Annelies Marie “Anne” Frank lived a mere sixteen years but in that brief span impacted the world as few before or since. A remarkably talented writer and observer of the human condition Anne Frank posthumously became one of the most famous and widely read authors of the twentieth century, leaving a world amazed by her brilliance and heartbroken over what might have been.
Anne Frank was born June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany, the younger sister to Margot and the second daughter of Otto and Edith Frank. Of Jewish faith, with the ascension of the Nazi Party in Germany and the appointment of Adolf Hitler to Chancellor in 1933, Edith and her daughters left Otto in Frankfurt and moved in with her mother in Aachen, Germany. Not long after, Otto would decide to move to Amsterdam to open a new business. His family would soon follow.
In May 1940, Germany occupied the Netherlands, and oppressive treatment of the Jewish population soon followed. Eventually, Otto Frank put his family in hiding, occupying a hidden space in the office building of his business.
The Frank family remained hidden for over three years, dependent on a small group of friends for food and supplies. Approximately one month prior, Anne began to write, using an autograph book as a diary. In it, she created what would become a beautiful and enduring literary work.
Eventually published in more than 70 languages, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl reflects the observations, thoughts and dreams of a brilliant girl just beginning to discover life. With remarkable maturity and clarity, Anne recounts the horrors of Nazi occupation and her family’s life in seclusion. However, despite these horrendous conditions, Anne wrote with an unwavering belief in the goodness of man and hope for the future.
In August 1944, Nazi authorities discovered the Frank family’s hiding place, and all but Otto would perish in a concentration camp. But by publishing Anne’s diary, hidden by his secretary, Otto assured the spirit of an amazing young girl lives on, through her words and dreams and unshakable belief in a better tomorrow.
The story of Anne Frank is amazing but so tragic what happened to her and her and her family. At least, she shared her wonderful diary she wrote and left which was a great gift for all who read it.