Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt on 12 June 1929. On her thirteenth birthday in 1942, she received the diary that would later carry her voice around the world. Weeks afterward, the Frank family went into hiding in Amsterdam during the Nazi persecution of Jewish people.
A writer, not only a symbol
Anne revised her diary after hearing that wartime accounts might one day be published. She wanted to become a journalist and writer. The Anne Frank House records her life, the people in hiding with her and the historical setting in which she wrote.
Read the diary with its history
Anne was one of six million Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust. Her fame should open a door to learning about that genocide, antisemitism, Nazi occupation and the many lives whose words were not preserved. Avoid inventing happy endings or using her experience as a generic lesson in optimism.
Preserve a voice carefully
On 12 June, read a passage in a reliable edition, visit a museum archive online, or record an older relative’s memory with consent. Note names, dates and context so the story remains understandable.
Add the date as a Daytely custom reminder with a link to a trusted history resource. Remembrance asks us to keep learning.
