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1934 Limited admission of refugees

Otto Frank

Singel 400
Singel 400
Singel 400
Singel 400 [+] Enlarge map [-] Reduce map
© Anne Frank Stichting/Anne Frank Fonds Bazel

Anne five years old

This photo was taken by Otto of his daughter at an important place in his new life in the Netherlands: his office on the Singel in Amsterdam. He is a fervent photographer and records his daughters’ lives from their birth with lovely photographs taken with his Leica camera.

Otto Frank moves in the summer of 1933 from Frankfurt, Germany to Amsterdam. Here he starts a new business, the Nederlandsche Opekta Maatschappij. It sells Opekta which housewives can use to make their own jam. Otto’s brother-in-law, Erich Elias, is manager of the Swiss branch of Opekta in Basel. He helps Otto to set up the Dutch branch.

Anne loves it

On this photo Anne is standing on the steps of her father’s office. She’s allowed to have a look around, do some typing and according to Miep Gies, loves it. Miep has been Otto’s secretary for years.

The nicest place

Miep likes the location of the new office, it’s just a stone’s throw away from the flower market and looks out onto a bend in the Singel canal, one of the nicest places in the centre.

 

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Otto Frank

In 1933 Otto and Edith Frank decide to leave Frankfurt am Main. Partly due to the economic situation and partly due to the rise of National Socialism. Otto is able to start a business in Amsterdam. He sells Opekta, pectin which housewives can use to make their own jam. It’s not easy to establish the business. When the German army attacks the Netherlands in May 1940 the Frank family is once again in danger.

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1938 Many Jewish refugees after Kristallnacht

Many Jewish refugees flee to the Netherlands after Kristallnacht. Princess Juliana also feels connected to the Jewish community. But while more attention is drawn to the admittance of more Jews, NSB members threaten more intervention.

1938  Many Jewish refugees after Kristallnacht

1940 Amsterdam occupied

Nothing changes too much for the Frank family in the beginning. Opekta moves to the Prinsengracht. During air raids bombs cause death and injury in Amsterdam.

1940  Amsterdam occupied

1941 Jews allowed to do and less

It starts with a cinema ban but rapidly Jews are banned from virtually all public places. Jewish children must attend separate schools. This also applies to Anne and Margot Frank.

1941  Jews allowed to do and less

1942 It becomes more dangerous for Jews

On her thirteenth birthday Anne Frank receives a diary. A few days later she writes about the situation in Amsterdam. The introduction of the Jewish star and the raids. In July the Frank family goes into hiding.

1942  It becomes more dangerous for Jews

1943 Deportations and attacks

While the Frank family is in hiding thousands of Jews are deported from Amsterdam. The resistance tries to hinder the deportations by attacks including one on the Public Registry. It doesn’t stop them.

1943  Deportations and attacks

1944 Discovered and arrested

On 4 August the people in hiding in the secret annex are discovered and arrested. From Westerbork they are taken to Auschwitz. When the Allies land in the south of the Netherlands there is hope that the country will be liberated. German soldiers and NSB members flee the country after Dolle Dinsdag (‘Mad Tuesday’).

1944  Discovered and arrested

1945 Joy and sadness

A celebration at the Dam on 7 May is ruined when people are killed after German soldiers shoot at the crowd. On 8 May Amsterdam is officially liberated. Otto Frank returns. He knows that Edith is dead. He only hears later that his two daughters have not survived.

1945  Joy and sadness

1946 Slowly the threads are picked up again

On 3 May 1946 the first official commemoration for those who died during the war is held. Anne Frank’s diary is published on 25 June 1947. Life in Amsterdam slowly gets back to normal. Of the 70,000 Jews who lived in the city in 1940 only 10,000 have survived the war.

1946  Slowly the threads are picked up again

1950 Lasting memory

Even five years after the liberation the reverberations from the war are still clearly noticeable. The Jewish community thanks Amsterdam for the help given to Jews with a monument.

1950  Lasting memory
  • 1950

  • To those who protected the Dutch Jews during the years of the occupation. Protected by your love. Encouraged by your resistance. Mourning with you.

    Part of the citation on the monument ‘Jewish Gratitude’
  • picture:Once a year, two minutes silence

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View the most important places with their story from Anne Frank’s Amsterdam. Click to the Timeline and see how Amsterdam changed from being a safe haven in 1933 to an occupied city. Zoom in by clicking on the plus sign on the left. This way you can click more easily on the places on the map