April 25, 2013 "Anne Frank"/Reflection on Holocaust

April 25, 2013 "Anne Frank"/Reflection on Holocaust

     So far in reading "Anne Frank Life In Hiding" I've learned more about what kind of person Anne was. She was a smart intelligent girl in school that was loved by many. But she loved to be a clown in class. It got to a point where she had to right two writing compositions for her math teacher. "It was her special assignment." She had to write one about "a chatterbox," and a second about, "Incurable Chatterbox." Both of them were stellar in writing. She yet again spoke out a third time and this time her class mate had volunteered to write about "Quack, quack, quack says Mrs. Natterbreak." Her thirteenth birthday was on June 12, 1942. She received a red and white checkered diary that she named "Kitty" and often wrote about her thoughts during hiding and about the war around her. To keep her room interesting she would put pictures on the wall that interested her like famous actors and singers.
     Every day I learn new things about the holocaust and Anne Frank. When Margot, Annes sister, got a summon from the Germans her family moved to a secret annex in Amsterdam. On a day when bombers were in the air their intentions were to bomb the Fokker aircraft factory, but the bombs fell on a residential area killing 175 people. Near where the secret annex where the Franks were hiding. I thought it was cool how Anne Frank would "run up the stairs a couple of times making sure to fall once so you can barely hear the gunfire yet along worry about them." All the people in the annex were arrested and taken off to concentration camps. Sadly all of them died except for Otto, Anne's Father. It was very sad to hear how people are just put into concentration camps. People were sometimes categorized into two groups elderly and kids and then strong adults. The weak meaning the kids and elderly would go to take "showers" where they where gassed and killed. I learned that The Jewish adults would go to work. It's amazing how much you can learn about the holocaust.

Anne Franks Family                                                  
       Secret Annex Layout

     When Anne Frank's family finds out about Margots call-up from the S.S. they go into hiding into a secret annex along with four other people. Mr. and Mrs.Van Dan, Peter van Dan, and Albert Dussel. Anne thinks that having other people will keep her motivated, but shortly after Anne begins to get bored and get agitated by people who question her behavior. The days in the annex are quiet and boring because all the divers have to make sure they don't make loud noises or employees of the spice business might call up the German Cops for money. They would all be arrested. They can't go outside and the windows have to be darkened so no one will see them in hiding. Nights are spent more freeliy, but ears are always open incase cops come to check out the building or if a burglery happens.
On June 6, 1944 D-day, Allied forces start to take over the Germans territory. "But hope is revived within us...Oh, Kitty, the best part of the invasion is that I have the feeling that friends are approaching...that peace and tranquility aill return again."(Pg.34) Nearly after two years on Friday, August 4, 1944 the Gestapos are at the secret bookcase and arresting the hidden Jews. Out of the eight only Otto Anne's dad survives. He goes on to publish Anne's Diary which is translated to fifty languages and 18 million copies get sold.
I feel that from the reading of Anne's story we continue to look back and think of the horror so we will never repeat it again. It was a time that was put on paper by a brave and wise girl. The facts I new from the begining of the project were very minamle, but since then I have grown to learn way more about the Holocaust and all the lives that are honored for keeping us in the loop about this terrible time.