The Character Of Otto Frank In The Diary Of Anne Frank
There are many characters in The Diary Of Anne Frank, but one stood out for me. Otto Frank (Anne’s dad) is that character. Without Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father, the world wouldn’t have known about Anne Frank’s diary. Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl is a book written by a young woman who lived through Nazi persecution. Eleanor Roosevelt once commented, “This book is one of my favorite and most insightful commentaries on war’s impact on humanity.”
Otto Frank was a German citizen who was born in Frankfurt. He was a successful entrepreneur and also fought in World War I’s German army. He settled down after the war and became a banker. Anne was four years old when he and Margot moved their family to Holland. Otto formulated a plan to get into a hiding spot he had prepared ahead of the Nazi invasion of Holland. He was expecting something similar to happen.
Margot was told by her father Otto that she had to go to a labor camp. Otto made sure Margot knew about this. He asked his family and friends to help him prepare a place hidden behind the building he had previously worked. Otto and his family used this place to move furniture, kitchenware, and bedding. The hope was that the new home would contain everything they needed. Otto wanted his family to be safe and only shared the secret annexe with those closest to him.
On July 8, 1942, the Franks moved into a secret hideout and a hidden entrance was constructed. The “Secret Annexe” became a reality. Albert Dussel, Van Daans, Franks, and Van Daans hid for two long years. All of the people who were hiding in the place were captured by the Nazis and taken by train into a concentration camp. Otto Frank was able to see his family, including his wife and two daughters, even though he was separated from them. They were then transported to Auschwitz. This was where Otto lost contact with his family.
Otto returned home to Holland after the war and sought out the people who had helped his family and him while hiding in Amsterdam. He was then given all papers found in Anne’s handwriting, which was on the floor at the “Secret Annexe”. This was the day they were taken. Otto was the one who published the papers, which eventually became Anne Frank’s diary. These stories would not have been possible without Otto’s persistence and dedication to life.
