anne Frank is to read her work. See our Guide to Anne Frank's Diary. 

You can also find lots of information on the websites of the Anne Frank House Amsterdam and the Anne Frank Fonds.