Anne M. Frank

(imedia.crescent.edu.sg/.../anne-frank.jpg)

“I wanted first of all to think about my diary... I want to write, but more than that, I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in my heart... I want this diary itself to be my friend, and I shall call my friend Kitty.” The hero for six million murdered Jews in 1933 caused a ripple over the world, all from a diary someone treasured. An object so small, yet so powerful, led followers capture the truth; the reason why a diary shocked thousands, and made an important difference today. Known for her personality and desire to live after death, she has become more than a struggling Jewish victim. Since her death, she has been known as a famous writer for a diary she recorded with her hopes, fears, and experiences. Forced to attend a concentration camp, she was separated from her close friends and family. During the capture of Jews as prisoners in World War II, which became known as the Holocaust, this hero found ways to fulfill her need to make a difference for other people’s lives. She is an inspiring hero in several ways. With her actions, she made an important difference by caring for other Jewish victims instead of herself. Her courage and lasting words informed countries that it does not matter what one believes in; everyone should be treated the same. She showed others the hardships faced during the Holocaust. And this hero is Anne Frank.

A bookcase hid the

Annelies Marie Frank, also known as Anne Frank, was born on June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany to Edith and Otto Frank. Throughout her childhood, Anne grew up in a Jewish family and lived a normal life until the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. In that same year, Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany. Hitler enforced unfair laws against Jewish people. Jews were captured, imprisoned, and sent to concentration camps. Millions died from starvation, disease, and poisonous gas chambers. In February 1934, Anne and her family fled to Amsterdam where they hid from the German police in Otto’s office building for two years. Anne began to write in a diary everything she experienced. After her first entry in 1944, she decided to become a famous writer, in which she searched for ways to make an important difference. Tragically, on August 2, 1944, Anne and her family were discovered and arrested. They were sent to separate concentration camps throughout Germany, including the Auschwitz killing center. In March 1945, Anne Frank and her sister died of typhoid fever. Anne’s mother died months before, and Otto Frank survived.

Jewish prisoners at a concentration camp (top-10-list.org/.../07/Concentration-Camps.jpg)

Anne Frank shows her caring actions that make her a hero towards other Jewish victims by taking leadership, and thinking of others first. While Anne’s parents stayed at a separate camp, Anne remembered missing her parents and thought about her sister, Margot. “Her mother had been selected for the gas chamber. She had heard nothing of her father, but very likely he had met the same fate. Now Margot was sick with typhus... Anne asked Hanneli [a young girl] if it would be possible for her to bring a little food so that she could give it to Margot”(Sawyer 97). Anne remembers her parents, and takes action to help other Jewish victims, at great risk of her own life. Apart from the protection and comfort her parents provided her, Anne grasped leadership in an attempt to save Margot. This reveals that Anne is caring. She protects others who don’t have protection, before helping herself. A survivor from the Holocaust recalled memories they kept of Anne Frank. “Anne was remembered by a survivor of Auschwitz as a leader and as someone who remained sensitive and caring when most prisoners protected themselves from feeling anything”(“Frank”). This thought from a survivor shows how they saw Anne Frank as a leader that is not cared for, but takes care of everyone. She “remained sensitive and caring” even if people were not looking. Using her actions and recording her experiences, Anne Frank possesses the heroic traits of leadership and caring.

Anne Frank's diary,

Anne proved her courageous trait to be a hero when she believed in equal rights. After the death of Anne Frank and the discovery of her diary, people around the world took action following “Kitty”. “The group founded the Anne Frank Youth Center to teach young people about prejudice and discrimination”(Sawyer 117). Anne wished to put an end to the judgment and discrimination. Her opinions and thoughts expressed in her diary motivated the idea that everyone should be treated the same. Anne’s strongest belief regarding race, and religion shows that she proved an interest about changing the way others are treated. Since she disagrees about the discrimination of people believing in different religions, and the desire to end unfair rights at the cost of her life, points out that Anne Frank is courageous. When asked questions about Anne’s diary, Otto Frank mentioned Anne’s most important opinion. “...Otto tried to explain in simple terms that they must not regard one race or religion as better or worse than another. That Anne had wanted to make her voice heard...”(Sawyer 115). Anne wanted to accomplish more than the title of a young Jewish schoolgirl. She used a diary to express her thoughts, in which she did not treat anybody “better or worse” because of their “race or religion”. This shows Anne held the strength to have courage even when others judged by religion. She realized how people are given different rights and are treated differently. Anne’s courage and belief against discrimination proves she is a hero.

(http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/38241/santa-cruz-familys-film-explores-anne-franks-heart-and-mind/)

Anne Frank accomplished what she loved, writing, to inspire and inform people around the world the horrors of wars. She used writing to provide power of the struggles she experienced. “After the entry of March 29, Anne’s expressed desires to be a journalist, and then a famous writer, grew more numerous. Writing would, she hoped, enable her to live after her death...”(Pommer). Anne describes her interest of wanting to do something with her life: writing. And to make a powerful difference so that she would “live after her death”. This clarifies that Anne hopes to make an important difference that will be learned from, so people are taught about the Holocaust from her diary. This shows Anne’s dedication to do something great with her life. She also used her writing to provide power of the struggles she experienced. “Letter seeking advice or a comforting word from Otto came from the Netherlands, the United States, Japan, Germany, and many other countries. Many of those who wrote to Otto had suffered greatly during the war, but found in Anne’s story much-needed inspiration. The diary gave them hope and helped them face the future”(Sawyer 114). This is an example of countries that noticed, were touched, and affected by Anne’s diary. “Kitty” informed new generations and countries the harms of wars, so that World War II and the Holocaust would never happen again. This explains that Anne uses her dedication for people to realize how harmful wars are. To know what it feels like, in hopes that mistakes from the past never happen again. Because of her leadership qualities to take action and care for others, courage to teach countries about discrimination, and dedication to create an important difference of the horrors of wars after her death, Anne Frank is an inspiring hero to anyone.