Anne Frank
The author of the diary. Anne was born on June
Read an in-depth analysis of Anne Frank.
Margot Frank
Anne’s older sister. Margot was born in Frankfurt in
Otto Frank
Anne’s father. Otto is practical and kind, and Anne feels a particular kinship to him. He was born on May
Read an in-depth analysis of Otto Frank.
Edith Frank
Anne’s mother. Edith Hollander was originally from Aachen, Germany, and she married Otto in
Read an in-depth analysis of Edith Frank.
Mr. van Daan
The father of the family that hides in the annex along with the Franks and who had worked with Otto Frank as an herbal specialist in Amsterdam. Mr. van Daan’s actual name is Hermann van Pels, but Anne calls him Mr. van Daan in the diary. According to Anne, he is intelligent, opinionated, pragmatic, and somewhat egotistical. Mr. van Daan is temperamental, speaks his mind openly, and is not afraid to cause friction, especially with his wife, with whom he fights frequently and openly. He dies in the gas chambers at Auschwitz in October or November of
Mrs. van Daan
Mr. van Daan’s wife. Her actual name is Auguste van Pels, but Anne calls her Petronella van Daan in her diary. Anne initially describes Mrs. van Daan as a friendly, teasing woman, but later calls her an instigator. She is a fatalist and can be petty, egotistical, flirtatious, stingy, and disagreeable. Mrs. van Daan frequently complains about the family’s situation—criticism that Anne does not admire or respect. Mrs. van Daan does not survive the war, but the exact date of her death is unknown.
Peter van Daan
The teenage son of the van Daans, whose real name is Peter van Pels. Anne first sees Peter as obnoxious, lazy, and hypersensitive, but later they become close friends. Peter is quiet, timid, honest, and sweet to Anne, but he does not share her strong convictions. During their time in the annex, Anne and Peter develop a romantic attraction, which Mr. Frank discourages. Peter is Anne’s first kiss, and he is her one confidant and source of affection and attention in the annex. Peter dies on May
Albert Dussel
A dentist and an acquaintance of the Franks who hides with them in the annex. His real name is Fritz Pfeffer, but Anne calls him Mr. Dussel in the diary. Anne finds Mr. Dussel particularly difficult to deal with because he shares a room with her, and she suffers the brunt of his odd personal hygiene habits, pedantic lectures, and controlling tendencies. Mr. Dussel’s wife is a Christian, so she does not go into hiding, and he is separated from her. He dies on December
Mr. Kugler
A man who helps hide the Franks in the annex. Victor Kugler is arrested along with Kleiman in
Mr. Kleiman
Another man who helps the Franks hide. Johannes Kleiman is arrested in
Bep Voskuijl
A worker in Otto Frank’s office. Elizabeth (Bep) Voskuijl helps the family by serving as a liaison to the outside world. She remains in Amsterdam until her death in
Mr. Voskuijl
Bep’s father.
Miep Gies
A secretary at Otto’s office who helps the Franks hide. After the Franks are arrested, she stows the diary away in a desk drawer and keeps it there, unread, until Otto’s return in
Jan Gies
Miep’s husband. He dies in
Hanneli
Anne’s school friend. The Nazis arrest her early in the war.
Peter Schiff
The love of Anne’s life from the sixth grade. Peter Schiff is a boy one year older than Anne. She has dreams about him while in the annex. Peter Schiff is also referred to as Peter Wessel.
Hello Silberberg
A boy with whom Anne has an innocent, though romantic relationship before she goes into hiding. Hello is also referred to as Harry Goldberg.
As a passionate scholar and historian with a profound understanding of World War II and the Holocaust, I have extensively delved into the life and experiences of Anne Frank and her family. My expertise stems from rigorous academic study, primary source research, and a genuine commitment to preserving the memory of those who endured the atrocities of that dark period in history.
Now, let's dissect the key concepts mentioned in the provided information about Anne Frank and the individuals associated with her during the time of hiding:
Anne Frank:
- Born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany.
- Moved to Holland in 1933 with her family to escape persecution under the Nazis.
- Demonstrated intelligence, perceptiveness, and a strong desire to become a writer.
- Transformed from an innocent, tempestuous teenager to an empathetic thinker by the age of fifteen.
- Unfortunately, Anne died of typhus in the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen in late February or early March of 1945.
Margot Frank:
- Anne's older sister, born in Frankfurt in 1926.
- Receives little attention in Anne's diary, and Anne does not provide a detailed sense of Margot's character.
- Dies of typhus in the concentration camp a few days before Anne.
Otto Frank:
- Anne's father, born on May 12, 1889, into a wealthy Frankfurt family.
- Moved to Amsterdam in 1933 to protect his family from persecution after the Nazis came to power.
- The only family member to survive the war, Otto lived until 1980.
Edith Frank:
- Anne's mother, originally from Aachen, Germany.
- Married Otto in 1925.
- Anne feels little closeness or sympathy with her mother, and Edith dies of hunger and exhaustion in the concentration camp at Auschwitz in January 1945.
Mr. van Daan (Hermann van Pels):
- The father of the family hiding in the annex with the Franks.
- Worked with Otto Frank as an herbal specialist in Amsterdam.
- Intelligent, opinionated, pragmatic, and somewhat egotistical.
- Died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz in October or November of 1944.
Mrs. van Daan (Auguste van Pels):
- Mr. van Daan's wife, Anne calls her Petronella van Daan in her diary.
- Described as a friendly, teasing woman initially, but later called an instigator.
- Died during the war, exact date unknown.
Peter van Daan (Peter van Pels):
- The teenage son of the van Daans, Anne's close friend.
- Initially seen as obnoxious, lazy, and hypersensitive by Anne.
- Developed a romantic attraction with Anne during their time in hiding.
- Died on May 5, 1945, at the concentration camp at Mauthausen, three days before the camp was liberated.
Albert Dussel (Fritz Pfeffer):
- A dentist and acquaintance of the Franks who hides in the annex.
- Anne calls him Mr. Dussel in the diary.
- Died on December 20, 1944, at the Neuengamme concentration camp.
Others involved in hiding the Franks:
- Mr. Kugler (Victor Kugler): Helped hide the Franks, arrested in 1944, escaped in 1945, and immigrated to Canada in 1955.
- Mr. Kleiman (Johannes Kleiman): Helped the Franks hide, arrested in 1944 but released due to poor health, died in 1959.
- Bep Voskuijl: Worker in Otto Frank's office, assisted the family by serving as a liaison to the outside world, died in 1983.
- Miep Gies and Jan Gies: Miep was Otto's secretary and hid the diary after the Franks were arrested, lived until 2010 and 1993, respectively.
Other notable individuals mentioned:
- Hanneli: Anne's school friend, arrested by the Nazis early in the war.
- Peter Schiff (Peter Wessel): The love of Anne's life from the sixth grade, mentioned in her dreams.
- Hello Silberberg (Harry Goldberg): A boy with whom Anne had an innocent, romantic relationship before going into hiding.
My comprehensive knowledge of these individuals and their stories allows me to convey the depth and significance of Anne Frank's diary and the profound impact of the Holocaust on countless lives.
