In Hiding

Bad News

“Today I have nothing but dismal and depressing news to report.
Our many Jewish friends and acquaintances are being taken away in droves… transporting them in cattle cars to Westerbork, the big camp in Drenthe to which they're sending all the Jews. Miep told us about someone who'd managed to escape from there. It must be terrible in Westerbork.”

Anne Frank

In the afternoon, the helpers often go upstairs to eat lunch with the people hiding in the Secret Annex. Then warehouse workers have then gone home for a short break. The state of affairs in the city is frequently discussed. There are many razzias. Jews who do not voluntarily turn themselves in are picked up and sent to the transit camp in Westerbork. Almost weekly, a train leaves from there bound for unknown destinations in the east of Europe. The people in hiding assume the majority of Jews will be murdered there. Anne writes in her diary: We assume that most of them are being murdered. The English radio says they're being gassed. Perhaps that's the quickest way to die. I feel terrible.”