Today I want to take a look at the extraordinary people who risked everything to keep Anne Frank and the seven others alive. Without their courage, the people in the annex would not have likely not lived beyond just a few days.
The most well-known was Miep Gies, but she did not care for them alone. She was helped by Jan Gies, her husband, Victor Kugler, Johannes Kleiman and Bep Voskuijl, they all supported the people in hiding for more than two years. This carried enormous risk. If they had been caught helping Jewish people, they could have been imprisoned or even killed.
Bep Voskuijl
The helpers were not strangers. Most already knew Otto Frank through his businesses in Amsterdam. They had earned his trust long before the family went into hiding. Miep Gies worked as an office assistant, Bep Voskuijl was a young office worker, Victor Kugler helped manage the business, Johannes Kleiman was one of Otto’s closest business associates, and Miep’s husband, Jan Gies, became involved through her. When Otto’s carefully prepared hiding plan became a reality in July 1942, these loyal friends and colleagues willingly risked their own lives to protect the eight people hidden in the Secret Annex.
The helpers brought food, clothing, books, newspapers and other supplies whenever they could. During the war, food was rationed and it was often difficult to get hold of. Finding enough food for eight extra people was a challenge. They collected extra ration coupons through contacts. They also tried to buy small amounts of food from different shops to try and avoid being found out. They sometimes had to use on the black market in spite of the high prices. They even shared some of their own limited food. Attracting attention could have exposed both the helpers and everyone hiding in the Annex.
They passed on news from the outside world, which helped those in hiding to stay connected.
Miep Gies became quite close to Anne. She brought books and little treats to the annex to try and lift everyone's spirits.
The helpers also helped to protect Otto’s business as much as they could. They made sure that the Annex stayed secret and that the workers didn’t discover them. The bravery of the helpers kept the hiding place secret for over two years.
Miep Gies found Anne's diary on the floor of the Annex after the arrest. She collected the pages up and kept them safe, hoping that one day she could give them back to Anne. But, she gave them to Otto Frank, sadly he was the only member of the eight to survive. Because of her decision to preserve the diary, millions of people around the world have been able to read Anne's words.
The courage of these people reminds us that even during history's darkest moments, people could still choose compassion.
What do you think gave the helpers the courage to keep going for more than two years?
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