Anne Frank begins her diary on her 13th birthday, June 12, 1942, and continues writing entries for two years. The Franks, along with the Van Pels family (known as the Van Daans in the diary), and later a dentist named Fritz Pfeffer, hide in a concealed annex of Otto Frank’s business premises.

Anne’s diary vividly describes the challenges of life in hiding, including the cramped living quarters, constant fear of discovery, and the emotional toll it takes on the inhabitants. She shares her thoughts, feelings, and observations about the people around her, including her strained relationship with her mother, her friendship with Peter Van Pels, and her admiration for her father, Otto.

Anne also writes about her dreams and aspirations, her love for literature and writing, and her longing for a normal life outside of hiding. She documents the changing dynamics in the annex, conflicts among the residents, and the occasional bright moments when they find solace in each other’s company.

Throughout the diary, Anne reflects on the larger context of the war and the persecution of Jews, expressing her hope for a better future and her belief in the goodness of humanity.

Tragically, in August 1944, the annex residents are discovered by the Nazis, likely due to a betrayal. They are arrested and taken to concentration camps. Anne and her sister, Margot, end up in Bergen-Belsen, where they both succumb to illness and malnutrition. Anne Frank dies in March 1945, just weeks before the camp’s liberation by Allied forces.

After the war, Anne’s diary is discovered and preserved by Miep Gies, one of the Dutch citizens who had helped hide the Frank family. Otto Frank, Anne’s father and the sole survivor of the annex residents, publishes Anne’s diary, fulfilling her dream of becoming a writer. The diary becomes an enduring symbol of the Holocaust and the human spirit’s resilience in the face of adversity.

In summary, “The Diary of Anne Frank” is a poignant and powerful account of a young girl’s experiences during the Holocaust, offering insight into the human capacity for hope, courage, and perseverance in the most challenging of circumstances. Anne’s diary remains a significant literary work and a testament to the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust.

Cast of Characters