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The Franks During The War
Otto Frank and his brothers are called up on the western front for the German Army. Their mother and sister volunteer to work in a Frankfurt military hospital. All survive desructive conflict which ultimatly results in another war. "I hope we can see each other at home when peace prevails. This cannot last much longer, surely?" -Otto Frank -
A Family Business
Life returns to normal after the war and Otto manages the family owned bank. As Germany's Wiemar Republic is plunged into an economic and political crisis, civilian unrest increases and the seeds for the Nazi Party and Hitler's rise to power are shown. -
Otto and Edith marry
Otto and Edith marry in the synagogue in Aachen. As the political situation in Germany worsens the Nazi Party gains mpre support. Hitler's plans for Germany and ideas about race are published in Mien Kampf(My Struggle). -
Anne Frank's birth
In a world on the brink of economic crisis, Anne Frank is born in Frankfurt. Her sister is three years old.
"Those years on Marbachweg were among our best times"-Edith Frank -
Emigrating to the Netherlands
Hitler comes to power. Otto and Edith are convinced that they will be safe in Amsterdam from the antisemitism in Nazi Germany. Otto establishes his business, the children go to school, life resumes a normality as Europe rumbles towards war.
"Because we're Jewish, my father emigrated to Holland in 1933"-Anne Frank -
The German Invasion
May 1940, Germany invades the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Registration of the Jews is the first step taken in isolating them. As a Jew, Otto is no longer allowed to owwn a business.
"After May 1940, the good times were few and far between. First there was the war, then the capitulation and then the arrival of the Germans, which is when the trouble started for the Jews."-Anne Frank -
The Hiding Place
Margot's call upto report for work duty speeds up plans to go into hiding in Otto's business permises. His employees are responsible for the family's well being in the secret annex. Allied gains give those in hiding hope of liberation. "Not being able to go outside upsets me more than I can say and I'm terrifoed our hiding place will be discovered and that we'll be shot."-Anne Frank -
The Arrest
Betrayal leads to the arrest of those hiding and they are all deported to extermination camps. Kleinman and Kugler are publishes with imprisonment for their role as helpers while Miep and Bep remain behind and wait. "When the Gestapo came in with their guns, that was the end of everything."-Otto Frank -
Ottoe Returns
Germany surrenders, the war ends and Europe is free but in ruins. Otto returns to Amsterdam, picks up the threads of his life and mourns for his family. He is not the only one, gradually the scale of mass murder of the Jews becomes clear. -
The diary is publishes
Otto fulfills Anne's wish and publishes the doary -
Saved from Demolition
The sectret Annex is crumbling and deserted but the Anne Frank House is funded to save it from demolition. The film "Diary of Anne Frank" by George Stevens recieves a number of Oscars and made Anne Frank internationally better known. European Cooperation leads to the formation of the EEC. -
The Anne Frank House Opens
The secret annex where Anne Frank wrote her diary becomes a museum. It attracts a huge amount of interest as Anne and her diary become known worldwide. "I believe that the secret annex should become a meeting place and a place for reflection and inspiration as well as a museum". -Otto Frank -
Closed for Restoration
Growing visitor numbers result in the 2nd but only major renovation to close the museum. This period sees the 1st international Anne Frank exhibition and is marked by Otto's death. "The Anne Frank House must remain open as a warning against dictatorship, discrimination, terror".- Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp -
Proof of authority
A critical edition of the diary pits to rest allegations of forgery. The museum undergoes more renovation to serve ever growing public interest. -
50 years as a musuem
The Anne Frank House celebrates it's 50th anniversary. Anew virtual museum allows people from all over the world to 'visit' online. Miep Gies dies at age 100. The Anne Frank tree falls during a summer storm. "For half a century now the memory pf Anne Frank is as solid as the house that bears her name". - Professor Abram de Swan
