Read this from the book Anna Frank The Diary of a Young Girl:
"THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1944
Dearest Kitty,
Invasion fever is mounting daily throughout the country. If you were here, I’m sure you’d be as impressed as I am at the many preparations, though you’d no doubt laugh at all the fuss we’re making. Who knows, it may all be for nothing!
The papers are full of invasion news and are driving everyone insane with such statements as: “In the event of a British landing in Holland, the Germans will do what they can to defend the country, even flooding it, if necessary.” They’ve published maps of Holland with the potential flood areas marked. Since large portions of Amsterdam were shaded in, our first question was what we should do if the water in the streets rose to above our waists. This tricky question elicited a variety of responses:
“It’ll be impossible to walk or ride a bike, so we’ll have to wade through the water.”
“Don’t be silly. We’ll have to try and swim. We’ll all put on our bathing suits and caps and swim underwater as much as we can, so nobody can see we’re Jews.”
“Oh, baloney! I can just imagine the ladies swimming with the rats biting their legs!” (That was a man, of course; we’ll see who screams loudest!)
“We won’t even be able to leave the house. The warehouse is so unstable it’ll collapse if there’s a flood.”
“Listen, everyone, all joking aside, we really ought to try and get a boat.”
“Why bother? I have a better idea. We can each take a packing crate from the attic and row with a wooden spoon.”
“I’m going to walk on stilts. I used to be a whiz at it when I was young.”
“Jan Gies won’t need to. He’ll let his wife ride piggyback, and then Miep will be on stilts.”
So now you have a rough idea of what’s going on, don’t you, Kit? This lighthearted banter is all very amusing, but reality will prove otherwise. The second question about the invasion was bound to arise: what should we do if the Germans evacuate Amsterdam?
“Leave the city along with the others. Disguise ourselves as well as we can.”
“Whatever happens, don’t go outside! The best thing to do is to stay put! The Germans are capable of herding the entire population of Holland into Germany, where they’ll all die.”
“Of course we’ll stay here. This is the safest place.
We’ll try to talk Kleiman and his family into coming here to live with us. We’ll somehow get hold of a bag of wood shavings, so we can sleep on the floor. Let’s ask Miep and Kleiman to bring some blankets, just in case. And we’ll order some extra cereal grains to supplement the sixty-five pounds we already have. Jan can try to find some more beans. At the moment we’ve got about sixty-five pounds of beans and ten pounds of split peas. And don’t forget the fifty cans of vegetables.”
“What about the rest, Mother? Give us the latest figures.’ ,
“Ten cans of fish, forty cans of milk, twenty pounds of powdered milk, three bottles of oil, four crocks of butter, four jars of meat, two big jars of strawberries, two jars of raspberries, twenty jars of tomatoes, ten pounds of oatmeal, nine pounds of rice. That’s it.”
Our provisions are holding out fairly well. All the same, we have to feed the office staff, which means dipping into our stock every week, so it’s not as much as it seems. We have enough coal and firewood, candles too.
“Let’s all make little moneybags to hide in our clothes so we can take our money with us if we need to leave here.”
“We can make lists of what to take first in case we have to run for it, and pack our knapsacks in advance.”
“When the time comes, we’ll put two people on the lookout, one in the loft at the front of the house and one in the back.”
“Hey, what’s the use of so much food if there isn’t any water, gas or electricity?”
“We’ll have to cook on the wood stove. Filter the water and boil it. We should clean some big jugs and fill them with water. We can also store water in the three kettles we use for canning, and in the washtub.”
“Besides, we still have about two hundred and thirty pounds of winter potatoes in the spice storeroom.”
All day long that’s all I hear. Invasion, invasion, nothing but invasion. Arguments about going hungry, dying, bombs, fire extinguishers, sleeping bags, identity cards, poison gas, etc., etc. Not exactly cheerful.
A good example of the explicit warnings of the male contingent is the following conversation with Jan:
Annex: “We’re afraid that when the Germans retreat, they’ll take the entire population with them.”
Jan: “That’s impossible. They haven’t got enough trains.”
Annex: “Trains? Do you really think they’d put civilians on trains? Absolutely not. Everyone would have to hoof it.” (Or, as Dussel always says, per pedes apostolorum.)
Jan: “I can’t believe that. You’re always looking on the dark side. What reason would they have to round up all the civilians and take them along?”
Annex: “Don’t you remember Goebbels saying that if the Germans have to go, they’ll slam the doors to all the occupied territories behind them?”
Jan: “They’ve said a lot of things.”
Annex: “Do you think the Germans are too noble or humane to do it? Their reasoning is: if we go under, we’ll drag everyone else down with us.”
Jan: “You can say what you like, I just don’t believe
Annex: “It’s always the same old story. No one wants to see the danger until it’s staring them in the face.”
Jan: “But you don’t know anything for sure. You’re just making an assumption.”
Annex: “Because we’ve already been through it all ourselves, First in Germany and then here. What do you think’s happening in Russia?”
Jan: “You shouldn’t include the Jews. I don’t think anyone knows what’s going on in Russia. The British and the Russians are probably exaggerating for propaganda purposes, just like the Germans.”
Annex: “Absolutely not. The BBC has always told the truth. And even if the news is slightly exaggerated, the facts are bad enough as they are. You can’t deny that millions of peace-loving citizens in Poland and Russia have been murdered or gassed.”
I’ll spare you the rest of our conversations. I’m very calm and take no notice of all the fuss. I’ve reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. The world will keep on turning without me, and I can’t do anything to change events anyway. I’ll just let matters take their course and concentrate on studying and hope that everything will be all right in the end.
Yours, Anne"
What does this conversation reveal about the new dangers Anne and her family face as the Nazis continue to invade Europe and deport Jews to concentration camps? How does Anne respond to this danger?
This conversation reveals that Anne and her family are facing the potential danger of being evacuated or rounded up by the Germans if they retreat from Amsterdam. The male contingent is in denial about this possibility, while Anne and her family are preparing themselves for the worst-case scenario by stocking up on provisions and discussing strategies for survival. This danger is a new level of threat compared to the previous dangers they faced in hiding, such as being discovered by the authorities or running out of food.
Anne responds to this danger with a sense of resignation, stating that she has reached the point where she hardly cares whether she lives or dies. She decides to focus on studying and let events take their course. This suggests that Anne is struggling with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, as she is unable to do anything to change the situation she and her family are in. However, she does not give up entirely and continues to make plans for survival with her family.
From the beginning of the book to April 25, 1944, How would you describe the relationship between Anne and Peter? What are some details in Anne’s letters to Kitty that lead you to believe this to be true? How does Anne deal with her emotions in this matter? How does that main idea connect to the conflict (struggle) the characters face? Provide at least one piece of textual evidence from Anne’s writing.
From the beginning of the book to April 25, 1944, the relationship between Anne and Peter can be described as hesitant and awkward, with some signs of budding romance. Anne writes in her letters to Kitty that she finds Peter shy and quiet, but also kind and thoughtful. She mentions conversations they have had and moments they have shared, such as discussing their families and talking about topics that interest them. Anne also confides in Kitty about her crush on Peter but expresses confusion about his feelings towards her.
However, Anne is hesitant to pursue anything further with Peter and is unsure about his intentions. She also struggles with her own emotions towards him, as she is still maturing and trying to figure out her own identity. In her writing, Anne grapples with her conflicting emotions, sometimes feeling hopeful and other times feeling doubtful or insecure.
This main idea of the hesitant and awkward relationship between Anne and Peter connects to the larger conflict that the characters face of living in constant fear and isolation during the Nazi occupation. Anne and Peter's relationship is one small part of the larger struggle they face in trying to hold on to their humanity and find connections with others in a time of extreme hardship.
One piece of textual evidence from Anne's writing is in her entry from April 11, 1944, where she writes, "I’m going through a funny stage with Peter. In future, I won’t talk about him anymore, because pouring out my love to you, Kitty, has only made me all the more confused." This shows how Anne is struggling to come to terms with her feelings towards Peter and is feeling unsure about how to proceed in their relationship.
Describe the incident that occurred on Easter night in the house and how did it end up? Who exactly was involved and how were emotions stirred up? What do you think they learned from this experience? How does this relate to the central theme of Anne’s writings?
On Easter night in the house, an incident occurred where Mr. Van Daan accused Mr. Dussel of stealing some of their food. This accusation led to a heated argument between the two men, with everyone else in the house getting drawn into the conflict. Emotions were sparked, with each person defending their own side and accusing the other of wrongdoing.
The argument escalated until it turned physical, with Mr. Van Daan hitting Mr. Dussel in the face. This violence shocked everyone in the house and led to a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere. Eventually, Mr. Van Daan apologized for his actions, and tensions were somewhat eased, but the damage had been done.
From this experience, the characters learned that living in such close quarters with others can lead to conflict and tensions. They were reminded of the importance of patience, understanding, and forgiveness in such situations. They also discovered that their survival depended on their ability to work together and support each other, rather than turning against each other.
This incident relates to the central theme of Anne's writings about the impact of war and conflict on human relationships. Anne often writes about the tensions and conflicts that arise within the confined space of the annex, as well as the outside world. Through this incident, Anne shows how emotions can be stirred up and how differences can lead to disagreements and ultimately violence, even among people who are trying to survive together. Anne reflects on the importance of finding peace and understanding amidst such conflicts, and the need to treat each other with kindness and compassion in these difficult times.
What important event happens on June 6, 1944? Using evidence from the text, describe the atmosphere in the annex and what the residents were feeling on this day. How does the quote “where there’s hope, there’s life” relate to the theme of the novel?
On June 6, 1944, the Allied forces invaded Normandy, France, launching a major offensive against the German army. This event is often referred to as D-Day.
In the annex, the residents were anxiously following the progress of the war through the radio. When they heard the news of the invasion, they were initially hopeful that this would mean an end to the war and their eventual liberation. However, as the days passed, their hope turned to anxiety as the news of the fierce fighting and heavy casualties sank in.
Anne writes in her diary on June 13, 1944, "The invasion has made me very anxious these past few days. The radio has been full of communiqus about it.” She goes on to describe how everyone in the annex is "on tenterhooks” waiting for news of the outcome of the invasion.
The quote "where there’s hope, there’s life" relates to the theme of the novel, as it speaks to the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Throughout the book, Anne and her family struggle to hold on to hope in the midst of the Nazi occupation. Despite the constant danger and uncertainty, they cling to the belief that someday they will be free and can rebuild their lives. The quote suggests that hope is a vital component of survival, as it inspires people to keep going and never give up, even in the darkest of times.
What happened to the residents of the annex on August 4, 1944? Were there any survivors? How did Anne’s diary survive, and why do you think it was published? Explain how this relates to the theme of fear, suffering, and hope.
On August 4, 1944, the residents of the Secret Annex were discovered and arrested by the Nazi Gestapo. They were taken to different concentration camps where they suffered terribly. Anne and her sister Margot were initially sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, but later transferred to Bergen-Belsen, where they both died from typhus in March 1945.
Otto Frank, Anne's father, survived and was liberated from Auschwitz by Soviet troops in January 1945. When he returned to Amsterdam, Miep Gies, one of the people who had helped hide Anne and her family, gave him Anne's diary, which she had found and kept safe after the arrest in the hope of one day returning it to Anne.
The diary itself survived because Miep had gathered up the loose pages and kept them in her desk drawer until after the war, when she gave them to Otto Frank. He decided to publish the diary as a way to honor Anne's memory and to share her story with the world.
This relates to the themes of fear, suffering, and hope that are central to Anne's writings. The fear and suffering that Anne and her family experience are extreme, and yet they continue to hold on to hope and to believe in the goodness of humanity. The publishing of Anne's diary is a symbol of this hope, as it ensures that her story and her message of love and hope will be remembered and shared with future generations. Despite the terrible circumstances that led to Anne's death, her diary remains a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope.
This conversation reveals that Anne and her family face the danger of being rounded up and taken away if the Germans retreat. Jan, a member of the male contingent, initially doubts this possibility, but Anne argues that the Germans have stated that they would close the doors to all occupied territories behind them if they have to retreat. She believes that the Germans would not hesitate to take all the civilians with them if they go under, as they see it as a way to drag everyone down with them.
Anne responds to this danger by remaining calm and not getting caught up in the fear and panic that surrounds her. She expresses a sense of resignation, stating that she has reached a point where she hardly cares whether she lives or dies. She believes that she cannot change the events unfolding around her and decides to let matters take their course. Instead, she focuses on studying and hopes that everything will turn out alright in the end.
This conversation and Anne's response demonstrate the immense psychological pressure and fear that Anne and her family experience as the Nazis continue to invade Europe and deport Jews to concentration camps. It shows the constant uncertainty and speculation about what may happen next, and the difficult decisions they have to make in order to ensure their survival.