The hiding place

Fritz Pfeffer

Fritz Pfeffer was born on April 30, 1889, in Giessen (Germany). His parents are Jewish and have a clothing store in the centre of the city. After high school Fritz studies to be a dentist in Berlin, where he starts a dental practice after his study. In 1921 he marries Vera Bythiner. Their son Werner is born on April 3, 1927. The marriage of Fritz Pfeffer ends in divorce in 1933. Fritz Pfeffer receives custody of his son.

Following his divorce Fritz Pfeffer meets Charlotte Kaletta. The Nurnberger Laws of 1935, outlawing marriages between Jews and non-Jews, make it impossible for them to marry. After "Kristallnacht," the night of broken glass, Fritz Pfeffer and Charlotte Kaletta decide to emigrate to the Netherlands. He arranges a place for Werner on a boat going to England. Fritz and Charlotte quickly feel at home in the Netherlands.

Werner goes to England

After Kristallnacht, Fritz sees to it that Werner gets a place on a boat to England.

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The eighth person in the Annex

On November 16, 1942, the dentist Fritz Pfeffer comes to hide in the Secret Annex. He approaches Miep Gies, asking if she knows of a hiding place for him. Miep comes to Otto Frank with this question. After some discussion with the other people in hiding, as well as Johannes Kleiman and Victor Kugler, Otto decides there is enough room for one more person.

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Miep the courier

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April 30, 1889

Born in Giessen (Germany).

1921

Fritz marries Vera Bythiner.

April 3, 1927

Fritz and Vera’s son Werner is born.

1933

Fritz and Vera divorce. Werner goes to live with his father.

1934

Fritz meets Charlotte Kaletta. She is a Catholic.

1935

Fritz and Charlotte are forbidden to marry by the Nuremberg Race Laws.

December 1938

First Fritz sends his son Werner to England on a ‘children’s transport’. After Kristallnacht he escapes to the Netherlands with Charlotte.

1939

Charlotte goes to Brussels (Belgium) to find out if they will be able to get married there.

November 16, 1942

Fritz goes into hiding in the secret annex.

August 4, 1944

Fritz Pfeffer and the other people in hiding are arrested.

August 8, 1944

The people from the secret annex are taken to Westerbork camp.

September 6, 1944

Arrival at Auschwitz. Fritz survives the selection.

October 1944

Deportation to Neuengamme concentration camp (Germany).

December 20, 1944

Fritz Pfeffer dies in Neuengamme.

End of 1945

Charlotte Kaletta discovers that Fritz is dead.

1946

Werner leaves for the Unites States and changes his name to Peter Pepper.

April 9, 1953

Posthumous marriage of Charlotte and Fritz.

February 15, 1995

Peter Pepper dies

Anne Frank

Otto and Edith’s daughter, Margot’s sister Anne often plays the clown, but has a serious side too

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Miep Gies

Miep is a secretary at Otto Frank’s company, Opekta

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Wat Anne over Fritz schrijft

Mijnheer Pfeffer, de man van wie altijd gezegd werd dat hij uitstekend met kinderen op kon schieten en ook van alle kinderen hield, ontpopt zich als de meest ouderwetse opvoeder en preker van ellenlange manierenreeksen.