The 4th of August 1944 was an eventful Friday for Anne Frank and her family. It was a sunny and warm day. To Anne and the people hiding, it was the 761st day since they took shelter in one of her father’s warehouses, a secret Annex in Amsterdam.

German police officers showed up at the secret Annex in the early hours of the morning between ten and eleven. They met Van Maaren on the ground floor, who referred them to the office staff on the first floor. There is no proof of Van knowing there were people in hiding.

The office staff was busy working when the police walked in and went directly to the managing director who was Victor Kugler. They questioned him and took him with them to search the building. During the search, the police saw a revolving bookcase and decided to check there. This was the entrance to the secret Annex.

Anne had kept a diary for the two years, which she marked with insight, humor and poignancy. The journal was about her life in hiding. When the police came in, they took all the valuables of the people in hiding. As the police emptied the valuables into a briefcase, Anne’s diary fell to the wooden floor. It was time for departure.

Helpers Johannes Kleiman and Victor Kluger were arrested together with Anne and the rest of the people in hiding. By then, it was around 1 PM. Otto, the father of Anne, was the only one who survived the war. After his return, helper Miep gave him the papers from Anne’s diary.