"The Diary of Anne Frank" Unit

UNIT GOAL:
"I want to be useful or give pleasure to people around
me who yet don't really know me. I want to go on
living even after my death!"
The Diary of Anne
Frank

AfterWorldWar One, Germany plunges into economic crisis and
Hitler comes to power.The Jews are persecuted in Germany and the
Franks decide to leave Germany for Holland.

 "Because we are full blooded
Jews, my father emigrated to
Holland in 1933.He became
managing director of the
Dutch Opecta Company,
which manufactures
products used in making
jam"
The Germans occupied Holland after the war began in 1939.All Jews were rounded
up and sent to concentration camps .The Franks had a close friend in Amsterdam
who manufactured jam and had a large house in the center of the city. (The house
is highlighted in blue above)

 Like all Dutch houses in the center
of Amsterdam, the house is in
terraces and very high. No one
from the outside knows how far
back it extends.
 The Franks lived above the
warehouse and at the rear of the
house. As the jam factory kept
working they had to be silent
during the day, not able to flush
the toilet for fear of arousing
suspicion below.
1935
2004

Behind a bookcase is a
secret staircase and
several rooms for the
Frank family (all 8 of
them) to hide in above
the jam factory
warehouse.

"We have to whisper and tread lightly during the day,
otherwise the people in the warehouse might hear us"
Jam Factory
Warehouse
Secret
Annex

The family relies on scraps
of food from friends and
some days have nothing
to eat. Anne wishes to go
outside and smell fresh air
but that is impossible as
the German army are
rounding up Jews and
sending them to
concentration camps to work
or be gassed to death.

•Always cautious
•Crowded
•All ways the risk of being caught
•No bathtubs
•She lost her childhood and had to grow up very quickly
•Food was scarce
•Constant argument
•Little or no activity
•Dependent on outsiders for survival
Despite all these circumstances, the people living in the annex still
tried to lead “normal” lives
“You can be lonely even when you’re loved by many people”
“…we live in a paradise compared to the
Jews who aren’t in hiding.”
“The most you can do is pray for
God to perform a miracle and save
at least some of them”

Photograph from 1930’s Anne Frank Museum in 2004

After years in hiding, the
family were betrayed. No
one knows who or why but
all 8 members of the Frank
family and the people
owning the jam factory
were arrested and sent to
concentration camps.
Anne’s family was
transported to Auschwitz
Concentration camp for
sorting.

Anne's diary was left in the house and there is no
record of what happened to her apart from German
records from the concentration camps.

 Anna Frank dies of
typhus and deprivation
in March 1945 in
Bergen-Belsen a few
days after her sister
Margot.
 Bergen-Belsen is
liberated by the British
Army on April 15, 1945.
“One day this terrible war will
be over. The time will come
when we will be people again
and not just Jews!”

 Anne Frank's diary is the voice of
the Holocaust-the voice that
speaks for the millions Hitler
silenced.Anne Frank's diary is the
legacy of young girl denied her
adulthood by Hitler's killing
machine, and stands for the many
women and men, young and old,
whose lives Hitler's final solution
snatched.
 The story of her life is a tragedy,
but the enduring message is one
of hope and tolerance that will
never die.The diary revealsAnne's
dreams, irritations, hardship, and
passions . . . a testament to an
indestructible nobility of spirit in
the face of pure evil."

Warm Up
 Take out a sheet of paper and head it appropriately.
 Title it “Holocaust KWL Chart & Notes.”
 DRAW A KWL CHART.
 Under the “K,” write 3 things you know about the
Holocaust.
 Under the “W,” write 3 things you want to know
about the Holocaust.

Background:
Anne Frank was born on June 12th 1929
in Germany & later moved to Amsterdam
with her family
She received a diary for her 13th birthday
Anne and her family went into hiding for
almost two years until they were arrested
by the Nazis
Anne died in the Bergen-Belsen camp in
March, 1945
Her diary survived and was later
published by her father.

 Anne's Diary begins in
1942. Anne is 13 years
old-3 weeks before she
goes into hiding.
 Germany, WWII (1938-
1945)
 Hitler ruled Germany
1933-1945
 Allied powers (U.S.,
U.K., France, and
Soviet Union) vs. Axis
Powers (Germany,
Italy, Japan)

 Holocaust: Germany's
deliberate attempt, under
Hitler's rule, to exterminate
all Jews in Europe...
 Killed over 6 million Jews.
 Weapons: Starvation,
Torture, Dehumanization...
 Hitler wanted to rid
Germany of everyone not of
the Aryan race (blond hair,
blue eyes)

 SS = Hitler's
personal elite body
guards, did most of
killings ordered by
Hitler
 Gestapo = Branch of
the SS
 Star of David:
symbol of Jewish
Faith
 Nazi = Anti-Jew
 Swastika = Nazi
symbol

Anti -Semitism
This is the term given to
political, social and economic
agitation against Jews. In
simple terms it means ‘Hatred
of Jews’.
Aryan Race
This was the name of what Hitler
believed was the perfect race.
These were people with full
German blood, blonde hair and
blue eyes.

16 of the 44 children taken from a
French children’s home.
They were sent to a concentration
camp and later to Auschwitz.
ONLY 1 SURVIVED
A group of
children at a
concentration
camp in Poland.
Between 1939 and 1945 six
million Jews were murdered,
along with hundreds of thousands
of others, such as Gypsies,
Jehovah’s Witnesses, disabled
and the mentally ill.

Part of a stockpile of Zyklon-B poison gas
pellets found at Majdanek death camp.
Smoke rises as the
bodies are burnt.

Soviet POWs at forced labor in 1943 exhuming bodies in the ravine at Babi Yar, where
the Nazis had murdered over 33,000 Jews in September of 1941.
In 1943, when the number of murdered Jews exceeded 1 million. Nazis ordered the
bodies of those buried to be dug up and burned to destroy all traces.

In 1938, the situation took a more serious turn for the worst. Called the Night of
Broken Glass, the Nazis start to use violence against the Jews
Jewish shops, churches and other buildings
were openly attacked. People became
subjected to violence
It would lead to the start of more
systematic violence...

From 1939 onwards, Jews were rounded up. They were forced to
move out of their homes. To start off with they were sent to areas in
cities designed only for them. These were ghettos
Jewish people had:
•Their property confiscated
•They were forced to move to new
areas
•They had their citizenship taken
away

By 1941, the Jews were to be moved to concentration camps
They usually arrived by railway. Camps like
Auschwitz and Dachau were more than just
concentration campsJews from all over Europe were forced to work
here… then from 1941 - 42 onwards...

Holocaust
… around 6 million Jews lost their lives in these
death camps...
… these camps can still be found. Mostly in countries like Poland, they are a grim
reminder of what racism can lead to...

Themes: freedom, persecution
 “I long to ride a bike, dance, whistle, look at
the world, feel young and know that I’m
free…Just imagine what would happen if all
eight of us were to feel sorry for ourselves or
walk around with the discontent clearly visible
on our faces.” Anne Frank (December 24,
1943)

Discuss
 Context: Nazi persecution has forced Anne into hiding
with seven other people in the Secret Annex
 How does Anne feel? Imagine being cooped up in this
room at length
 Imagine sharing it with an adult.
 How would you feel?

 Repression
 Definition: Having to keep under control
one’s feelings. Holding back because of
fear. Not being yourself.
 How would you feel in Anne’s position?
How would you feel if you had to pretend
every minute of every day? How long can
you do that for?

“I need my mother to set a good example and be
a person I can respect, but in most matters
she’s an example of what not to do.”
Anne Frank (January 6, 1944)
Anne felt her mother did not
understand her
Who do you think Anne
prefer to confide in?

Adolescence
Transition period between puberty and
adulthood
Anne had to grow up in a restrictive
environment
She was deprived of contact with her
peers
Vented her anger and frustration on her
mother

“I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all
people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go
on living even after my death!”
Anne Frank (April 5, 1944)
Anne feels like there are two Anne’s
within her – the ‘mean’ Anne and the
‘nice’ Anne.
Why do you think Anne faces an
identity problem?
How did Anne find her identity?

 Self-identity
 Awareness of one’s self as a separate
individual
 Her diary entries reflect Anne’s quest for
a sense of identity
 Anne matures into a confident young
woman with a strong identity of her own
“I don't think of all the misery, but of
the beauty that still remains.”
“Whoever is happy will make
others happy.”
“People can tell you to keep
your
mouth shut, but that doesn't stop
you from having your
own opinion.”
“Memories mean more to me
than dresses.”

“I still believe, in spite of everything, that
people are truly good at heart.”
Anne Frank (July 15, 1944)
This was one of the final
significant entries in Anne’s
diary
Despite all her suffering, Anne
maintained hope and optimism
and chose to believe in the good
in people.
How does this excerpt reflect on
Anne as a person?
Optimism
To look on the favorable side of
events
Do you share Anne’s optimism?
Explain your views

Warm Up
If you could interview survivors of the
Holocaust who knew Anne Frank, what would
you ask them? Jot down some of your
questions.

Characters:
1. Anne Frank
2. Margot Frank:
her older sister
3. Mr. Frank: their
father
4. Mrs. Frank: their
mother
5. Miep: worker in
Mr. Frank’s
business; Dutch

Characters:
6. Peter Van Daan
7. Mr. Van Daan: his
father
8. Mrs. Van Daan: his
mother
9. Mr. Dussel: a
dentist
10. Mr. Kraler:
worker in Mr. Frank’s
business; Dutch

Conflict
 External Conflict: A character struggles against
another person or outside force
 Based on the difficult situation in which
they are living
 Anne and her mother, Edith, struggle with
Anne’s growing up and wanting to be
treated older than her mother treats her

Conflict
 Internal Conflict: A struggle within a person or
character
 Anne puts up a hard exterior as a defense
 She is afraid people won’t respect her if
they see the real Anne
 She writes her true feelings in her diary

 Anne begins to realize hiding is more
difficult than she originally thought
 She is in constant fear during
the night, jumping at every
sound, afraid the Nazi’s are
coming for her
 Anne’s personality clashes with the
others in hiding, especially with her
mother and Peter
 The tension with all
inhabitants is escalating,
causing various problems
throughout the story

Warm Up
 Read and Answer the following:
1. Pretend you had one hour to prepare to go into
hiding. You can NEVER return to your home. You
cannot carry a suitcase; it would be obvious you
were going into hiding. It is winter; therefore, it is
VERY cold outside and there is limited food
where you are going. What items would you take
with you? How would you disguise these items
and how would you carry them?

Warm Up
Listed below is a partial list of the items that were
owned by the people in the annex:
 Playing cards
 Briefcase (Mr. Van Daan)
 Diary (Anne)
 Mystery Novel (Mrs. Frank)
 Antique silver music box (Mr. Frank)
 Fountain Pen (Mr. Frank)
 Wool scarf
• Crate of Strawberries
• Cat in a basket (Peter)
• Latin Book (Margot)
• Wooden Menorah (Mr. Van Daan)
• Silverware (Anne)
• Sack of Potatoes (Mr. Dussel)
1. Choose three items from the list and explain why you think they had value
to an individual who was hiding from the Nazis. Explain why you believe
these items had meaning and value.
2. Create your own list of five tangible things (things you can see and touch)
that you would carry with you if you ever had to be hidden. How do these
items reflect who you are as a person? Are these things of great or little
monetary ($) value?

Warm Up
 After seeing pictures of concentration camps and
learning a little about the Holocaust and Anne
Frank, I feel…

3. Sounds from outside the Secret Annex play an
important part. Some remind us of ordinary life in
the city. Others punctuate the scene with reminders
of the danger outside. List four of the sounds heard
so far. Which sounds are pleasant? Which are
threatening?
4. List the conflicts that have developed among the
characters. Why are these conflicts dangerous for
the people in the Secret Annex? What other conflicts
do you predict might arise?

If you had to live in hiding and could not
make a sound from 9am-6pm every day,
except Sunday, and had no electronic
toys to entertain yourself, what would
you do?
Write 4 things you would do to occupy
your time.
Bellwork: Friday, 12/6/13

Warm Up
 Draw a Venn Diagram.
 Compare and contrast Peter and Anne by
identifying 3 similarities and 3 differences.
 Make sure you color-code the Venn Diagram.

"The Diary of Anne Frank" Unit

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