Anne Frank

Anne Frank (http://www.annefrank.com/ af_life/story_intro.htm)

Imagine not being able to leave your house because there are people out in the streets who want to kill you. That’s how most Jewish People felt when the Nazis took over Germany. My hero is Anne Frank. Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who lived with her mother, father, and her sister. She had a normal life. Anne knew she was different; she was Jewish.

Anne Frank and her Family (http://www.annefrank.com/ af_life/story08.html)

Anne was born on June 12, 1929. Anne and her family weren’t always in hiding. The Franks had a normal life. Anne and her sister Margot went to school and had many friends. The family loved to go to the beach and spend time together. Anne’s parents, Edith and Otto, taught the girls to respect everybody no matter what religion they were. When the Nazi’s came to power, the family decided move to Amsterdam where they thought they might be safe. Sadly, in May 1940, the Nazis came to the Netherlands and the Franks had to live under Nazi rule. Anne spent 25 months in hiding with her family and four other Jews. In July of 1944 Anne and her family were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Anne Frank died of typhus in Bergen-Belsen, a concentration camp. Anne was only fifteen years old.

Anne and her sister Margot (www.annefrank.com)

Anne Frank is a hero for all times according to T.A Barron’s book, “A Hero’s Trail.” She had courage and strength and, even though the Nazis didn’t let her have much freedom, she still smiled and tried to keep her hopes up. She would write in her diary to help her get her feelings out. Anne states in her diary to stay strong for herself and for her family. Anne Frank wrote: “When I write, I can shake off all my cares." - April 5, 1944. "It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart. It’s utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more" - July 15, 1944. Anne truly believed that this was just a big misunderstanding between the Jews and the Nazi’s.

Anne Frank is a hero within because she believed that someday this would be over and she could move on and pick up where she had left off with her life. She had courage and hope that she would not let the Nazis take from her. Anne believed that God would decide her fate and she knew that she couldn’t change things and that everything happened for a reason. In this statement from her diary she wrote: "I've reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. The world will keep on turning without me, and I can't do anything to change events anyway. I'll just let matters take their course and concentrate on studying and hope that everything will be all right in the end." - February 3, 1944.

In my mind Anne Frank stands out because she made a difference in the world for Jewish people all over the world. Anne showed us that being afraid and letting people scare you and take away your pride, dignity, and religion won’t help you. Anne never did anything huge or save anybody’s life but she is still a hero in my book.