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1943 Deportations and attacks

Anne Frank

Hans Rauter© Bundesarchiv, Bild_183-1982-1021-509 / Porsche

Anne Frank – Has nightmares about her thoughts

On 30 March 1943 the Dutch newspapers print an article about a speech made by Hanns Albin Rauter, head of the police and the SS in the Netherlands. Rauter announces that from 1 April Jews are no longer allowed to reside in Overijsel, Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen, after these other counties follow and then finally Amsterdam. He then says: ‘It is no small feat to remove 130,000 Jews (…) from a healthy Germanic body, but we will continue inexorably with these measures (…).’

The people in hiding read this article. For Anne it’s quite clear what the speech really means:

‘These poor people are being shipped off to filthy slaughterhouses like a herd of sick and neglected cattle. But I’ll say no more on that subject. My own thoughts give me nightmares!’ - Anne Frank, 27 March 1943. 

A month later the Netherlands is declared “Judenrein” and Jews are only allowed to stay in Amsterdam.

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Anne Frank

In 1934 Anne Frank arrives in the Netherlands from Germany. Together with her parents, she lives on the Merwedeplein in the Rivierenbuurt neighbourhood. More and more Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany settle here. Anne feels at home and soon learns the language.

In 1940 an end comes to these happy times when the German army occupies the Netherlands. The Frank family goes into hiding in the secret annex and manages to stay there for almost 2 years.

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1938 Many Jewish refugees after Kristallnacht

Many Jewish refugees flee to the Netherlands after Kristallnacht. Princess Juliana also feels connected to the Jewish community. But while more attention is drawn to the admittance of more Jews, NSB members threaten more intervention.

1938  Many Jewish refugees after Kristallnacht

1940 Amsterdam occupied

Nothing changes too much for the Frank family in the beginning. Opekta moves to the Prinsengracht. During air raids bombs cause death and injury in Amsterdam.

1940  Amsterdam occupied

1941 Jews allowed to do and less

It starts with a cinema ban but rapidly Jews are banned from virtually all public places. Jewish children must attend separate schools. This also applies to Anne and Margot Frank.

1941  Jews allowed to do and less

1942 It becomes more dangerous for Jews

On her thirteenth birthday Anne Frank receives a diary. A few days later she writes about the situation in Amsterdam. The introduction of the Jewish star and the raids. In July the Frank family goes into hiding.

1942  It becomes more dangerous for Jews

1943 Deportations and attacks

While the Frank family is in hiding thousands of Jews are deported from Amsterdam. The resistance tries to hinder the deportations by attacks including one on the Public Registry. It doesn’t stop them.

1943  Deportations and attacks

1944 Discovered and arrested

On 4 August the people in hiding in the secret annex are discovered and arrested. From Westerbork they are taken to Auschwitz. When the Allies land in the south of the Netherlands there is hope that the country will be liberated. German soldiers and NSB members flee the country after Dolle Dinsdag (‘Mad Tuesday’).

1944  Discovered and arrested

1945 Joy and sadness

A celebration at the Dam on 7 May is ruined when people are killed after German soldiers shoot at the crowd. On 8 May Amsterdam is officially liberated. Otto Frank returns. He knows that Edith is dead. He only hears later that his two daughters have not survived.

1945  Joy and sadness

1946 Slowly the threads are picked up again

On 3 May 1946 the first official commemoration for those who died during the war is held. Anne Frank’s diary is published on 25 June 1947. Life in Amsterdam slowly gets back to normal. Of the 70,000 Jews who lived in the city in 1940 only 10,000 have survived the war.

1946  Slowly the threads are picked up again

1950 Lasting memory

Even five years after the liberation the reverberations from the war are still clearly noticeable. The Jewish community thanks Amsterdam for the help given to Jews with a monument.

1950  Lasting memory
  • 1950

  • To those who protected the Dutch Jews during the years of the occupation. Protected by your love. Encouraged by your resistance. Mourning with you.

    Part of the citation on the monument ‘Jewish Gratitude’
  • picture:Once a year, two minutes silence

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View the most important places with their story from Anne Frank’s Amsterdam. Click to the Timeline and see how Amsterdam changed from being a safe haven in 1933 to an occupied city. Zoom in by clicking on the plus sign on the left. This way you can click more easily on the places on the map