Anne Frank Part 4: The Secret Move Into Hiding that changed her Life.

Anne Frank Part 4: The Secret Move Into Hiding that changed her Life.

Today I want to take a look at one of the biggest moments in Anne Frank's life. That was the day that her family had to disappear into hiding. It was a decision that had been carefully planned by her father, Otto Frank, but for Anne it seemed to happen suddenly because she had not been told about the plan.

Margot Frank

On the 5th of July 1942, Anne's older sister, Margot, received a call-up notice. It ordered her to report for what was described as a labour camp in Germany. The family knew that this was not as it seemed and was extremely dangerous. Jewish families had already begun to disappear, and stories were beginning to spread about terrible treatment and even deportations. Rather than wait, Otto decided that they had no choice but to put his secret plan into action earlier than intended.

 

Otto contacted Miep Gies to tell her that the family could not wait and would have to go into hiding the very next morning. Miep immediately began helping with the plan. While the Franks made their final preparations, she and the other trusted helpers got everything ready at the Secret Annex.

The family carefully gathered the last few things they could take with them, knowing there would be very little space in the hiding place. They could not pack normal suitcases, as that would have attracted attention, so they planned to wear several layers of clothing instead. Otto also arranged for a note to be left behind suggesting that the family had gone to Switzerland. They hoped it would delay any questions about their sudden disappearance. The reality of what was happening must have been overwhelming.

 

Very early on the morning of the 6th of July 1942, Anne, her parents and Margot prepared to  leave their home. Margot was the first to leave the apartment, she went by bicycle with Miep Gies to avoid drawing any attention. A short time later, Otto, Edith and Anne set off together on foot, they all were wearing several layers of clothing because carrying suitcases would have looked suspicious. It looked like they were just going for a walk. Anne had to leave behind many of the things she loved, including toys, books and possessions she would never see again.

 

Anne also had to say goodbye to her beloved cat, Moortje. There was no way that they could take a pet into the Secret Annex without it risking their discovery. Anne later wrote that her neighbours were asked to take care of Moortje, but she sadly never saw her pet again.

Although the Frank family had already taken some essential belongings into hiding, many other items still had to be moved afterwards. Over the following days, Miep Gies and the other trusted helpers Jan Gies, Johannes Kleiman, Victor Kugler and Bep Voskuijl carried clothing, food, books, bedding and other everyday necessities to the Secret Annex whenever it was safe to do so. They had to be very careful in order to avoid suspicion. Helping Jewish families in hiding put their own lives at great risk.

Their hiding place was hidden behind a movable bookcase inside the building where Otto's business was in Amsterdam. Today it is known as the Secret Annex.

Inside the hiding place, the rooms were small, plain and very different from the comfortable home they had left behind.

The people hiding in the Annex knew that they had to be silent. During working hours they had to move as little as possible, avoid running the water and never make unnecessary noise because the workers in the warehouse below could hear them. Even dropping a book or flushing a toilet at the wrong time could have put them in danger.

Anne was only thirteen years old.

Could you imagine living in complete silence for hours every day, knowing that one mistake could be fatal?

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