A Story Never Finished:
The Legacy of Anne FrankGerman diarist and Holocaust victim Anne Frank (1929 – 1945) sits at a wooden desk, writing in a journal, 1940. ©ANNE FRANK FONDS, Switzerland“I hope I will be able to confide everything to you, as I have never been able to confide in anyone, and I hope you will be a great source of comfort and support.”
– Anne Frank, 12 June 1942, The Diary of a Young GirlPages with text and photos from Anne Frank’s diary, written in October 1942. ©ANNE FRANK FONDS, SwitzerlandIn 2024, the United Nations pays tribute to the bravery of all those who stood up to the Nazis, despite the grave risks. We honour their legacy with their remarkable stories and history, and acknowledge the extraordinary courage of victims and survivors of the Holocaust.
12 June 2024 marked the 95th year since Anne Frank was born. On Friday, 14 June 2024, the United Nations honoured Anne Frank’s legacy at a special event held next to the Anne Frank tree in the garden of United Nations Headquarters, New York. Donated by the Anne Frank Center USA (formerly the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect), the tree is a descendent of the horse chestnut tree that grew outside the annex in which the Frank family hid for two years from the Nazis before they were betrayed.The “Anne Frank tree” thriving in the gardens of United Nations Headquarters, New York. The tree is a living memorial to Anne Frank and her legacy – a call to build a world in which all live with dignity and in peace. Credit: Bo LiThe Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme, Department of Global Communications and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations co-organized the event. Ms. Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications moderated the event. Her Excellency, Ms. Bahia Tahzib-Lie, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations and Her Excellency, Ms. Stephanie S. Sullivan, Acting Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations gave moving remarks. Their input was followed by Ms. Sharon Douglas, Anne Frank Center USA, who had been involved in bringing the “Anne Frank sapling” to the United Nations in 2019. Thirteen-year-old Blake Appelbaum read two excerpts from Anne Frank’s diary.
Special guests attending included Holocaust survivors, Ms. Cordula Hahn, Rabbinic Pastor Dr. Aliza Erber Levy and Ms. Miriam Marie-Claire Rakowski who survived the Holocaust as hidden infants. They were joined by Dr. Philipp Wennholz of the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations, Ms. Avital Mimran-Rosenberg of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations, H.E. Mr. Miguel Moratinos, Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Alliance of Civilizations High Representative, and Ms. Ye Na Yoo from the Office of the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide.In her remarks, Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming urged the listeners not to forget as well the courage of the adults who were with Anne Frank – her father, Otto, and mother, Edith, who sought tirelessly to find refuge for their family, and then when no country allowed them in, created as safe a refuge as they could in the annex of the building where they were hiding. Ms. Fleming noted the bravery of the helpers who at great risk kept the families nourished, bringing them food and company.Circa 1935: Portrait of Anne Frank’s father, Otto Frank, surrounded by his office workers, c. 1935. Top row (L-R): Johannes Kleiman, Victor Kugler. Bottom row (L-R): Miep Gies, Otto Frank (1899 – 1980) and Bep Voskuijl. ©ANNE FRANK FONDS, SwitzerlandThe commemorative event ended with Ms. Blake Appelbaum reading Anne’s diary entry of 15 July 1944:“It’s utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too will end, that peace and tranquility will return once more. In the meantime, I must hold on to my ideals. Perhaps the day will come when I’ll be able to realize them.”
– Anne Frank, 15 July 1944, The Diary of a Young GirlTwenty days after Anne wrote this extract, those in hiding were betrayed and deported. Of the eight who hid in the Annex, only Anne’s father, Otto, survived.
Reflecting on the devastating history of the Holocaust, Under-Secretary-General Fleming concluded that,
“No child, no matter who or where, should ever have to hide.
No parent should ever have to give their children up to keep them safe.
Every child should be able to dream, and to realize their ideals.
This is our responsibility. This is the legacy we have to continue to build.
In Anne’s name. In every child’s name.”Watch the recording of the commemorative event on Anne Frank’s legacy. |
