The Life of Anne Frank
Annelies Marie Frank lived only fifteen years, but her diary has touched millions of lives across generations.
June 12, 1929
Born Annelies Marie Frank in Frankfurt, Germany, second daughter of Otto and Edith Frank
1933
Frank family moves to Amsterdam to escape Nazi persecution as Hitler rises to power in Germany
June 12, 1942
Anne receives a red-and-white checkered diary for her 13th birthday, begins writing
July 6, 1942
The Frank family goes into hiding in the Secret Annex (Achterhuis) at Prinsengracht 263
July 13, 1942
The van Pels family (Hermann, Auguste, Peter) joins them in the Annex
November 16, 1942
Fritz Pfeffer, a dentist, becomes the eighth person hiding in the Annex
1942-1944
Anne writes nearly every day, revising her diary for potential publication after the war
March 29, 1944
Anne hears radio broadcast urging Dutch citizens to preserve wartime diaries for posterity
April 11, 1944
Last time Anne writes 'Kitty' at the top of an entry
August 4, 1944
The Annex is raided by German police; all eight occupants are arrested and deported
September 3, 1944
The eight are transported on the last train from Westerbork to Auschwitz
Late October 1944
Anne and Margot are transferred to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
February/March 1945
Anne and Margot die of typhus at Bergen-Belsen, weeks before liberation
April 15, 1945
Bergen-Belsen is liberated by British forces
June 3, 1945
Otto Frank, the sole survivor of the eight, returns to Amsterdam
1947
Het Achterhuis (The Annex) is published in Dutch, fulfilling Anne's dream to be a writer
1952
The Diary of a Young Girl is published in English, beginning its worldwide impact
1960
The Anne Frank House opens as a museum at Prinsengracht 263
Today
The diary has been translated into 70+ languages, read by tens of millions worldwide
"I want to write, but more than that, I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in my heart."
- Anne Frank, March 16, 1944
The Diary's Journey
Birthday Gift
The red-and-white checkered diary was Anne's present for her 13th birthday, June 12, 1942
Kitty
Anne addressed her entries to 'Kitty', creating an imaginary friend to confide in
Radio Broadcast
On March 29, 1944, Anne heard Education Minister Bolkestein urge preserving wartime diaries
Revision
Inspired, Anne began rewriting her diary on loose sheets, editing for publication
The Raid
On August 4, 1944, the Annex was discovered. The diary was left behind, scattered on the floor
Rescue
Miep Gies gathered the papers, storing them unread in her desk drawer
Return
After learning Anne had died, Miep gave the papers to Otto, the sole survivor
First Reading
Otto was overwhelmed to discover the depth of Anne's inner life
Publication
Het Achterhuis was published June 25, 1947 with an initial run of 3,036 copies
Worldwide
The diary has been translated into 70+ languages, with over 30 million copies sold