Otto Frank Timeline 1889-1980

Otto Frank was born Otto Heinrich Frank in Frankfurt, Germany to Michael and Alice Frank. He was the couple’s second child, his brother Robert had been born in 1886. Otto’s father owned a business bank.

Otto’s brother, Herbert was born to Michael and Alice Frank.

Otto’s sister, Helene was born to Michael and Alice Frank.

Otto began his education. The family was middle class and he received a good education. He also had music and riding lessons.

Otto Frank attended Heidelberg University where he studied economics.

As part of his University course, Otto began a work placement at Macey’s Store in New York.

Otto returned to Germany after learning that his father had died. Afterwards, he resumed his two-year work placement in New York.

Otto Frank returned to Germany and began working for a metal construction company in Dusseldorf.

After World War One broke out, Otto began working at a factory that made horseshoes for German war horses.

Otto and his brothers received call-up papers to serve in the German army on the Western Front.

After World War One ended, Otto began working in his father’s bank.

Otto Frank married Edith Hollander. The couple made their home in Frankfurt am Main.

A daughter, Margot Betti Frank was born to Otto and Edith Frank.

A daughter Anne was born to Otto and Edith Frank.

The Michael Frank bank went into liquidation. It had been unable to survive the crash of the late 1920s and the subsequent hyperinflation in Germany.

Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany.

The Nazi Party were elected to the Frankfurt local government. They immediately imposed anti-Jewish measures.

Margot, Anne and their mother, Edith, left Frankfurt and went to Aachen to stay with Edith’s mother.

Otto Frank started a new company, the Opekta Works, in Amsterdam, a subsidiary of the company Opekta that his brother-in-law worked for.

Anne, Margot and Edith Frank joined Otto in Amsterdam. The family lived in the Merwedeplain area of Amsterdam.

Otto Frank started a second company in Amsterdam, Pectacon, a wholesale company selling spices used in the production of sausages. He employed Hermann van Pels as an advisor.

Otto’s mother-in-law Rosa came from Aachen to live with the family.

Germany invaded Poland.

Britain and France declared war on Germany beginning World War Two.

Germany invaded the Netherlands.

Jews were no longer allowed to own businesses so Otto transferred the businesses to his trusted employees.

Otto Frank was granted a visa to go to Cuba. It is not known whether he ever learned it was granted. Nevertheless it was cancelled after the United States entered the war following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Otto’s mother-in-law Rosa died.

Anne Frank was given a diary for her thirteenth birthday.

Margot Frank received deportation papers demanding that she go to a labour camp in Germany. Otto had been working to secure a hiding place for the family if necessary.

The Frank family went into hiding in a Secret Annex above Otto Frank’s offices at Prinsengracht 263. Otto’s employees Miep Gies, Victor Kugler, Johannes Kleiman and Bep Voskujl were the only employees that knew the family were hiding above the premises.

The Van Pels family, Hermann, Auguste and Peter joined the Frank family in the Secret Annex.

Life was hard for the inhabitants of the Secret Annex. They had to be absolutely silent during the daytime so that visitors or customers to the factory below would not know they were there. Conditions were cramped and there was little privacy for the families.

Fritz Pfeffer, a dentist, joined the Franks and Van Pelses in the Secret Annex.

Anne recorded much of what went on in the Secret Annex in her diary. Margot also kept a diary but it has not survived.

Following an anonymous tip off, the Secret Annex was raided. All occupants were arrested and sent to the Westerbork transit camp. Miep Gies found Anne’s diary among papers left on the floor of the Annex and took it for safe keeping.

The Franks, Van Pelses and Fritz Pfeffer were taken to Auschwitz. The train they were in was the last to leave Westerbork transit camp. The journey east took two days.

Hermann van Pels was sent to the gas chamber at Auschwitz.

Margot, Anne and Mrs Pels were taken from Auschwitz to Bergen-Belsen. Fritz Pfeffer was sent to Neuengamme camp. Otto and Edith Frank and Peter van Pels remained at Auschwitz. Otto continued to work in a gravel mine while Peter worked in the camp post office.

Fritz Pfeffer died of a gastro-intestinal infection at Neuengamme camp.

Edith Frank died in Auschwitz.

With the Russian army nearing Auschwitz, the Nazi SS began evacuating the camp. All those able to walk were forced to march west. Peter van Pels was among those made to join the march. Otto Frank was sick and unable to walk so was left in the camp.

Otto Frank, was liberated from Auschwitz by the Russians. He weighed just 52 kg. He was taken to Odessa.

Margot died of Typhus Fever at Bergen Belsen Camp. Her sister, Anne died a few days later.

Otto Frank was taken by train to Katowice, Poland. While there he learned of the death of his wife, Edith.

Otto Frank was taken to Odessa.

Auguste van Pels died. The cause of death is not known.

Otto Frank boarded the Monowai, a ship bound for Marseilles. While on board he wrote a telegram to his sister in Switzerland informing her of his wife’s death and his hope that his daughters had survived.

Peter van Pels died at Mauthausen Camp, 5 days after it was liberated by the Americans.

Otto Frank returned to the Netherlands and began trying to find news of his daughters and friends. As he had no money, belongings or passport, he lived with Miep and Jan Gies.

The Red Cross confirmed that Margot and Anne Frank had died in Bergen-Belsen.

After learning that Anne and Margot Frank had died, Miep Gies gave Otto Frank Anne’s diary, which she had found on the floor of the secret annex after the family had been taken away.

Otto Frank began reading his daughter’s diary. He re-wrote it removing personal family details and also trivial information.

Anne Frank’s diary was published in Dutch.

Anne Frank’s diary was published in English.

Otto Frank married fellow Auschwitz survivor, Elfriede Geiringer. The couple made their home in Basel Switzerland.

The Anne Frank Foundation in Amsterdam was founded after Otto learned that the building containing the secret annex was scheduled for demolition. The foundation purchased the building and the one next door.

The Anne Frank House, a museum about the Holocaust and particularly the Frank family’s experience, was opened by the Anne Frank Foundation in Amsterdam.

Otto and Elfriede moved to Birsfelden near Basel.

Otto Frank founded the Anne Frank Foundation in Basel, Switzerland. The purpose of the foundation was to distribute copies of his daughter’s diary and use proceeds for charitable works.

Otto Frank spent his time working with both Foundations.

Otto Frank died of lung cancer in Basel, Switzerland. He bequeathed the copyright of Anne Frank’s diary to the Foundation in Basel.