World War Two was one of the darkest times in human history - and human history has known many dark times. The holocaust should never be forgotten and the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam reminds us of human hope and endurance as well as human cruelty.
Anne Frank was German-Dutch of Jewish heritage. She is one of the most discussed and well-known of the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. She lived from 12 June 1929 to February 1945. She spent much of the war in hiding from 1942 to 1944 during the German occupation of the Netherlands. Her time in hiding and her hopes and dreams are captured in her famous diary. Today visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is something all who are emotionally able should do.
The Life of Anne Frank
While in hiding for their lives they were joined by the Van Pels family and by Fritz Pfeffer. Anne had to share her room with Fritz Pfeffer, the confined space led to frequent arguments. One can read all about it in her diary. Eight people hid on the top floors of the annex.
Here in the Anne Frank House in July 1942, the Franks went into hiding in some concealed rooms behind a bookcase. They managed to remain hidden there for years until August 1944 when the Gestapo arrested them. As they were arrested in hiding, they were considered criminals and sent to the Punishment Barracks for hard labor.
- Born: In Frankfurt, Germany But Lived Most Of Her Life In The Netherlands
- Died: February (or March) 1945 - Aged 15
- Liberation: Amsterdam Was Liberated in May 1945 Following Germany's Surrender
They were then transported to concentrations camps and on 1 November 1944 Anne and her sister Margot were transferred from Auschwitz to Bergen-Belson concentration camp. They died there (probably of typhus). Bergen-Belson was liberated in April of that year - only around 2 months after she died. The details of what happened in these camps are too heavy to write about here.
The Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House was established in May 1957 and is a non-profit organization that seeks to raise awareness about what happened in that terrible time. The museum occupies the house where Anne Frank went into hiding and kept her famous diary.
It was established in cooperation with Otto Frank - Anne Frank's father (he was the only survivor of the Frank family). Anne Frank's father returned as the sole family survivor from Auschwitz in June 1945. He found the annex empty - today the annex remains empty at his request.
- Established: In May 1957 In Cooperation With Anne Frank's Father
- Address: Prinsengracht 263-267 - In The City Center of Amsterdam
- Accessibility: There are Many Stairs In the Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is designed to be a museum with a story. It tells its harrowing story through photos, videos, quotes, and original items. The atmosphere is authentic and subdued and one may have difficulty swallowing.
Visiting The Anne Frank House
This is a solemn memorial visit and the museum makes every effort to limit any potential nuisance for visitors. As such all payments are only bank or credit cards. Also, the museum can only be visited by buying a ticket online with a specific time slot. If in Georgia, consider visiting the Martin Luther Jr. Historical Park and learn how he too showed the injustices of society.
- Entrance Fees: Adult: 14 Euros ($16) Aged 18 And Over | Youth: 7 Euros ($9) Aged 10 to 17 Years Old | Child: 1 Euro ($1.20) Aged 0 to 9
- Opening Hours: Monday To Thursday: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm | Friday to Sunday: 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
If one can not visit in person, then one can also visit the museum online.
The Anne Frank Diary And Other Works
At the museum, one can even see the original red-checked diary that Anne Frank received for her 13th birthday on the 12th of June 1942. While she soon filled her diary, she then started to write in a notebook. In March 1944 she heard that the government would be collecting diaries after the war.
She then proceeded to rewrite her entire diary. Some of these loose sheets are shown around the museum. One can read about her dreams of becoming a famous write and journalist - dreams that were so brutally denied to her.
- Diary: The Rewritten Verison Is 215 Loose Sheet Of Paper
- Favorite Quotes Book: Anne's Notebooks Of Quotes That She Liked On Display
- Tales Book: Anne's Notebook Of Short Stories She Thought Up Also On Display
Harrowing tales like these are to be found in every country in the world. In America, one the of darkest acts by the government was the Indian Removal Act that resulted in the Trail Of Tears that one can visit today.