Page 50 - English Expedition Class 6

I feel more miserable than I have in months. Even aft er the break-in I didn’t feel so utterly
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broken, inside and out. On the one hand, there’s the news about Mr van Hoeven , the Jewish
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question (which is discussed in detail by everyone in the house), the invasion (which is so long
in coming), the awful food, the tension, the miserable atmosphere. On the other hand, there’s the
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Pentecost reception, the fl owers, Mr Kugler’s birthday, cakes and stories about cabarets , movies
and concerts. Th at gap, that enormous gap, is always there. One day we’re laughing at the comical
side of life in hiding, and the next day (and there are many such days), we’re frightened, and the
fear, tension and despair can be read on our faces.
How much longer will this increasingly oppressive,
unbearable weight press down on us? What will we do • What did Anne fear the most?
if we’re ever . . . no, I mustn’t write that down. But the
• What scared Anne when she
question won’t let itself be pushed to the back of my mind
was alone in the house?
today; on the contrary, all the fear I’ve ever felt is looming
• What could be the ‘burden’
before me in all its horror. I had to go downstairs alone
Anne was referring to?
at eight this evening to use the bathroom. Th ere was no
one down there, since they were all listening to the radio.
I wanted to be brave, but it was hard. I always feel safer upstairs than in that huge, silent house;
when I’m alone with those mysterious muffl ed sounds from upstairs and the honking of horns in
the street, I have to hurry and remind myself where I am to keep from getting the shivers.
I’ve asked myself again and again whether it wouldn’t have been better if we hadn’t gone into
hiding, if we were dead now and didn’t have to go through this misery, especially so that the others
could be spared the burden. But we all shrink from this thought. We still love life, we haven’t
yet forgotten the voice of nature, and we keep hoping, hoping for . . . everything. Let something
happen soon, even an air raid. Nothing can be more crushing than this anxiety. Let the end come,
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however cruel; at least then we’ll know whether we are to be the victors or the vanquished .
Yours, Anne

On the morning of 4 August 1944, the German police, likely acting on a tip from an informer, stormed
the building and discovered the Secret Annexe. Th e Franks, the van Daans and Mr Dussel were
arrested and later transported to diff erent concentration camps. Anne’s diaries were left behind in the
Annexe. She died in early 1945 from illness and malnutrition, just before the camp was liberated by
the British army. Th e only survivor from the group was her father Otto Frank, who found her diaries
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aft er the War ended and had them published. Anne’s voice still resonates today through her diary,
which has become one of the most widely known books in the world.

(Abridged)

18 a reference to thieves entering the building during the 21 Mr Kugler was Mr Frank’s offi ce employee. He was
night on a previous occasion instrumental in helping them go into hiding. He
19 Mr van Hoeven helped the Franks while they were in also looked after their daily necessities like food and
hiding. He was arrested on 25 May 1944 for sheltering rations during those years.
two other Jews in his house. 22 cabaret: singing and dancing performed at a restaurant
20 the attack of the Allied army against Germany in order to or club to entertain the customers
free Holland 23 the vanquished: the defeated side
24 resonates: continues to have a powerful eff ect
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