1. Diary of Anne Frank: Background Information
- Please take out something to write with for notes 

2. Before we begin…
These topics are very sensitive subjects as many innocent lives were lost.
I expect the utmost MATURITY and RESPECT as we discuss this tragic event.
If I ever hear of you making jokes or rude comments regarding these issues, you will be suffering some MAJOR consequences.

3. Who was Adolf Hitler? Austrian born, German politician
Joined the German army in WWI
Leader of Nazi Party
DICTATOR of Germany

4. What was Hitler’s reason for causing World War II?
Two reasons:
To rule the world
To make all conquered peoples the slaves of the “master German race”
Hitler wanted to create a “pure race” or “Aryan race” built of people who represented the original racial stock from the Northern German Plains.

5. Define Casualty-
A member of the armed services lost to service through death, wounds, sickness, capture, or because his or her whereabouts cannot be determined.

6. Define Genocide-
The planned killing of an entire racial or cultural group of people

7. How were the Jews treated prior to being held in Death Camps?
He sent his army (SS) to harass Jews, steal their possessions, force them into slavery, and starve them.

8. How many Jews were killed?
6 million Jewish men, women, and children were killed.

9. How were the Jews killed?
Starved
Tortured
Shot
Gassed
Burned to death

10. Define Holocaust-
A fire that causes total destruction

11. Name other victims of WWI-
5 million other innocents:
Russians
Poles
Czechs
Slavs
Gypsies
Homosexuals
People with disabilities, other religious or political beliefs

12. What is the difference between a Nazi and a German?
German’s- from Germany
Nazi’s- joined the Nazi Party and were from all over Europe

13. Who was Anne Frank?
German Jewish girl who fled from Germany when Hitler came to power

14. Where did she hide?
Took refuge (shelter/protection) in Amsterdam, Holland
They remained shut in a hidden Amsterdam apartment called the Secret Annexe

15. How long did she hide? Two years
She went into hiding when she was 13 years old

16. Why is her diary so important?
Two MAIN reasons:
Her readers get a firsthand look at how evil people are and how good people are
Hitler and his Nazis were cruel and evil
Many good unselfish people helped the Jews hide and risked their lives in doing so

17. After reading this background information on Anne Frank, discuss the significance of the following quote taken from the end of her diary:
“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”