Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who lived during World War II. She was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1929. She and her family hid from the Nazis in a secret room in Amsterdam. Her diary became one of the most widely read books in the world.

Early Life

Frank was born in Germany, but her family moved to the Netherlands to escape the Nazis. When the Nazis invaded the Netherlands, the family went into hiding. They lived in a secret annex behind her father's office for over two years.

One of the last known photographs of Anne Frank, from 1942.
One of the last known photographs of Anne Frank, from 1942. (Unknown photographer / Wikimedia Commons)

Legacy

Frank wrote in her diary almost every day while in hiding. She wrote about her fears, hopes, and dreams. In 1944, the family was discovered and sent to concentration camps. Anne died at Bergen-Belsen camp at age 15. Her father survived and published her diary in 1947.

Fun Facts

  • Anne named her diary Kitty and wrote to it as if it were a friend.
  • She wanted to be a journalist or a famous writer.
  • Her diary has been translated into over 70 languages.

Did You Know?

Anne's father, Otto Frank, was the only member of the family to survive the Holocaust. He published Anne's diary to show the world what happened. The secret annex in Amsterdam is now a museum visited by over a million people each year.