The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank 1988

Nazi invasion of the Netherlands

In 1940, Nazi forces invade the Netherlands, turning life in Amsterdam upside down. Miep Gies, a young office assistant to Otto Frank, witnesses the growing danger as anti-Jewish measures tighten around the city. Otto becomes increasingly worried for his family as the regime crackdown intensifies.

Otto Frank decides to hide his family

After Margot is summoned for transport to a Nazi labor camp, Otto Frank decides to hide his family to keep them safe. He places his trust in Miep Gies to help, and together they begin planning to live in secrecy. They set up residence in the attic above Otto's office, known as The Annexe.

The Frank family moves into The Annexe

The Frank family moves into the hidden attic above the office, beginning their months-long confinement. Miep and the others work to keep their presence secret, bringing food, news, and small comforts while the outside world grows more dangerous.

The van Daans join the hiding

A few days after the Franks go into hiding, the Van Daans arrive to join them, sharing the cramped space and added strain on resources. Miep continues to help with supplies and lookouts, preserving the safety of the hidden occupants.

Albert Dussel joins the group

Several months later, Albert Dussel, a Jewish dentist, joins the group in hiding. The crowded space tests their relationships, but they depend on the steady support of Miep and their other helpers.

Helpers keep the hiding secret with supplies

Miep, Jan Gies, Mr. Kraler, Mr. Koophuis, and Elli quietly assist the families, smuggling in food and delivering news from the outside world. They risk arrest and deportation to protect the innocent, maintaining the secrecy of the Annex.

Arrests begin: August 4, 1944

On August 4, 1944, the Gestapo arrives and arrests the hiders, tearing apart their fragile refuge. Mr. Kraler and Mr. Koophuis are taken away, while Miep is spared thanks to her Austrian birth and Gentile status; Karl Silberbauer, the Gestapo officer, is also Austrian, which shapes his conduct toward her.

Anne's diary is recovered

A day after the arrests, Miep and Jan go to the Annex to salvage belongings and find Anne's diary on the floor. She carefully collects the diary, intending to preserve Anne's voice for Otto Frank despite the danger outside.

Miep's bribe attempt denied

Miep attempts to bribe Silberbauer to secure the hiders' safety, but the officer refuses. The diary remains the only link to Anne as the Annex is emptied and the danger grows closer to home.

Liberation and Otto's return

With the war drawing to a close, Otto Frank returns to Amsterdam and is sheltered by Miep and Jan. He begins to piece together what happened to his wife Edith and the others who hid with him, reclaiming a sense of family after years of secrecy.

Fates of the Franks and others revealed

Otto learns that Mrs. Frank was murdered in Auschwitz and that Mr. van Daan was gassed there. Anne and Margot, along with Mrs. van Daan, were sent to Bergen-Belsen, where they perished, confirming the tragedy that befell the hidden residents.

Letter confirms Anne and Margot's deaths

A few days later, Otto receives a letter informing him that Anne and Margot died in Bergen-Belsen, shattering whatever hope remained. Miep shares in the sorrow, honoring Anne's memory and the family’s struggle.

Diary returned to Otto Frank

Miep hands Anne's diary to Otto Frank, a poignant gesture that preserves the young girl's voice for future generations. Otto reads the diary, discovering Anne's thoughts and experiences in the hiding place.