Ann Frank House

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July 18
Ann Frank
I don't even know how to begin this chapter of our trip....We knew the story of Ann Frank but nothing brings someones story closer to your heart than being there and hearing the details, seeing first hand where they lived and hearing the voice of Otto Frank her Father in his post war thoughts . His reflections add clarity and a look inside his mind and heart as well as Ann's and their family.

When I think of Ann I will always remember that her story, so carefully and sincerely detailed in her diaries is but 1 story among the stories of more than 6 million other victims of the holocaust. Each life lost had their own story to tell about their lives, how the German Occupation affected them and their hope/fright/sorrow towards their salvation or ultimate murder.

What I learned about Ann was that she wasn't just writing about daily events in her diary. At some point she realized she had a real story to tell and wanted to be a journalist. In her writings she was pouring out her heart, hopes, fears, and dreams. She wrote about loss of freedom, loss of family, loss of friends. She wrote because she was positive she'd make it through the war and when it was over she would tell the detailed story of their life in the attic for two long years. She even blocked out her book in writing on whatever paper she could get once her diary pages were full. The book was to be called "The Secret Annex."

I learned that Otto Frank had created this secret annex well before they had to use it and I also learned how the Germans began taking away the rights of the Jewish population one item at a time until they just started removing them to concentration camps. The time to use the annex came when Ann's older sister Margot at 16 years old was told she had to go to Berlin. It was then the family hid.

While in hiding Otto Frank had a radio and was tracking the Liberation of Holland every day and before they were caught he knew the allies were getting close. He was sure they'd be rescued and so was Ann. No one really knows how the Nazi's discovered their hiding place, really upon seeing the set up I thought it was genius. But find it they did and all was lost. The family was separated. Otto went to one camp and his wife and daughters to another. Sadly only Otto survived. Once he learned that his wife and daughters were gone he went back to the house and either found the diary or it was given to him.

I think what will remain with me forever was watching a video of Otto speaking about his family. He said he and Ann were very close and he had no idea of her thoughts, hopes and what was in her heart. He was amazed she had been writing a book, reading the contents of her story came as a complete susrpise to him because they were so close. The last thing Otto said in his interview was that every parent should know that no matter how close you are to your children you will never know everything about them.

Happier blogging is ahead but Ann Frank was amazing and attention must be paid................

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