SUMMARY WITH NOTES

PART III : NOVEMBER 9, 1942 - AUGUST 3, 1943

Summary

By November, the group has been in hiding for almost six months. Even though the Nazis have tried to confiscate all radios and the large set in the office downstairs has been turned in, the Jewish hideouts constantly listen to a small set given to them by their Dutch protectors. Anne writes that "the radio with its marvelous voice helps us to keep up our morale, . . . [hoping] better times will come." They dream of hearing news about Hitler's defeat and the end of the war; however, such news does not arrive. Instead, the fighting spreads to Holland, and there are frequent air raids and bombings. The Franks and Van Daans grow nervous and fearful. Amidst the misery and fear, Anne tries to maintain a sense of hope in these entries, for she has heard on the radio that the English, French, and Russians have made advances, while Hitler has suffered some defeats.

Anne reveals that another Jew joins the group in the annex on November 17; it is a dentist named Dussel. At first, Anne thinks he is a nice gentleman, but conflicts with him soon begin when she learns she must share her room with him. She tries to be tolerant and to remember that what is most important is to keep one more Jew from being killed by the Nazis. Fortunately, things in the annex are lightened by the preparations for Chanukah (a Jewish celebration) and Saint Nicholas' Day (a Dutch celebration). At the appropriate time, the group lights Chanukah candles and opens the gifts provided by their Dutch protectors. The attempt by these Jews in hiding to retain a facade of normalcy in the most abnormal of times is indeed remarkable.

These entries in the diary give details about the war and its affect on the occupants of the annex. The fighting in Holland continues. Anne tells how many of the Dutch provinces are purged of Jews; it is like the Nazis are getting rid of cockroaches. Everyone of the group in the annex has difficulty fighting depression about the war and their circumstances. They often find they cannot sleep, and their health deteriorates. Sometimes when she is afraid at night, Anne crawls in bed with her parents, even though she later judges it is a childish thing to do.

The later entries in this section become brighter and more optimistic. England has been giving solid resistance to the Germans, and there is hope among the group that the British will soon push forward to rescue Holland from the Nazi hold. They dare to again hope for freedom. Anne is feeling so positive that she even tells about a humorous situation involving Peter and herself. He is dragging a sack of dried brown beans when it suddenly bursts open. A hailstorm of beans cascades down the stairs, and Anne, at the bottom of the steps, becomes "a little island amongst a sea of beans," causing everyone to laugh. As they gather the beans, they laugh even harder.

Anne tells about another humorous incident that occurs with Mrs. Van Daan. Dussel, who has become an irritating and bossy old man, insists upon giving the fussy woman a dental check-up. As she resists in total nervousness, he makes it into a form of entertainment for the group, with everyone having a good chuckle at her expense. Such moments of humor help to relieve the tension created in the close quarters.

Anne tells about the celebration held in honor of her fourteenth birthday, on June 12, 1943. She receives several small gifts, including some new books, from her own family and the Van Daans. Her father also writes a poem for her, a German tradition that he honors. It is a special day for Anne and helps brighten her spirits temporarily. She is especially delighted to have some new reading material, for books have become an all-important source of amusement for her. She also finds relief from the monotony when she and Margot are sometimes allowed to go downstairs and help in the office, which makes Anne feel important.

Anne also explains group members also entertain themselves by talking about what they will do once they are again free. They also talk about their pasts, especially their childhoods, and tell humorous anecdotes on themselves. Additionally, they discuss their thankfulness at being hidden safely away in the annex with enough food to eat. But there is always an underlying concern for their friends and neighbors who may not be so lucky. Anne fears that her own school friends may have been "delivered into the hands of the cruelest brutes that walk the earth. And all because they are Jews!"

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