I'm off to Amsterdam and am embarassed to say that I really don't know (remember) the story of Ann Franks short life...I only know that she was the daughter of a Jewish family and I think she hid in an attic. I'm leaving in 2 days and have no time to go buy the book. Could anyone give me the quickie version of her story before I go visit her home in Amsterdam? Thank You!

Dear Mudpie, Ann Frank (1929-1945) was born in Germany, moved with her parents to Amsterdam in 1933 in order to avoid Nazi persecution of Jews, and hid with them in a warehouse in a sealed room for three years. The family was betrayed to the Nazis and Ann died in the Bergan Belsen concentration camp (of tuberculosis I believe) shortly before the end of WWII. Her diary was discovered by her father in 1947 and has been translated into more than 30 languages. It has been turned into a successful movie and play. <BR>Seeing where they lived is a moving experience!

Have a look at: <BR>http://www.annefrank.com/ <BR>or <BR>http://www.annefrank.nl/splash.html <BR> <BR> <BR>

You may not have enough time to read the book prior to your trip, but I believed you still have time to run to the video store and rent 'Anne Frank Remembered'. This documentary film won a number of awards, including an Oscar, following its 1995 release and they were all definitely well deserved. It presents a very real-life portrayal of Anne Frank per accounts of people who grew up with her and/or knew her family. The film even shows a previously unreleased homemade video of a neighbor's wedding that captured a smiling image of Anne as she watched the couple go by from a balcony. The only live image of Anne Frank known to exist. This film will probably break your heart because it brings the reality of the Jewish holocaust too close, but if you are planning to experience the museum, then it will definitely make the visit more meaningful. <BR> <BR>BTW, the diary was actually picked up by Miep Gies, the lady that was helping the Franks in hiding. She went back to the attic after the Nazi soldiers left. She actually collected the pages and planned to returned them to Anne when the war was over.

Jewish-hid-wrote-captured-killed-diary published

It looks like much more than anger. It looks genocidal hatred.

Looks like somebody's idea of fun is not travel. Mudpie has her answer; let's kill this thread ourselves by stopping it here.

fear is the opposite of love

Thanks so much to you who gave me such helpful, genuine answers....to you Adolph, you need some serious help...you're one sick puppy! Mudpie

Mudpie: Just an addendum that intensifies the heartbreak of the AF story (and exemplifies the entire Holocaust): in a NYTimes travel story a year or two ago, there was mention that the last time Anne Frank was seen, it was at Belsen - she was naked and weeping and covered with lice. That (mind) picture came upon me unaware, and set me instantly to tears. If your trip (this time or another) includes London, do make it to the IMperial War Museum, where there is an exhibit on the liberation of Belsen. It's one of the most chilling, affecting things I've ever seen.