History of Sorts

This post is totally fictional, with a few historical facts. I often wonder what Anne and Margot Frank’s story would have looked like if the path of History had gone even the slightest different direction. Below are fictional diary entries of Anne and Margot Frank, but they could have been reality.

Margot Frank: 12 September 1933, age 6.5.

Today we found a new house in a different part of Germany. I think the place is called Aachen. I don’t really like it—but Anne will have a lot of fun.

Mommy told me that we would be moving again soon. We are going to a different country. I am a bit confused. Mommy calls it Holland, but the teacher says it is the Netherlands. Daddy has a new job there.

He said that Germany has a new boss named Hitler, and he is not a very nice man. It is a bit strange because he is not German.

Margot Frank: 16 February 1934: Age 7.

It is my birthday today, and we have just moved into our new house. Mom and Dad call it a flat—but it looks like a house to me.

Oh yeah, I know now that the country is called the Netherlands. We are living in Amsterdam on the Merwedeplein. The Amsterdam people don’t mind if you call it Holland. Anne has gone to a play school, and I am going to a new school, the children are all very nice—but they sometimes look a bit funny to me.

Margot Frank: June 15 1934: Age 7.5.

Daddy showed me a picture in the newspaper of this man Hitler. He had gone on holiday to Italy, where he met a man with no hair and a funny hat.

Margot Frank: 10 November 1938: Age 12,

Today, I am sad. My friend Hannah got hurt in Berlin. The Nazis burned synagogues and destroyed houses and shops of Jewish people. Why do the Germans allow this? Don’t they see that is evil?

Anne Frank: 13 March 1938: age 9 (nearly 10).

Daddy was very angry today. He read something in a newspaper about Austria. Hitler and the Nazis went to Austria and made it a part o Germany. No one seemed to mind. I don’t know why Daddy is so angry. If the Austrian people are okay with it—surely there is no problem, or is there?

Anne Frank: 12 June 1939: age 10.

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me. 10 today—double digits. I am having a party after school with all my friends. We will have cakes and sweets, and hopefully, I will get a lot of presents.

Anne Frank: 2 September 1939: age 10.

Germany invaded Poland yesterday, and the English Prime Minister said that this was war.

Anne Frank: 9 November 1939: age 10.

I am a bit upset today. Daddy said that we may be going back to Germany. He thinks everything will be okay now since Hitler was killed by this man Georg Elser. Yesterday, a put a bomb in a beer hall where Hitler was, and the bomb exploded killing Hitler and another guy called Himmler. This means the war is over.

Anne Frank: 4 December 1939: age 10.

Daddy has said we are staying in Amsterdam, that is great. All the kids in my school are celebrating something called Sinterklaas, which is like Christmas. I told them I don’t celebrate Christmas because I am Jewish, but Mommy said that it was okay. So I will put my shoe in front of the fireplace tonight, and Sinterklaas will bring me presents.

Anne Frank: 1 January 1943: age 13. (nearly 14).

I met a boy today. He is called Peter, and he is very, very nice. I think I am going to marry him. Miss Anne van Pels, I like the sound of that.

Margot Frank: 25 November 1952: age 25.

Anne and Peter are getting married today. I am so excited for them.