Welcome to History's Not Boring by kidopoly.com. I'm Mira. And I'm Finn. Before we start, we have a very special shout-out today to Sadie, Joey and Allie in the USA. They absolutely love learning about history and asked us to do an episode about an incredible young writer.
SPEAKER_01That is an awesome pick. This one is just for you, Sadie, Joey, and Allie.
SPEAKER_00And it is the perfect time to tell this story. Today is July 6th. Exactly 84 years ago today, on July 6th, 1942, a 13-year-old girl and her family walked through the pouring rain in Amsterdam to hide from terrible danger.
SPEAKER_01Wait, exactly 84 years ago today? Who was she?
SPEAKER_00Why was she hiding? Her name was Anne Frank, and while she was in hiding for over two years, she wrote in a small, red-checked diary. She probably thought no one but her would ever read it.
SPEAKER_01Let me guess.
SPEAKER_00Someone found it? They did, and her private words have now been read by over 30 million people in more than 70 different languages. Today we are learning about the incredible life, courage, and legacy of Anne Frank.
SPEAKER_0130 million people! That is like the population of a whole country reading one girl's diary. Where did her story start?
SPEAKER_00Annalise Marie Frank, who everyone called Anne, was born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany. Was she already a famous writer when she was little? Not at all. She was a completely normal, energetic kid. She loved playing ping-pong, collecting pictures of movie stars, and chatting with her friends. But the 1930s were becoming a very dangerous time in Germany.
SPEAKER_01Why? What was happening?
SPEAKER_00In 1933, a cruel political group called the Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, took power. They began passing terribly unfair laws targeting Jewish people.
SPEAKER_01Oh no. And Anne's family was Jewish, right?
SPEAKER_00Yes, they were. Her father, Otto, and her mother, Edith, knew Germany was no longer safe for Anne and her older sister Margot. So in 1934, they packed up everything and moved. Phew! Where did they go? Far away. They travelled about 250 miles away to Amsterdam, a beautiful city in the Netherlands. Otto started a business there selling pectin, which is an ingredient used to make fruit jam. Jam?
SPEAKER_01That sounds so peaceful. Did they stay safe in Amsterdam?
SPEAKER_00For about six years they did. Anne learned to speak Dutch fluently, went to a regular school, and had a happy childhood. But in 1939, World War II broke out across Europe. Wait. Did the war reach the Netherlands? Sadly, yes. In May 1940, the Nazi army invaded the Netherlands. The dangerous laws that had forced them to flee Germany were now right there in Amsterdam.
SPEAKER_01What kind of unfair laws did they make in Amsterdam?
SPEAKER_00It was horrible. Jewish people were forced to wear yellow stars on their clothes to identify them. They were banned from going to the movies, sitting on public park benches, and they even had their bicycles taken away.
SPEAKER_01Not even allowed to ride bikes? That is completely unfair.
SPEAKER_00It really was. But amidst all this darkness, something special happened. On June 12, 1942, for Anne's 13th birthday, she received a gift. A small autograph book with a red and white checkered cover and a tiny metal lock. An autograph book? Like for getting her friend to sign? Exactly. But Anne decided to use it as a diary. She even gave it a name, Kitty, and started writing her deepest thoughts inside. But just weeks later, the situation turned critical.
SPEAKER_01What happened?
SPEAKER_00On July 5th, 1942, Anne's older sister Margot, who was 16, received a terrifying letter. It was an official order to pack her bags and report to a Nazi work camp.
SPEAKER_01No way!
SPEAKER_00They couldn't let her go. What did her dad Otto do? Otto said, we are not going. He had secretly been preparing a safe place for months. The very next morning, exactly 84 years ago today, they left their house forever.
SPEAKER_01Remember you said they walked in the pouring rain? Why didn't they take a bus or a taxi?
SPEAKER_00Jewish people weren't allowed on public transport anymore. And they couldn't carry suitcases, because that would make it obvious they were running away. So how did they bring their stuff? They wore layers and layers of clothes. Anne wrote that she wore two undershirts, three pairs of pants, a dress, a skirt, and a thick coat all at once. And she packed her new diary first.
SPEAKER_01In the middle of July? She must have been sweating so much. Where were they walking to?
SPEAKER_00They walked to Otto's jam business office at a street called Prince and Gracht 263. Hidden at the back of the building was a secret set of rooms. They called it the Secret Annex.
SPEAKER_01How do you hide a whole set of rooms in the middle of a busy office building?
SPEAKER_00With a brilliantly clever trick! A few weeks after they moved in, the helpers built a tall wooden bookcase and attached it to hinges. It covered the door perfectly, like a secret entrance in a spy movie. That is incredible! Was it just the four of them hiding back there? Actually, another family soon joined them, the Van Pels family, and later a dentist named Fritz Pfeffer. So there were exactly eight people living together. Eight people? Was the secret annex really big? Not at all. It was only about 500 square feet. That is roughly the size of a small two-car garage. And because there were workers in the warehouse downstairs during the day, they had extremely strict rules. Rules like what? Having to be quiet? Exactly. Total silence. From 8.30 in the morning until 5.30 in the evening, they whispered, walked in thick socks, and they weren't even allowed to flush the toilet or run the water.
SPEAKER_01They couldn't flush the toilet for nine hours every single day. How did they get food if they couldn't ever leave?
SPEAKER_00They had true heroes helping them. Four of Otto's employees, including an incredibly brave woman named Meep Geese. They risked their own lives to secretly bring potatoes, milk, books, and blank paper.
SPEAKER_01Meep Geese and the others were so brave. I bet Anne was happy to have the paper.
SPEAKER_00She was. Anne wrote for hours. She wrote about her fears, her fights with her mum, the terrible food, and her dreams. Even locked away, her mind was totally free. Did she ever lose hope, being stuck inside for so long? That is the most amazing part. She kept her hope alive. One of her most famous quotes in the diary is, In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.
SPEAKER_01Wow, she was so brave. How long did they manage to stay hidden in the annex?
SPEAKER_00They hid for 761 days. That is over two whole years. But tragically, on August 4, 1944, their secret was discovered by the police. Oh no! What happened to them? They were arrested and sent to concentration camps. It was a very dark and cruel time in history, and millions of innocent people died. Sadly, Anne died when she was just 15 years old. That breaks my heart. She was just a kid. It is deeply sad. But her story did not end there. Her father, Otto Frank, survived the war. When he returned to Amsterdam, the brave helper Meep Geese had a surprise for him. Wait, did she have the diary? Yes. After the arrest, Meep had found Anne's diary scattered on the floor. She scooped up the papers and locked them in her desk drawer, hoping to give them back to Anne.
SPEAKER_01Thank goodness for Meep Geese.
SPEAKER_00So she gave it to Otto. Exactly. Otto was amazed by his daughter's profound writing. In 1947, he published it as a book. Anne once wrote that she dreamed of becoming a famous writer. Her dream actually came true, and her voice became a light for millions. Alright, Finn, it is time for the quiz. Are you ready to test your knowledge? I'm a little nervous, but I'm ready. Let's do it. First question. What gift did Anne receive for her 13th birthday that changed history? Next one. What piece of furniture hid the secret door to the annex? Question 3. Exactly how many people hid in the secret annex together? Here's number four. What is the name of the incredibly brave helper who found and saved Anne's diary? Last question. Over how many languages has Anne's diary been translated into today? Great job! Let's go through the answers and see how you did. The first answer is, she received a red and white checkered autograph book that she used as a diary. For question two, the secret door was hidden by a movable wooden bookcase. Number three, the answer is, there were eight people hiding in the annex. Question four. The brave helper who saved the diary was Meep Geese. And the final answer is, it has been translated into over 70 languages all around the world.
SPEAKER_01Wow, Anne's story has some really sad moments, but I am so incredibly glad we learned about her today. She was amazingly brave.
SPEAKER_00She really was, Finn. Her little red diary turned into a wonderful gift to the whole world, reminding us to always look for the good in people, just like she did.
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SPEAKER_01Oh, and don't forget to check out our site kidopoly.com. We've got tons of fun learning games and activities waiting for you there.
SPEAKER_00It really is the best place to keep exploring. And if you want to shout out on the show or just want to say hi, send us an email at hello at kidopoly.com.
SPEAKER_01Maybe you can request an episode just like Sadie, Joey, and Ali did today. That was such a great request.
SPEAKER_00Thanks for listening, everyone. See you next time on Histories Not Boring. Bye everyone, keep exploring.