. . . everything can be taken from a man except one thing: the last of the human freedoms–to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.
On this date — September 2 — in 1944, Anne Frank was among 1,019 people on the 68th and last train from Holland to Auschwitz. Anne and others hiding with her had been betrayed and captured a month before and held in the Westerbork detention center.
The Frank family had gone into hiding two years earlier, in July 1942, after Anne’s sister, Margot, received a call-up notice to report for deportation to a labor camp.
Anne was at Auschwitz for two months, then at Bergen-Belsen, where she and Margot died four months later of typhus, just a few weeks before the camp was liberated.
Anne’s father, Otto, was liberated from Auschwitz by the Russian Army on January 27, 1945. His wife, Edith, had died the previous day.
Otto Frank was taken first to Odessa and then to France before being allowed to return to Amsterdam. He did not learn the whereabouts of his daughters until October 24, when he received a letter informing him they had died at Bergen-Belsen.
This unfortunately was not an unusual family trajectory for European Jews in the 1940s. Anne Frank is remembered from among millions of others because she maintained a blog — I mean diary — so that her experiences, what she did, the thoughts she had, and everything she suffered was not lost.
I suppose the same holds true for everyone, with or without a diary — nothing is lost, nothing can be undone . . . and it may be possible for a life that appears to be quite pointless at the time to attain a meaning, a purpose, even through suffering, failure and death . . .
I think it’s kinda shameful that people are putting “this book sucks”. Mainly because that’s highly disrespectful, and also because it’s not just a book. It’s a girl’s diary of the events that these poor people suffered through, and a window into which people should see that war did nothing but damage.
Individual’s wouldn’t be saying things like “this book sucks” normally, it is only because it is anonymous, and you think you’re clever…
She is an inspiration to all.
IF I WAS THERE WITH ANNE FRANK I WOULD GIVE MY LIVE FOR HER SO SHE CANT DIE AND CEAP TELLING EVERYTHING OBOUT THE NOTZIZ
i read the book and it was really sad i started crying the second i finshed reading the book.i really admire anne for what she did because she was very brave and very smart.im just sorry about what happened.she rocks and i would recommend the book and the dvd to evryone who havent read or watch it.
I love this story, truly and deeply.
I was born into a German Jewish family and my grandparents came over to the US before the war. Unfortunately, my grandpa has told me stories of my great uncle who was a resident of Theresienstadt and was transferred to Auschwitz along with thousands of other Jews. After the liberation, my grandpa’s family hadn’t heard from my uncle so they assumed he was one of many to be killed. Fortunatley, 20 years or so later, they found out my uncle had survived and had been liberated.
I love stories like the Diary of Anne Frank. It is so upsetting to think that the Holocaust actually happened, considering the brutality of it. Anne Frank was such a strong girl, and so was her family and the couple who helped them hide. It’s hard to truly understand the pain inflicted on families because of the Holocaust, and when my grandfather talks about the war, I can see the genuine pain in his eyes as well as the joy after finding out his brother had survived. Anne’s story shows the true fear and anticipation that the Holocaust shadowed on the world.
And for those who say you are Anne’s “reincarnations”: Please do not go around boasting about things like that. Although you may have some traits of hers, I do not believe that you are her reincarnated. If you actually were her reincarnation, I doubt you would know it consciously. Though no one ever knows if they are a reincarnation or not, it’s not a very good idea to go around and tell people you are a reincarnation of somebody. You could be completely wrong and people will criticize you for it.
I love this story. If you have any questions about my grandfather’s story, feel free to ask. I’ll be checking back in on this blog periodically.
-Kalynne
Hi Kalynne –
Thanks for sharing your story. I enjoyed reading it.
It was what happend and the book was sad too like why did she have to die. and people stop saying you are annes spirt cut it is realy annoying and retared so STOP!!!!!!!
hi i read the book evry time i go up to coneitcutt it is sad again and also i wached the move in langege arts they have they have to make a mottern verson that has to happen also the robot chicken thing for anne frank is stuped at lest tell the real story!!
Thank you PE. I’m glad it was helpful.
I love reading through the comments on this blog. I enjoy seeing how other people react to this kind of tragedy, although it is definitely one of a kind. I hope comments keep popping up so that I can check back to see what people think :]
-Kalynne
hee anne frank jalles goed
hai anne frank
i admire anne frank so much, and it´s incredible that after years of reading books abut the holocaust i still can´t believe how cruel some people can be
My name is Emily. I’m a 13 year old girl and I’m going to make the Anne Frank movie the day I’m old enough. I have been intrigued with Anne Frank forever I read the whole story/screenplay in one night.
I may be only 13 Anne frank was a wonderful young woman who i wish didn’t have to go through all the suffering that she did. But i believe that Reincarnations are not real by any means and saying that you are a reincarnation of her is in INSULT to say the least i know some people believe in reincarnations but my religion is strict and look in the bible. No were in the bible does it say there are reincarnations so do yourself a favor don’t go around flaunting something that you don’t even know is true. there is no such thing as a reincarnation and ms and mr van dan sure uh huh u saw them all right because you cant even find a picture of them and as for the Hostle Witness, telling people that their fantasys of reincarnation are real is just sick and you need to leran somethin bout the bible. So learn the facts and stop spreading fiction about anne Frank and all thw wonderful things that she was.
Emily Im 13 and i love to read about the holocaust and i hav esince i was 9 it is a very intriguing situation that if we dont spread the word about it then it could happen again
im 13 and we just acted out the play and i was anne for act one and mrs frank for act two. it was fun and its bad that she died and ironic cuz she died like within a week of the camp being liberated.
RIP Anne Frank. She was an amazing girl!
rest in peace anne you may or may not know me but i know u and when u where born. rip anne. i miss u already. hope ur resting in peace.
i wish u where still here
I LIKE TO READ THE BOOK OF ANNE FRANK I SEE THE MOVIE AND READ THE BOOK IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IT TOUCH ME REALLY ALOT I FEEL SORRY FOR THEM AND THE WAY THEY DIEAD WAS NOT FAIR THE DIEAD WITH OUT EAT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I FEEL SORRY FOR THERE DAD OTTO THAT RECEIVED A LETTER THAT THEY DIEAD AT BERGEN-BELSEN.
HEY!
WELL I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I LOVED THE BOOK AND THE MOVIE. I THINK IT WAS VERY ROMANTIC HOW PETER AND ANNE LOVED EACH OTHER AT THE END. IT WAS REAL SAD WHEN THEY ALL GOT SEPARATED AND IT WAS ALSO SAD WHEN MR.FRANK CAME BACK TO LOOK FOR HIS FAMILY AND NO ONE WAS THERE… I BLAME ADOLF HITLER!!! FOR ALL THE DEATH OF JEWISH PEOPLE!!!
?LOVE?
?KEREN?
?HERNANDEZ?