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Anne Frank's Story — Reading Comprehension

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This history reading passage explores the life of Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager whose diary became one of the most important personal accounts of the Holocaust. Students will learn about Anne’s experiences hiding in Amsterdam during Nazi occupation, the historical context of World War II, and the significance of her diary as a primary source. The passage addresses California History-Social Science Standard 7.8.5 and Common Core ELA standards (RI.6-8.1), providing opportunities for students to analyze evidence, understand cause-and-effect relationships, and connect Anne’s story to broader themes of human rights and social justice. Activities include multiple-choice and writing questions, graphic organizers, a timeline, and glossary. Includes read aloud audio and Spanish translation for accessibility. This resource is ideal for building historical thinking, comprehension, and empathy while studying world history and the Holocaust.

CONTENT PREVIEW

A detail of the Anne Frank cenotaph in Boise, Idaho showing her having drawn an invisible curtain at her family's hiding place
Source: Wikimedia Commons - Kencf0618

Anne Frank was a Jewish teenager who became one of the most recognized voices of the Holocaust. Born in 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany, Anne and her family fled to the Netherlands in 1934 to escape the growing danger of Nazi persecution. When the Nazis invaded the Netherlands in 1940, life became dangerous for Jewish families like the Franks. In July 1942, the family went into hiding in a secret annex above her father’s office in Amsterdam.

For over two years, Anne, her parents, her sister Margot, and four others lived in the hidden rooms. Food was scarce, and they lived in constant fear of being discovered. Anne documented her experiences, thoughts, and hopes in a diary she received for her thirteenth birthday. Her writing is a valuable primary source for historians because it offers a personal perspective on daily life during the Holocaust. Anne described both the hardships of hiding and her dreams for the future. She wrote, “I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.”

The Franks’ hiding place, known as the Secret Annex, was concealed behind a moveable bookcase. Helpers like Miep Gies risked their lives to bring food and news. Despite the danger, Anne continued to study, read, and write. In August 1944, the annex was discovered by the Gestapo (Nazi secret police), and the occupants were arrested. Anne and her sister Margot were eventually transported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they died from disease in early 1945. Only Anne’s father, Otto Frank, survived.

After the war, Otto returned to Amsterdam and found Anne’s diary, which had been saved by Miep Gies. He decided to publish it, and it became known as "The Diary of a Young Girl." The diary has been translated into over 70 languages and is read worldwide. As a primary source, Anne’s writing provides direct evidence of the Holocaust’s impact on ordinary people. It also demonstrates the power of individual stories to help us understand major historical events. Anne’s words have inspired generations to fight against prejudice and injustice.

The story of Anne Frank is significant because it puts a human face on the tragedy of the Holocaust. Her diary connects us to the experiences of millions who suffered under Nazi rule. Understanding Anne’s life helps students see how geography, politics, and social conditions shaped people’s lives during World War II. Her courage and hope remind us of the importance of remembering history to prevent similar injustices in the future.

Anne Frank’s story links to broader themes in world history, such as human rights, the effects of war, and the value of preserving historical evidence.

Interesting Fact: In 1957, the Anne Frank House museum opened in Amsterdam, preserving the Secret Annex as a place for education and remembrance.

In which country did Anne go into hiding?

NetherlandsGermanyFrancePoland

What year did the Frank family hide?

1942193319451957

Who survived from Anne’s family?

Otto FrankAnne FrankMargot FrankMiep Gies

Why is Anne’s diary important?

It is a primary sourceIt has recipesIt is fictionIt is about science

Who helped hide the Franks?

Miep GiesGestapoBergen-BelsenOtto Frank

What effect did Nazi persecution have?