{"id":191,"files":[],"main_image":{"id":1058,"uuid":"08fd1bc5-beab-416c-bae2-857a189bb409","name":"010_010","title":"Prinsengracht 263, waar Opekta was gevestigd, 1947","alt":"Carel Blazer. Maria Austria Instituut Amsterdam","url":"","path":"https://research.annefrank.org/media/012_010_Foto_Carel_Blazer_1947_G3jZc5v.jpg","filetype":"image","description":"","author":"De collectie kan worden ingezet voor publiek","copyright":"In copyright (rechten derden)"},"latitude":"52.3753","longitude":"4.884037","events":[{"id":284,"main_image":null,"url":"https://research.annefrank.org/en/gebeurtenissen/bf2de677-9784-493d-b179-c4034e48c92f/","subjects":["https://research.annefrank.org/en/api/subjects/29abb87c-1833-4c97-9fc9-33c21427ac82","https://research.annefrank.org/en/api/subjects/36f1f8d1-cb6d-4f52-86b6-5c356c441af5"],"persons":[],"location":"https://research.annefrank.org/en/api/locations/c590cc2d-a203-4b6b-b2bb-6db6e47a523c","published":true,"uuid":"bf2de677-9784-493d-b179-c4034e48c92f","name":"Break-in at Otto Frank's business premises","name_nl":"Inbraak in het bedrijfspand van Otto Frank","name_en":"Break-in at Otto Frank's business premises","content":"
Hans Wijnberg and his sister Els, who both lived at Prinsengracht 251 during this period, said in an interview that they had entered the building on 24 March 1943 and that they took some nutmeg while they were there. They had already taken the nuts when they heard the toilet being flushed. They understood that there were people in the building and quickly ran off.[1]
\r\n\r\nHans Wijnberg en zijn zus Els, die tijdens de onderduikperiode op Prinsengracht 251 woonden, vertelden in een interview dat ze op 24 maart 1943 als kind in het pand geweest waren en dat ze daar muskaatnoten hadden weggenomen. Ze hadden de noten al gepakt toen ze hoorden dat het toilet werd doorgetrokken. Ze begrepen toen dat er mensen in het pand waren en maakten zich snel uit de voeten.[1]
\r\n\r\nHans Wijnberg and his sister Els, who both lived at Prinsengracht 251 during this period, said in an interview that they had entered the building on 24 March 1943 and that they took some nutmeg while they were there. They had already taken the nuts when they heard the toilet being flushed. They understood that there were people in the building and quickly ran off.[1]
\r\n\r\nAround half past nine in the evening of 9 April 1944, Peter, who usually checked the doors for the night, discovered that something was wrong. He quietly alerted "the men" and they went to investigate. Later they told the women who remained in the annex that the burglars were still prying at the warehouse door when they entered the warehouse from the stairs. Van Pels shouted "police", after which the burglars fled. But not without kicking another plank off the door.
\r\n\r\nOf course, there was a good chance that the police would notice the forced door, and they did. Slegers had been patrolling the city center for years along buildings for which he was hired as a night watchman. He regularly encountered suspicious situations and his name appears in numerous police reports. The police officer he alerted, Cornelis den Boef, searched the building around a quarter to eleven but, in his opinion, found nothing suspicious. Later that evening he reported to the watch commander of the Warmoesstraat police station: "However, there were no traces of theft found inside the house."[1]
\r\n\r\nOn the other side of the bookcase, the people in hiding sat in great fear. Anne wrote in her diary: "Footsteps in the house, in the private office, kitchen, then..... on our staircase, no one breathed audibly now, 8 hearts thumped, footsteps on our staircase, then a rattling of the swining cupboard. This moment is indescribable." To make matters worse, this Sunday was Easter Sunday, which meant the office staff wouldn't arrive until Tuesday. Until then, the people in hiding were unsure about what was going on and sat in dead silence in Van Pels' room, under the assumption that the police would be on guard in the building.[2]
\r\n\r\nOn Tuesday morning they managed to reach Jo Kleiman by telephone. Shortly afterwards, Jan and Miep Gies showed up, and, for the time being, the coast seemed to be reasonably safe. Later, Jan heard from greengrocer Van Hoeve that he too had noticed the hole in the door, but thought it better not to call the police.[2]
\r\n\r\nRond half tien in de avond van 9 april 1944 ontdekte Peter, die in de regel de deuren voor de nacht controleerde, dat er iets loos was. Hij alarmeerde stilletjes 'de heren' en zij gingen poolshoogte nemen. Later vertelden zij de in de schuilplaats achtergebleven dames dat de inbrekers nog aan de magazijndeur wrikten toen zij vanaf de trap het pakhuis inkwamen. Van Pels riep 'politie', waarop de inbrekers vluchtten. Maar niet zonder nog eens een plank van de deur te trappen.
\r\n\r\nUiteraard was de kans groot dat de politie de geforceerde deur zou opmerken, en dat gebeurde ook. Slegers surveilleerde al jarenlang in binnenstad langs panden waarvoor hij als nachtwaker was ingehuurd. Daarbij trof hij geregeld verdachte situaties en zijn naam duikt dan ook in tal van politierapporten op. De agent die hij waarschuwde, Cornelis den Boef, doorzocht rond kwart voor elf het pand maar trof zijn inziens niets verdachts aan. Hij rapporteerde later op de avond aan de wachtcommandant van bureau Warmoesstraat: 'Binnenshuis was van diefstal echter niets te constateeren.'[1]
\r\n\r\nAan de andere kant van de boekenkast zaten de onderduikers in grote angst. Anne schreef in haar dagboek: 'Stappen in huis, privékantoor, keuken, dan..... onze trap, niemand ademde nu hoorbaar, 8 harten bonkten, stappen op onze trap, dan gerammel aan de draaikast. Dit moment is onbeschrijvelijk.' Tot overmaat van ramp was het deze zondag eerste Paasdag, wat betekende dat het kantoorpersoneel pas dinsdag zou komen. Tot zolang verkeerden de onderduikers in onzekerheid over wat er gaande was en zaten zij in doodse stilte bijeen in de kamer van Van Pels, in de veronderstelling dat er wel politie in het gebouw de wacht zou houden.[2]
\r\n\r\nDinsdagochtend lukte het Jo Kleiman telefonisch te bereiken. Kort daarna verschenen Jan en Miep Gies, en bleek de kust - voorlopig - redelijk veilig. Later hoorde Jan van groenteman Van Hoeve dat ook hij het gat in de deur had opgemerkt, maar dacht er beter geen politie bij te halen.[2]
\r\n\r\nAround half past nine in the evening of 9 April 1944, Peter, who usually checked the doors for the night, discovered that something was wrong. He quietly alerted "the men" and they went to investigate. Later they told the women who remained in the annex that the burglars were still prying at the warehouse door when they entered the warehouse from the stairs. Van Pels shouted "police", after which the burglars fled. But not without kicking another plank off the door.
\r\n\r\nOf course, there was a good chance that the police would notice the forced door, and they did. Slegers had been patrolling the city center for years along buildings for which he was hired as a night watchman. He regularly encountered suspicious situations and his name appears in numerous police reports. The police officer he alerted, Cornelis den Boef, searched the building around a quarter to eleven but, in his opinion, found nothing suspicious. Later that evening he reported to the watch commander of the Warmoesstraat police station: "However, there were no traces of theft found inside the house."[1]
\r\n\r\nOn the other side of the bookcase, the people in hiding sat in great fear. Anne wrote in her diary: "Footsteps in the house, in the private office, kitchen, then..... on our staircase, no one breathed audibly now, 8 hearts thumped, footsteps on our staircase, then a rattling of the swining cupboard. This moment is indescribable." To make matters worse, this Sunday was Easter Sunday, which meant the office staff wouldn't arrive until Tuesday. Until then, the people in hiding were unsure about what was going on and sat in dead silence in Van Pels' room, under the assumption that the police would be on guard in the building.[2]
\r\n\r\nOn Tuesday morning they managed to reach Jo Kleiman by telephone. Shortly afterwards, Jan and Miep Gies showed up, and, for the time being, the coast seemed to be reasonably safe. Later, Jan heard from greengrocer Van Hoeve that he too had noticed the hole in the door, but thought it better not to call the police.[2]
\r\n\r\nOn 4 August 1944, around 10:30 in the morning, an arrest team of Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst, (Sipo-SD) raided the premises on Prinsengracht.[1] The team was led by SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Silberbauer and included detectives Willem Grootendorst and Gezinus Gringhuis.
\r\n\r\nThe detectives walked passed from the front office to the office of Victor Kugler. They questioned him and took him to search the building.
\r\n\r\nAccording to Silberbauer (who did not understand Dutch), Kugler was immediately taken for interrogation by one of the Dutch SD officers. Afterwards, Kugler allegedly led them directly to the revolving bookcase. Years later, Kugler himself stated that he had strung the SDs along for as long as possible. However, according to Kugler: "They knew".[2] Further statements regarding Kugler during the raid are second-hand, and vary considerably.[3]
\r\n\r\nOp 4 augustus 1944 viel rond half elf in de ochtend een arrestatieteam van Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst, (Sipo-SD) het pand aan de Prinsengracht binnen.[1] Het team stond onder leiding van SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Silberbauer en bestond daarnaast in elk geval uit de rechercheurs Willem Grootendorst en Gezinus Gringhuis.
\r\n\r\nDe rechercheurs liepen van het voorkantoor door naar het kantoor van Victor Kugler. Ze ondervroegen hem en namen hem mee om het gebouw te doorzoeken.
\r\n\r\nVolgens Silberbauer (die geen Nederlands verstond) werd Kugler direct door een van de Nederlandse SD’ers in verhoor genomen. Daarna zou Kugler hen rechtstreeks naar de draaibare boekenkast hebben geleid. Jaren later verklaarde Kugler zelf dat hij de SD’ers zo lang mogelijk aan het lijntje hield. Echter, aldus Kugler: ‘Zij wisten het.’[2] Verdere verklaringen omtrent Kugler tijdens de inval zijn uit de tweede hand, en lopen nogal uiteen.[3]
\r\n\r\nOn 4 August 1944, around 10:30 in the morning, an arrest team of Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst, (Sipo-SD) raided the premises on Prinsengracht.[1] The team was led by SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Silberbauer and included detectives Willem Grootendorst and Gezinus Gringhuis.
\r\n\r\nThe detectives walked passed from the front office to the office of Victor Kugler. They questioned him and took him to search the building.
\r\n\r\nAccording to Silberbauer (who did not understand Dutch), Kugler was immediately taken for interrogation by one of the Dutch SD officers. Afterwards, Kugler allegedly led them directly to the revolving bookcase. Years later, Kugler himself stated that he had strung the SDs along for as long as possible. However, according to Kugler: "They knew".[2] Further statements regarding Kugler during the raid are second-hand, and vary considerably.[3]
\r\n\r\nOn 4 August 1944, around 10:30 in the morning, an arrest team of Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst, (Sipo-SD) raided the premises on Prinsengracht.[1] The team was led by SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Silberbauer and included the detectives Willem Grootendorst and Gezinus Gringhuis. The first two were working for the Sipo-SD, the latter had transferred from that service to the Dutch State Criminal Investigation Department.[2] The policemen drove a car ahead, got out, whereupon one of the Dutch detectives asked the warehouse staff something, who directed him to the office floor upstairs. There they found the office staff working.
\r\n\r\nAt least Bep Voskuijl and Miep Gies were sitting there at the time, both of whom knew about the people in hiding. It is not entirely clear exactly where Kleiman was at the time of the raid. Miep and Bep stated in December 1963 that they were together in the front office and that Kleiman only entered when the SD was already in the building. According to them, when they entered he gave his wallet to Bep with a request to hand it over to a drugstore owner friend nearby.[3]
\r\n\r\nThe detectives walked on from the front office to the office of Victor Kugler. They questioned him and took him to search the building.
\r\n\r\nAccording to Silberbauer (who did not understand Dutch), Kugler was immediately taken into interrogation by one of the Dutch SD officers. Afterwards, Kugler allegedly led them directly to the bookcase. Years later, Kugler himself stated that he strung the SDs along for as long as possible. However, according to Kugler: "They knew".[4] Further statements regarding Kugler during the raid are second-hand, and vary considerably.[5]
\r\n\r\nInitially, only Kugler went into the Secret Annex, but later Kleiman was also taken there.[4]
\r\n\r\nAccording to Kugler's statements, Edith Frank-Holländer was the first person he saw when he, followed by the SDs, entered the Secret Annex. He said: 'Ich konnte nur mit vieler Mühe sagen: die Gestapo ist da.'[4]
\r\n\r\nOtto Frank later recalled that at the time of the arrest he was in the upper part of the Secret Annex, helping Peter with his schoolwork in his room and just pointing out a mistake in his dictation when he suddenly heard someone running up the stairs: "Suddenly someone came running up the stairs and then the door opened and a man was standing right in front of us with a gun in his hand. Downstairs they were all gathered".[6]
\r\n\r\nIn 1963, he added:
\r\n\r\n"He made us raise our hands and then searched us for weapons. (...) Then he ordered us to go downstairs. He came after us with a gun drawn. We first entered the room of the Pels family, where I saw Mr and Mrs Pels, as well as Mr Pfeffer [also] standing with their hands raised. Here too stood a man dressed in civilian clothes, unknown to me, who had also drawn his pistol. Then we all had to go down another floor, where I lived with my family. There I saw my wife and both daughters standing, also with their hands raised. (...) I also saw a man in a green uniform, unknown to me, who had already drawn his gun. I found out later that this man was called Silberbauer."[7]\r\n\r\n
Silberbauer also asked the detainees about jewellery and money. He emptied the briefcase in which Anne kept her diary entries and put money and jewellery in it. The detainees were given five minutes to get ready for departure.[6] Otto Frank said:
\r\n\r\n"While waiting for all this to happen, Silberbauer walked through our room and he saw a chest next to my wife's bed. It was a grey chest with iron fittings, on which was written my name and my rank in the German army. I then told him that I had been a reserve lieutenant in the German army in the First World War. At once Silberbauer's tone and attitude changed. (...) He then asked me why I hadn't reported back then, I would have been sent to the Theresienstadt labour camp."[6]\r\n\r\n
The people in hiding, together with Kleiman and Kugler, were taken to the SD in Euterpestraat for interrogation. The next day, the people in hiding were transferred to Detention Centre at the Weteringschans and from there transported to Westerbork on 8 August 1944. After interrogation, Kleiman and Kugler were locked up in Detention Centre II on the Amstelveenseweg (Havenstraat 6). They stayed there for almost six weeks until they were transferred to Detention Centre I on the Weteringschans (Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen) on 7 September.
\r\n\r\nOp 4 augustus 1944 viel rond half elf in de ochtend een arrestatieteam van Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst, (Sipo-SD) het pand aan de Prinsengracht binnen.[1] Het team stond onder leiding van SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Silberbauer en bestond daarnaast in elk geval uit de rechercheurs Willem Grootendorst en Gezinus Gringhuis. De eerste twee waren werkzaam voor de Sipo-SD, de laatste was van die dienst overgestapt naar de Nederlandse Rijksrecherchecentrale.[2] De politiemannen reden met een auto voor, stapten uit, waarop een van de Nederlandse rechercheurs iets aan het pakhuispersoneel vroeg, dat hem naar de bovengelegen kantoorverdieping verwees. Daar troffen zij het kantoorpersoneel dat aan het werk was.
\r\n\r\nOp dat moment zaten daar in ieder geval Bep Voskuijl en Miep Gies, die beiden op de hoogte waren van de onderduikers. Het is niet helemaal duidelijk waar Kleiman precies was op het moment van de inval. Miep en Bep verklaarden in december 1963 dat zij samen in het voorkantoor zaten en dat Kleiman pas binnenkwam toen de SD al in het gebouw was. Volgens hen gaf hij bij binnenkomst zijn portefeuille aan Bep met het verzoek deze af te geven bij een bevriend drogist in de buurt.[3]
\r\n\r\nDe rechercheurs liepen van het voorkantoor door naar het kantoor van Victor Kugler. Ze ondervroegen hem en namen hem mee om het gebouw te doorzoeken.
\r\n\r\nVolgens Silberbauer (die geen Nederlands verstond) werd Kugler direct door een van de Nederlandse SD’ers in verhoor genomen. Daarna zou Kugler hen rechtstreeks naar de boekenkast hebben geleid. Jaren later verklaarde Kugler zelf dat hij de SD’ers zo lang mogelijk aan het lijntje hield. Echter, aldus Kugler: ‘Zij wisten het.’[4] Verdere verklaringen omtrent Kugler tijdens de inval zijn uit de tweede hand, en lopen nogal uiteen.[5]
\r\n\r\nAanvankelijk ging alleen Kugler mee het Achterhuis in, maar later werd ook Kleiman daarnaartoe gebracht.[4]
\r\n\r\nVolgens verklaringen van Kugler was Edith Frank-Holländer de eerste die hij zag toen hij, gevolgd door de SD'ers, het Achterhuis binnenging. Hij zei hierover: ‘Ich konnte nur mit vieler Mühe sagen: die Gestapo ist da.’[4]
\r\n\r\nOtto Frank herinnerde zich later dat hij op het moment van de arrestatie in het bovenste deel van het Achterhuis was, waar hij Peter op diens kamer met schoolwerk hielp en hem net op een fout in zijn dictee wees toen hij plotseling iemand de trap op hoorde rennen: ‘Plotseling kwam iemand de trap op rennen en toen ging de deur open en een man stond vlak voor ons met een pistool in zijn hand. Beneden waren ze allemaal verzameld’.[6]
\r\n\r\nIn 1963 voegde hij daar aan toe:
\r\n\r\n'Hij liet ons de handen omhoog steken en fouilleerde ons daarna op wapens. (…) Vervolgens gelastte hij ons naar beneden te gaan. Hij kwam achter ons aan met een getrokken pistool. Wij kwamen eerst in de kamer van de familie Pels, alwaar ik de heer en mevrouw Pels, alsook de heer Pfeffer met omhoog geheven handen zag staan. Ook hier stond een in burger geklede, mij onbekende man, die eveneens zijn pistool getrokken had. Daarna moesten wij allen weer een verdieping lager, waar ik met mijn gezin woonde. Daar zag ik mijn vrouw en beide dochters staan, eveneens met de handen in de hoogte. (…) Tevens zag ik daar een in groen uniform geklede, mij onbekende man staan, die ook al zijn pistool getrokken had. Deze man bleek mij nadien Silberbauer te heten’.[7]\r\n\r\n
Silberbauer vroeg de onderduikers ook naar sieraden en geld. Hij schudde de aktetas waarin Anne haar dagboekaantekeningen bewaarde leeg en stopte er geld en sieraden in. De arrestanten kregen vijf minuten om zich voor vertrek klaar te maken.[6] Otto Frank vertelde:
\r\n\r\n'In afwachting van dit alles liep Silberbauer door onze kamer heen en hij zag naast het bed van mijn vrouw een kist staan. Het was een grijze kist met ijzerbeslag, waarop mijn naam vermeld stond en mijn rang in het Duitse leger. Ik vertelde hem daarop dat ik in de Eerste Wereldoorlog reserve-luitenant van het Duitse leger was geweest. Op slag veranderde toon en houding van Silberbauer. (…) Daarop zei hij tegen mij, waarom ik mij destijds dan niet gemeld had, dan zou ik destijds naar het werkkamp “Theresienstadt” zijn gestuurd.'[6]\r\n\r\n
De onderduikers werden samen met Kleiman en Kugler voor verhoor naar de SD in de Euterpestraat overgebracht. De volgende dag werden de onderduikers overgebracht naar het Huis van Bewaring aan de Weteringschans en van daaruit op 8 augustus 1944 getransporteerd naar Westerbork. Kleiman en Kugler werden na verhoor opgesloten in het Huis van Bewaring II op de Amstelveenseweg (Havenstraat 6). Daar verbleven ze bijna zes weken totdat ze op 7 september werden overgebracht naar het Huis van Bewaring I op de Weteringschans (Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen).
\r\n\r\nOn 4 August 1944, around 10:30 in the morning, an arrest team of Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst, (Sipo-SD) raided the premises on Prinsengracht.[1] The team was led by SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Silberbauer and included the detectives Willem Grootendorst and Gezinus Gringhuis. The first two were working for the Sipo-SD, the latter had transferred from that service to the Dutch State Criminal Investigation Department.[2] The policemen drove a car ahead, got out, whereupon one of the Dutch detectives asked the warehouse staff something, who directed him to the office floor upstairs. There they found the office staff working.
\r\n\r\nAt least Bep Voskuijl and Miep Gies were sitting there at the time, both of whom knew about the people in hiding. It is not entirely clear exactly where Kleiman was at the time of the raid. Miep and Bep stated in December 1963 that they were together in the front office and that Kleiman only entered when the SD was already in the building. According to them, when they entered he gave his wallet to Bep with a request to hand it over to a drugstore owner friend nearby.[3]
\r\n\r\nThe detectives walked on from the front office to the office of Victor Kugler. They questioned him and took him to search the building.
\r\n\r\nAccording to Silberbauer (who did not understand Dutch), Kugler was immediately taken into interrogation by one of the Dutch SD officers. Afterwards, Kugler allegedly led them directly to the bookcase. Years later, Kugler himself stated that he strung the SDs along for as long as possible. However, according to Kugler: "They knew".[4] Further statements regarding Kugler during the raid are second-hand, and vary considerably.[5]
\r\n\r\nInitially, only Kugler went into the Secret Annex, but later Kleiman was also taken there.[4]
\r\n\r\nAccording to Kugler's statements, Edith Frank-Holländer was the first person he saw when he, followed by the SDs, entered the Secret Annex. He said: 'Ich konnte nur mit vieler Mühe sagen: die Gestapo ist da.'[4]
\r\n\r\nOtto Frank later recalled that at the time of the arrest he was in the upper part of the Secret Annex, helping Peter with his schoolwork in his room and just pointing out a mistake in his dictation when he suddenly heard someone running up the stairs: "Suddenly someone came running up the stairs and then the door opened and a man was standing right in front of us with a gun in his hand. Downstairs they were all gathered".[6]
\r\n\r\nIn 1963, he added:
\r\n\r\n"He made us raise our hands and then searched us for weapons. (...) Then he ordered us to go downstairs. He came after us with a gun drawn. We first entered the room of the Pels family, where I saw Mr and Mrs Pels, as well as Mr Pfeffer [also] standing with their hands raised. Here too stood a man dressed in civilian clothes, unknown to me, who had also drawn his pistol. Then we all had to go down another floor, where I lived with my family. There I saw my wife and both daughters standing, also with their hands raised. (...) I also saw a man in a green uniform, unknown to me, who had already drawn his gun. I found out later that this man was called Silberbauer."[7]\r\n\r\n
Silberbauer also asked the detainees about jewellery and money. He emptied the briefcase in which Anne kept her diary entries and put money and jewellery in it. The detainees were given five minutes to get ready for departure.[6] Otto Frank said:
\r\n\r\n"While waiting for all this to happen, Silberbauer walked through our room and he saw a chest next to my wife's bed. It was a grey chest with iron fittings, on which was written my name and my rank in the German army. I then told him that I had been a reserve lieutenant in the German army in the First World War. At once Silberbauer's tone and attitude changed. (...) He then asked me why I hadn't reported back then, I would have been sent to the Theresienstadt labour camp."[6]\r\n\r\n
The people in hiding, together with Kleiman and Kugler, were taken to the SD in Euterpestraat for interrogation. The next day, the people in hiding were transferred to Detention Centre at the Weteringschans and from there transported to Westerbork on 8 August 1944. After interrogation, Kleiman and Kugler were locked up in Detention Centre II on the Amstelveenseweg (Havenstraat 6). They stayed there for almost six weeks until they were transferred to Detention Centre I on the Weteringschans (Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen) on 7 September.
\r\n\r\nOn 4 August 1944 around 10.30 am, an arrest team raided the building on Prinsengracht.[1] The policemen drove a car ahead, got out, whereupon one of the Dutch detectives asked the warehouse staff something, who directed him to the office floor upstairs. There they found the office staff working. At least Bep Voskuijl and Miep Gies, both of whom knew about the people in hiding, were sitting there at the time.
\r\n\r\nIt is not entirely clear exactly where Kleiman was at the time of the raid. Miep and Bep stated in December 1963 that they were together in the front office and that Kleiman only entered when the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) was already in the building. According to them, when they entered, he gave his wallet to Bep with a request to deliver it to a drugstore owner friend nearby.[2]
\r\n\r\nIn January 1948, Kleiman mentioned the SD officer Karl Silberbauer and (detectives) Gezinus Gringhuis and Willem Grootendorst entering the office.[3] The detectives walked on from the front office to the office of Victor Kugler, who at the time was director of Opekta/Pectcon. The policemen questioned him and took him along while they searched the building. Initially, only Kugler went into the Secret Annex, but later Kleiman was also taken there.[4]
\r\n\r\nAccording to statements made by SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Silberbauer (who did not understand Dutch) after the war, Kugler was immediately taken into interrogation by one of the Dutch SD officers. Afterwards, Kugler allegedly led them straight to the bookcase. Years later, Kugler himself stated that he strung the SDs along for as long as possible. However, according to Kugler: "They knew".[4] Further statements regarding Kugler during the raid are second-hand, and vary considerably.
\r\n\r\nAccording to statements by Kugler, Edith Frank-Holländer was the first person he saw when, followed by the SDs, he entered the Secret Annexe. He said: "Ich konnte nur mit vieler Mühe sagen: die Gestapo ist da." [4]
\r\n\r\nKugler was eventually taken to the SD building at Adema van Scheltamaplein 1 along with the eight people in hiding and Johannes Kleiman.[5] In the SD building, they were locked together in a large room, to be interrogated one by one later.
\r\n\r\nOp 4 augustus 1944 rond half elf 's ochtends viel een arrestatieteam het pand aan de Prinsengracht binnen.[1] De politiemannen reden met een auto voor, stapten uit, waarop een van de Nederlandse rechercheurs iets aan het pakhuispersoneel vroeg, dat hem naar de bovengelegen kantoorverdieping verwees. Daar troffen zij het kantoorpersoneel dat aan het werk was. Op dat moment zaten daar in ieder geval Bep Voskuijl en Miep Gies, die beiden op de hoogte waren van de onderduikers.
\r\n\r\nHet is niet helemaal duidelijk waar Kleiman precies was op het moment van de inval. Miep en Bep verklaarden in december 1963 dat zij samen in het voorkantoor zaten en dat Kleiman pas binnenkwam toen de Sichterheitsdienst (SD) al in het gebouw was. Volgens hen gaf hij bij binnenkomst zijn portefeuille aan Bep met het verzoek deze af te geven bij een bevriende drogist in de buurt.[2]
\r\n\r\nKleiman noemde in januari 1948 de SD' ers Karl Silberbauer en (rechercheurs) Gezinus Gringhuis en Willem Grootendorst die het kantoor binnenkwamen.[3] De rechercheurs liepen van het voorkantoor door naar het kantoor van Victor Kugler, die op dat moment directeur van Opekta/Pectacon was. De politiemannen ondervroegen hem en namen hem mee om het gebouw te doorzoeken. Aanvankelijk ging alleen Kugler mee het Achterhuis in, maar later werd ook Kleiman daarnaartoe gebracht.[4]
\r\n\r\nVolgens verklaringen van de SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Silberbauer (die geen Nederlands verstond) na de oorlog, werd Kugler direct door een van de Nederlandse SD’ers in verhoor genomen. Daarna zou Kugler hen rechtstreeks naar de boekenkast hebben geleid. Jaren later verklaarde Kugler zelf dat hij de SD’ers zo lang mogelijk aan het lijntje hield. Echter, aldus Kugler: ‘Zij wisten het.’[4] Verdere verklaringen omtrent Kugler tijdens de inval zijn uit tweede hand, en lopen nogal uiteen.
\r\n\r\nVolgens verklaringen van Victor Kugler was Edith Frank-Holländer de eerste die hij zag toen hij, gevolgd door de SD'ers, het Achterhuis binnenging. Hij zei hierover: ‘Ich konnte nur mit vieler Mühe sagen: die Gestapo ist da.’ [4]
\r\n\r\nUiteindelijk werd Kugler samen met de acht onderduikers en Kleiman naar het gebouw van de Sicherheitsdienst aan het Adama van Scheltemaplein 1 gebracht.[5] In het gebouw van de SD werden zij samen in een grote ruimte opgesloten, om later een voor een te worden verhoord.
\r\n\r\nKugler noemde in zijn vrij summiere verklaring voor de Politieke Recherche Afdeling van 14 januari 1948 geen details over de arrestatie.
\r\n\r\nOn 4 August 1944 around 10.30 am, an arrest team raided the building on Prinsengracht.[1] The policemen drove a car ahead, got out, whereupon one of the Dutch detectives asked the warehouse staff something, who directed him to the office floor upstairs. There they found the office staff working. At least Bep Voskuijl and Miep Gies, both of whom knew about the people in hiding, were sitting there at the time.
\r\n\r\nIt is not entirely clear exactly where Kleiman was at the time of the raid. Miep and Bep stated in December 1963 that they were together in the front office and that Kleiman only entered when the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) was already in the building. According to them, when they entered, he gave his wallet to Bep with a request to deliver it to a drugstore owner friend nearby.[2]
\r\n\r\nIn January 1948, Kleiman mentioned the SD officer Karl Silberbauer and (detectives) Gezinus Gringhuis and Willem Grootendorst entering the office.[3] The detectives walked on from the front office to the office of Victor Kugler, who at the time was director of Opekta/Pectcon. The policemen questioned him and took him along while they searched the building. Initially, only Kugler went into the Secret Annex, but later Kleiman was also taken there.[4]
\r\n\r\nAccording to statements made by SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Silberbauer (who did not understand Dutch) after the war, Kugler was immediately taken into interrogation by one of the Dutch SD officers. Afterwards, Kugler allegedly led them straight to the bookcase. Years later, Kugler himself stated that he strung the SDs along for as long as possible. However, according to Kugler: "They knew".[4] Further statements regarding Kugler during the raid are second-hand, and vary considerably.
\r\n\r\nAccording to statements by Kugler, Edith Frank-Holländer was the first person he saw when, followed by the SDs, he entered the Secret Annexe. He said: "Ich konnte nur mit vieler Mühe sagen: die Gestapo ist da." [4]
\r\n\r\nKugler was eventually taken to the SD building at Adema van Scheltamaplein 1 along with the eight people in hiding and Johannes Kleiman.[5] In the SD building, they were locked together in a large room, to be interrogated one by one later.
\r\n\r\nThe Handelsvereeniging Gies & Co. was set up because Pectacon, one of Otto Frank's companies, was in danger of being liquidated due to anti-Jewish measures. Initially, the company was called La Synthèse. This firm was founded on 23 October 1940 by Victor Kugler and Jan Gies. On 4 November 1940, the new firm was registered in the trade register with Victor Kugler as owner and director and Jan Gies as supervisory director and shareholder.[1] La Synthèse was located at Victor Kugler's private address in Hilversum. Kugler owned 15 shares worth 1,500 guilders in total; Jan Gies owned the rest of the shares worth 500 guilders.[2] Its representatives were Martin Brouwer and Pieter Daatzelaar.[3]
\r\n\r\nLike Pectacon, the company focused on trading and manufacturing chemicals and foodstuffs.[1] On 8 May 1941, Kugler and Gies changed the company name to N.V. Handelsvereeniging Gies & Co. This was by order of the secretary-general of Justice.[4] Otto Frank said about this in 1963 that the business "had to drop its French-sounding name, as it was a company of German origin.''[5] On 19 August 1941, the Trade Register registered the new company name, and Jan Gies was registered as a supervisory director of Gies & Co.[6] As supervisory director, Jan Gies had the authority to enter all the premises of the company. So it was also not uncommon for him to be present a lot and later speak to night watchman Slegers, for example, about the burglary in April 1944.
\r\n\r\nFrom September 1941, at the suggestion of Johannes Kleiman, Pectacon went into liquidation. Stocks and machinery were sold at a loss to Gies & Co. All kinds of other costs were also still charged to Pectacon.[7] That artifice prevented these goods, or their value, from benefiting German institutions.
\r\n\r\nWhen Gies & Co. moved to Prinsengracht 263 on 29 October 1941, it took over the lease from Opekta. Opekta then became a subtenant of Gies & Co.[8] It also received an advance of 5,000 guilders from Opekta.[9] With Opekta's advance and the costs borne by Pectacon, Gies & Co. was able to get off to a flying start.
\r\n\r\nAlmost certainly Gies & Co. was the most important factor in financing the period of hiding in the Secret Annex. There are three clues to the importance of Gies & Co. in this context. First, Otto Frank explicitly mentioned that Kugler sold spices off the books to finance the needs in the Secret Annex.[10] Second, Gies & Co. was completely 'Aryan', which made it easy to evade German scrutiny. Third, Van Pels and Otto Frank were furious when Kugler conducted laboratory tests instead of approving the supply by spice broker Westermann. All this underlines the fact that Gies & Co. was crucial to the period in hiding.
\r\n\r\nShare ownership
\r\n\r\nDuring the war years, Otto Frank obviously had no formal ties with the company. A note in the Hofhuis archives lists share ownership, presumably dated late 1943 or early 1944. On paper, Kleiman had shareholdings of 3,500 guilders, Gies 2,500 and Kugler 4,000. Kleiman and Otto Frank's investments in shares and deposit were so intermingled that it looks as if Otto's and Kleiman's money formed a single entity. Exactly who was entitled to what is not clear. What is clear, however, is that Otto invested in Gies & Co.[11] Otto Frank gave up owning Gies & Co. shares with a nominal value of 5,800 guilders as of 1 September 1945.[12] In 1948, he owned 58 per cent of the shares.[13]
\r\n\r\nIn April 1950, Otto Frank and Pal Klein joined the N.V. as supervisory directors.[14] In January 1954, Otto Frank owned 9,000 guilders worth of shares in Gies & Co (and 20,000 guilders worth of Opekta shares and 2,000 guilders worth of shares in Pectacon).[15] Indeed, Pectacon had not been liquidated in the end.
\r\n\r\nDe Handelsvereeniging Gies & Co. werd opgezet omdat Pectacon, een van de bedrijven van Otto Frank, wegens ariseringsmaatregelen gevaar liep te worden geliquideerd. Aanvankelijk heette het bedrijf La Synthèse. Deze firma werd op 23 oktober 1940 opgericht door Victor Kugler en Jan Gies. Op 4 november 1940 werd de nieuwe firma ingeschreven in het handelsregister met Victor Kugler als eigenaar en directeur en Jan Gies als commissaris en aandeelhouder.[1] La Synthèse was gevestigd op het privé-adres van Victor Kugler in Hilversum. Kugler bezat vijftien aandelen ter waarde van 1.500 gulden in totaal; Jan Gies bezat de rest van de aandelen ter waarde van 500 gulden.[2] Vertegenwoordigers waren Martin Brouwer en Pieter Daatzelaar.[3]
\r\n\r\nEvenals Pectacon legde het bedrijf zich toe op handel in en fabricage van chemicaliën en levensmiddelen.[1] Op 8 mei 1941 veranderden Kugler en Gies de bedrijfsnaam in N.V. Handelsvereeniging Gies & Co. Dit op last van de secretaris-generaal van Justitie.[4] Otto Frank zei hierover in 1963 dat de zaak "haar Frans klinkende naam, wijl zij een onderneming was van Duitse afkomst, moest laten vallen."[5] Aanwijzingen dat het ministerie bezwaar tegen Frans klinkende namen had zijn er verder niet. Wel bepaalde het vaker dat wijziging nodig was, bijvoorbeeld wanneer een bedrijfsnaam teveel op een andere leek. Op 19 augustus 1941 registreerde het Handelsregister de nieuwe bedrijfsnaam, en werd Jan Gies ingeschreven als commissaris van Gies & Co.[6] Als commissaris had Jan Gies de bevoegdheid alle lokaliteiten van de onderneming te betreden. Zodoende was het ook niet ongewoon dat hij veel aanwezig was en later bijvoorbeeld met nachtwaker Slegers over de inbraak van april 1944 sprak.
\r\n\r\nVanaf september 1941 ging Pectacon, op voorstel van Johannes Kleiman, in liquidatie. De voorraden en machines werden met verlies aan Gies & Co. verkocht. Ook allerhande andere kosten kwamen nog ten laste van Pectacon.[7] Die kunstgreep voorkwam dat deze goederen, of hun waarde, ten goede kwamen van Duitse instellingen.
\r\n\r\nToen Gies & Co. op 29 oktober 1941 verhuisde naar de Prinsengracht 263, nam het het huurcontract over van Opekta. Opekta werd vervolgens onderhuurder van Gies & Co.[8] Ook ontving het een voorschot van 5.000 gulden van Opekta.[9] Met het voorschot van Opekta en de door Pectacon gedragen kosten kon Gies & Co. een vliegende start maken.
\r\n\r\nVrijwel zeker was Gies & Co. het belangrijkst voor de financiering van de onderduik in het Achterhuis. Voor het belang van Gies & Co. in dit verband zijn drie aanwijzingen. Als eerste benoemde Otto Frank expliciet dat Kugler specerijen verkocht buiten de boekhouding ter financiering van de noden in het Achterhuis.[10] Ten tweede was Gies & Co. volledig ‘arisch’ waardoor het zich makkelijk aan Duits toezicht kon onttrekken. Ten derde, Van Pels en Otto Frank waren woedend toen Kugler laboratoriumproefjes deed in plaats van de leverantie voor specerijenmakelaar Westermann in orde te maken. Dit alles onderstreept dat Gies & Co. van cruciaal belang was voor de onderduik.
\r\n\r\nTijdens de oorlogsjaren had Otto Frank uiteraard geen formele banden met het bedrijf. Een briefje in het Hofhuisarchief geeft een overzicht van het aandelenbezit, vermoedelijk gedateerd in eind 1943 of begin 1944. Op papier bezat Kleiman 3.500, Gies 2.500 en Kugler 4.000 gulden. De investeringen in aandelen en deposito van Kleiman en Otto Frank liepen zo door elkaar heen, dat het erop lijkt alsof Otto's en Kleimans geld één geheel vormden. Wie welke aanspraak precies kon maken is niet helder. Wel is duidelijk dat Otto in Gies & Co. heeft geïnvesteerd.[11] Otto Frank gaf op per 1 september 1945 aandelen Gies & Co. te bezitten met een nominale waarde van 5.800 gulden.[12] In 1948 beschikte hij over 58 procent van de aandelen.[13]
\r\n\r\nIn april ’50 traden Otto Frank en Pal Klein als commissarissen tot de N.V. toe.[14] In januari 1954 bezat Otto Frank voor 9.000 gulden aandelen in Gies & Co. (en 20.000 gulden aandelen Opekta en 2.000 gulden aandelen in Pectacon).[15] Pectacon was uiteindelijk namelijk niet geliquideerd.
\r\n\r\nThe Handelsvereeniging Gies & Co. was set up because Pectacon, one of Otto Frank's companies, was in danger of being liquidated due to anti-Jewish measures. Initially, the company was called La Synthèse. This firm was founded on 23 October 1940 by Victor Kugler and Jan Gies. On 4 November 1940, the new firm was registered in the trade register with Victor Kugler as owner and director and Jan Gies as supervisory director and shareholder.[1] La Synthèse was located at Victor Kugler's private address in Hilversum. Kugler owned 15 shares worth 1,500 guilders in total; Jan Gies owned the rest of the shares worth 500 guilders.[2] Its representatives were Martin Brouwer and Pieter Daatzelaar.[3]
\r\n\r\nLike Pectacon, the company focused on trading and manufacturing chemicals and foodstuffs.[1] On 8 May 1941, Kugler and Gies changed the company name to N.V. Handelsvereeniging Gies & Co. This was by order of the secretary-general of Justice.[4] Otto Frank said about this in 1963 that the business "had to drop its French-sounding name, as it was a company of German origin.''[5] On 19 August 1941, the Trade Register registered the new company name, and Jan Gies was registered as a supervisory director of Gies & Co.[6] As supervisory director, Jan Gies had the authority to enter all the premises of the company. So it was also not uncommon for him to be present a lot and later speak to night watchman Slegers, for example, about the burglary in April 1944.
\r\n\r\nFrom September 1941, at the suggestion of Johannes Kleiman, Pectacon went into liquidation. Stocks and machinery were sold at a loss to Gies & Co. All kinds of other costs were also still charged to Pectacon.[7] That artifice prevented these goods, or their value, from benefiting German institutions.
\r\n\r\nWhen Gies & Co. moved to Prinsengracht 263 on 29 October 1941, it took over the lease from Opekta. Opekta then became a subtenant of Gies & Co.[8] It also received an advance of 5,000 guilders from Opekta.[9] With Opekta's advance and the costs borne by Pectacon, Gies & Co. was able to get off to a flying start.
\r\n\r\nAlmost certainly Gies & Co. was the most important factor in financing the period of hiding in the Secret Annex. There are three clues to the importance of Gies & Co. in this context. First, Otto Frank explicitly mentioned that Kugler sold spices off the books to finance the needs in the Secret Annex.[10] Second, Gies & Co. was completely 'Aryan', which made it easy to evade German scrutiny. Third, Van Pels and Otto Frank were furious when Kugler conducted laboratory tests instead of approving the supply by spice broker Westermann. All this underlines the fact that Gies & Co. was crucial to the period in hiding.
\r\n\r\nShare ownership
\r\n\r\nDuring the war years, Otto Frank obviously had no formal ties with the company. A note in the Hofhuis archives lists share ownership, presumably dated late 1943 or early 1944. On paper, Kleiman had shareholdings of 3,500 guilders, Gies 2,500 and Kugler 4,000. Kleiman and Otto Frank's investments in shares and deposit were so intermingled that it looks as if Otto's and Kleiman's money formed a single entity. Exactly who was entitled to what is not clear. What is clear, however, is that Otto invested in Gies & Co.[11] Otto Frank gave up owning Gies & Co. shares with a nominal value of 5,800 guilders as of 1 September 1945.[12] In 1948, he owned 58 per cent of the shares.[13]
\r\n\r\nIn April 1950, Otto Frank and Pal Klein joined the N.V. as supervisory directors.[14] In January 1954, Otto Frank owned 9,000 guilders worth of shares in Gies & Co (and 20,000 guilders worth of Opekta shares and 2,000 guilders worth of shares in Pectacon).[15] Indeed, Pectacon had not been liquidated in the end.
\r\n\r\nAfter the August 4 raid, the firms Gies & Co and Opekta were left without management. The staff, Bep Voskuijl and Miep Gies in the office and warehouse manager Willem van Maaren and his casual workers nevertheless kept the businesses running. And of course Jan Gies, who was still the supervisory director of Gies & Co.
\r\n\r\nIt was all rather improvised. Initially, German policeman Silberbauer gave the keys to the property to Miep, and she passed them back to Van Maaren. In 1963, Miep told the National Criminal Investigation Department that Van Maaren came to her for the keys because "they" (i.e. the SD) said he should have them. According to Van Maaren, she did it of her own accord. He also gave a practical reason: Kugler always opened the doors to the warehouse staff at eight-thirty, while Miep only came to the office at nine.[1]
\r\n\r\nKugler stated in September 1945 that representative Hendrik Pieter Daatzelaar had wanted to try to buy the freedom of the management, i.e. Kugler and Kleiman, on Euterpestraat at the time.[2] In a conversation with the journalist Ernst Schnabel in the late 1950s, Miep Gies confirmed Daatzelaar's initiative.[3] She referred at that time to the 'Verhafteten'. In 1963, she told the National Criminal Investigation Department again that she wanted to use money to buy the freedom of 'those arrested', without mentioning Daatzelaar at that time.[4] To what extent there was a real hope of also buying the freedom of the people from the Secret Annex is impossible to say. The directors had been arrested for what they had done, the people in hiding for who they were.
\r\n\r\nIn the days following the raid, Van Maaren went to the Detention Centre to ask Kugler for some preparation methods. When Kleiman and Kugler left the Detention Centre, it was initially unclear where they went. On 29 August, Miep Gies wrote to an aid worker in Camp Vught asking whether they might have been taken there. She also mentioned that one of them had stomach problems, referring to Kleiman.[5] An answer is not known, but it would later emerge that the pair had been imprisoned in Camp Amersfoort.
\r\n\r\nOn 18 September, Jo Kleiman was released from Camp Amersfoort. Because of his stomach problems, the Red Cross had worked to secure his release.[6] He reappeared at Prinsengracht to take up his duties. Thus, the two companies slowly entered the last winter of the war.
\r\n\r\nAlthough none of the people in hiding knew Van Maaren, they regularly talked to the helpers about him. His possible involvement in thefts from the premises came up during these converstations. However, no police reports from the period in hiding are known. That changed in the later winter months. On 16 January 1945, representative Broks reported the theft of 70 kilos of sugar to the criminal investigation department at Singel police station on behalf of Gies & Co. Broks said he had 'no suspicions' regarding the culprit.[7] However, when Otto Frank and his associates filed a case against Van Maaren in 1948, it turned out he had been a suspect. His house had been searched by detectives, apparently in the presence of Broks.[8] That search yielded nothing.
\r\n\r\nThere are few records of how the businesses got through the last winter. On the personal front, it is worth mentioning that Jan Gies' mother died in December and Jo Kleiman's father died in February. On the business front, sources are scarce. Opekta's 1944 annual report stated: 'The good relationship and cooperation with the firm of Gies & Co. remained as steady as ever'. It also mentioned that the air war had brought numerous German industries to a standstill, including pectin producer Pomosin.[9] Only after the liberation could serious work start on rebuilding the businesses - and the country.
\r\n\r\nNa de inval van vier augustus bleven de firma’s Gies & Co en Opekta zonder directie achter. Het personeel, Bep Voskuijl en Miep en Miep Gies op kantoor en magazijnchef Willem van Maaren en zijn los-vaste werkers, zette de zaken desondanks voort. En natuurlijk met Jan Gies, die altijd nog commissaris van Gies & Co was.
\r\n\r\nHet was een beetje improviseren. Aanvankelijk gaf de Duitse politieman Silberbauer de sleutels van het pand aan Miep, en zij gaf ze weer door aan Van Maaren. In 1963 zei Miep tegen de Rijksrecherche dat Van Maaren bij haar om de sleutels kwam omdat ‘ze’ (d.w.z. de SD) zeiden dat hij ze moest hebben. Volgens Van Maaren deed zij het uit eigen beweging. Hij gaf ook een praktisch argument: Kugler opende de deuren altijd om half negen voor het magazijnpersoneel, terwijl Miep pas om negen uur op kantoor kwam.[1]
\r\n\r\nKugler verklaarde in september 1945 dat vertegenwoordiger Hendrik Pieter Daatzelaar destijds had willen proberen de directie, dat wil zeggen Kugler en Kleiman, op de Euterpestraat vrij te kopen.[2] In een gesprek met de journalist Ernst Schnabel eind jaren vijftig bevestigde Miep Gies het initiatief van Daatzelaar.[3] Zij sprak daar over de ‘Verhafteten’. In 1963 vertelde ze nog eens aan de Rijksrecherche dat zij met geld ‘de gearresteerden’ wilde vrijkopen, zonder daarbij Daatzelaar nog te noemen.[4] In hoeverre echt de hoop leefde ook de onderduikers vrij te kunnen kopen is niet te zeggen. De directeuren waren opgepakt om wat ze hadden gedaan, de onderduikers om wie ze waren.
\r\n\r\nIn de dagen na de inval ging Van Maaren nog naar het Huis van Bewaring (HvB) toe om wat receptuur aan Kugler te vragen. Toen Kleiman en Kugler uit het HvB vertrokken, was het aanvankelijk onduidelijk waar zij naartoe gingen. Op 29 augustus schreef Miep Gies aan een hulpverleenster in Kamp Vught met de vraag of zij daar wellicht waren heengebracht. Zij schreef daarbij dat een van hen maaglijder was, en doelde daarmee op Kleiman.[5] Een antwoord is niet bekend, maar later zou blijken dat het tweetal in Kamp Amersfoort was opgesloten.
\r\n\r\nOp 18 september kwam Jo Kleiman weer vrij uit Kamp Amersfoort. Vanwege zijn maagklachten had het Rode Kruis zich voor zijn vrijlating ingespannen.[6] Hij verscheen weer op de Prinsengracht om zijn taak op zich te nemen. Zo gingen de twee bedrijven langzaamaan de laatste oorlogswinter tegemoet.
\r\n\r\nHoewel geen van de onderduikers Van Maaren kende, spraken zij met de helpers geregeld over hem. Zijn mogelijke betrokkenheid bij diefstallen uit het pand kwam daarbij naar voren. Er zijn echter geen aangiften uit de onderduikperiode bekend. Dat werd in de latere wintermaanden anders. Op 16 januari 1945 deed vertegenwoordiger Broks bij de recherche op politiebureau Singel namens Gies & Co. aangifte van diefstal van zeventig kilo suiker. Broks zei ‘geen vermoeden’ te hebben van de dader.[7] Toen Otto Frank en zijn medewerkers in 1948 een zaak tegen Van Maaren aanspanden bleek deze echter wel verdacht te zijn geweest. Zijn huis was door rechercheurs, kennelijk in het bijzijn van Broks, doorzocht.[8] Die huiszoeking leverde niets op.
\r\n\r\nEr zijn weinig gegevens over hoe de bedrijven de laatste winter verder doorkwamen. In de persoonlijke sfeer valt te vermelden dat in december de moeder van Jan Gies en in februari de vader van Jo Kleiman overleden. In zakelijk opzicht zijn de bronnen schaars. Het jaarverslag van Opekta over 1944 vermeldde: ‘De goede verstandhouding en samenwerking met de firma Gies & Co., bleef even als voorheen bestendigd.’ Het vermeldde eveneens dat door de luchtoorlog tal van Duitse industrieën, waaronder pectineproducent Pomosin, waren stilgevallen.[9] Pas na de bevrijding kon serieus werk worden gemaakt van de wederopbouw van de bedrijven. En van het land.
\r\n\r\nAfter the August 4 raid, the firms Gies & Co and Opekta were left without management. The staff, Bep Voskuijl and Miep Gies in the office and warehouse manager Willem van Maaren and his casual workers nevertheless kept the businesses running. And of course Jan Gies, who was still the supervisory director of Gies & Co.
\r\n\r\nIt was all rather improvised. Initially, German policeman Silberbauer gave the keys to the property to Miep, and she passed them back to Van Maaren. In 1963, Miep told the National Criminal Investigation Department that Van Maaren came to her for the keys because "they" (i.e. the SD) said he should have them. According to Van Maaren, she did it of her own accord. He also gave a practical reason: Kugler always opened the doors to the warehouse staff at eight-thirty, while Miep only came to the office at nine.[1]
\r\n\r\nKugler stated in September 1945 that representative Hendrik Pieter Daatzelaar had wanted to try to buy the freedom of the management, i.e. Kugler and Kleiman, on Euterpestraat at the time.[2] In a conversation with the journalist Ernst Schnabel in the late 1950s, Miep Gies confirmed Daatzelaar's initiative.[3] She referred at that time to the 'Verhafteten'. In 1963, she told the National Criminal Investigation Department again that she wanted to use money to buy the freedom of 'those arrested', without mentioning Daatzelaar at that time.[4] To what extent there was a real hope of also buying the freedom of the people from the Secret Annex is impossible to say. The directors had been arrested for what they had done, the people in hiding for who they were.
\r\n\r\nIn the days following the raid, Van Maaren went to the Detention Centre to ask Kugler for some preparation methods. When Kleiman and Kugler left the Detention Centre, it was initially unclear where they went. On 29 August, Miep Gies wrote to an aid worker in Camp Vught asking whether they might have been taken there. She also mentioned that one of them had stomach problems, referring to Kleiman.[5] An answer is not known, but it would later emerge that the pair had been imprisoned in Camp Amersfoort.
\r\n\r\nOn 18 September, Jo Kleiman was released from Camp Amersfoort. Because of his stomach problems, the Red Cross had worked to secure his release.[6] He reappeared at Prinsengracht to take up his duties. Thus, the two companies slowly entered the last winter of the war.
\r\n\r\nAlthough none of the people in hiding knew Van Maaren, they regularly talked to the helpers about him. His possible involvement in thefts from the premises came up during these converstations. However, no police reports from the period in hiding are known. That changed in the later winter months. On 16 January 1945, representative Broks reported the theft of 70 kilos of sugar to the criminal investigation department at Singel police station on behalf of Gies & Co. Broks said he had 'no suspicions' regarding the culprit.[7] However, when Otto Frank and his associates filed a case against Van Maaren in 1948, it turned out he had been a suspect. His house had been searched by detectives, apparently in the presence of Broks.[8] That search yielded nothing.
\r\n\r\nThere are few records of how the businesses got through the last winter. On the personal front, it is worth mentioning that Jan Gies' mother died in December and Jo Kleiman's father died in February. On the business front, sources are scarce. Opekta's 1944 annual report stated: 'The good relationship and cooperation with the firm of Gies & Co. remained as steady as ever'. It also mentioned that the air war had brought numerous German industries to a standstill, including pectin producer Pomosin.[9] Only after the liberation could serious work start on rebuilding the businesses - and the country.
\r\n\r\nIt has been home to the Anne Frank House since 1960.
","content_nl":"Vanaf 1960 is hier het Anne Frank Huis gevestigd.
","content_en":"It has been home to the Anne Frank House since 1960.
","position":"SRID=4326;POINT (4.884037 52.3753)","summary":"Office and warehouse-workshop of Opekta, Pectacon and Gies & Co. from 1940 to 1955. The back of the house was the hiding place of the Frank family, Van Pels and Fritz Pfeffer from July 1942 to August 1944.","summary_nl":"Kantoor en magazijn-werkplaats van Opekta, Pectacon en Gies & Co. van 1940 tot 1955. Het achterhuis was van juli 1942 tot augustus 1944 de schuilplaats van de familie Frank, Van Pels en Fritz Pfeffer.","summary_en":"Office and warehouse-workshop of Opekta, Pectacon and Gies & Co. from 1940 to 1955. The back of the house was the hiding place of the Frank family, Van Pels and Fritz Pfeffer from July 1942 to August 1944.","same_as":null,"street":"Prinsengracht 263","zipcode":"","city":"Amsterdam","state":"","land":"Nederland","location_events":[284,302,161,105]}