Van Pels family

Hermann (far right) and Auguste van Pels (far left) with a married couple they’re friends with. Osnabrück, 1930s.

Hermann van Pels was born in Germany. His father was Dutch and he therefore had Dutch nationality. When he married Auguste Röttgen in 1925 she also became Dutch, as did their son Peter, born a year later.

Attempts to flee of the Frank family

The Frank family tries several times to move on from the Netherlands.

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Fritz Pfeffer's attempts to flee

He applies to emigrate to Chile and begins a Spanish course.

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The "Jüdische Pfadfinder Deutschlands" (I.P.D. - Jewish Boy Scouts Germany). Peter van Pels stands in the middle. Osnabrück, 1935 or 1936.

In 1937 the family fled from Osnabrück to Amsterdam and went to live in Stadionweg, a street in the south of the city. A year later they move to the same neighbourhood as the Frank family. Despite their Dutch nationality they don’t feel safe in the Netherlands. In 1939 they apply for a visa at the American consulate in Rotterdam. They are put on a long waiting list. Their attempt to move on fails and in 1942 they go into hiding in the annexe.

Detail of a letter from the American consulate to H. van Pels confirming his application for emigration, 25 April 1939.

Peter van Pels with his Jewish star, taken between 3 May and 13 July 1942.

read other people's comments (1)

Been doing a project on The Van Pels, i have been getting very emotionally attached to their story! This website helps a lot!

smile, 14 - indianapolis - United States - 19 Nov 2012

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Van Pels family

Attempts to flee of the Frank family

Fritz Pfeffer's attempts to flee

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See also

'We too might move on' From 26 March to 25 September

Jewish refugees Half of the Austrian an German Jewish population flee their country

Van Pels family They have Dutch nationality and flee to the Netherlands in 1937

Fritz Pfeffer After Crystal Night Fritz Pfeffer and his fiancée Charlotte Kaletta to the Netherlands

Frank family Otto and Edith make several attempts to move on

How welcome were the Frank family? Article on Jewish refugees in the 1930's

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