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Margot and Anne Frank

The relationship between Anne and Margot Frank.

Subject
Vervaar

Margot en Anne Frank, Frankfurt am Main, 1933

Vervaar Copyright: Status onduidelijk

About the relationship between Margot and Anne, the sources indicate both harmony and conflict. Margot was often given and/or assumed the role of older sister. In her diary, Anne writes about this:

  • "Mother, Margot and I are once again the best of buddies.It's actually a lot nicer that way".[1]
  • "This morning I had 'the giggles', you know, the kind we used to have at school. Margot and I were giggling like real teenagers".[2]
  • "I can only describe Margot as a little wretch who gets on my nerves horribly day and night".[3] 
  • "Margot's gotten much nicer. She seems a lot different than she used to be. She's not nearly as catty these days and is becoming a real friend. She no longer thinks of me as a little kid who doesn't count".[4]

Several witnesses also refer to the role of older sister that Margot assumed towards Anne. For instance, Margot's classmate, Jetteke Frijda said in an interview: 'Margot saw Anne as her little sister, who she had to look after a bit. Occasionally she must have been annoyed with her, but she didn't show it.'[5] Toos Kupers, who had lived next door to them, also said: 'Margot was an older sister to me from the start. Just like she was to Anne. She often said to Anne: 'Don't do that, it's not allowed. Mummy doesn't want that."[6]

In her diary, Anne also often describes the differences between herself and Margot:

  • "Margot doesn't need it, she is such a goody-goody, perfection itself, but I seem to have enough mischief in me for the two of us put together".[7]
  • "Margot is very kind and would like me to confide in her, but I can't tell her everything."[8]

There are also several witness observations about the rapport and differences between Anne and Margot. For example, Margot's classmate at the Jeker School, Anco Mali, said: 'Anne was always cheerful. A child (...) who couldn't match Margot's seriousness and talent.'[9] And Margot's HBS friend and fellow rower Bella Kohlweij said: 'Anne was always sharp-tongued to Margot who, in turn, always stayed calm.'[10]

Otto Frank, as her educator, wrote in a letter to Anne: 'So einfach wie mit Deinem Schwesterchen geht es nicht immer [...].' [11]

According to testimony from other camp inmates, Margot and Anne remained together in Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen until the end.[12]

Footnotes

  1. ^ Anne Frank, Diary Version A, 14 October 1942, in: The Collected Works, transl. from the Dutch by Susan Massotty, London [etc.]: Bloomsbury Continuum, 2019. 
  2. ^ Anne Frank, Diary Version A, 8 February 1944, in: The Collected Works 
  3. ^ Anne Frank, Diary Version A, 7 November 1942, in: The Collected Works 
  4. ^ Anne Frank, Diary Version B, 12 January 1944, in: The Collected Works.
  5. ^ Menno Metselaar, 'Margot Frank moet ook genoemd worden', Website Anne Frank Stichting, 2003 (https://web.archive.org/web/20050215134404/http://annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=318&lid=1).
  6. ^ AFS, Getuigenarchief, Kupers: Interview Toos Buiteman-Kupers, 8 september 2009. 
  7. ^ Anne Frank, Diary Version B, 27 September 1942, in: The Collected Works.
  8. ^ Anne Frank, Diary Version A, 12 March 1944, in: The Collected Works.
  9. ^ Anco Mali, Margot Frank en de anderen, Soesterberg: Aspekt, 2005, p. 39.
  10. ^ AFS, Getuigenarchief, Kohlweij: Verslag van twee telefoongesprekken en een interview met Bella Kohlweij.
  11. ^ AFS, AFC, reg. code OFA_070: Transcriptie brief Otto Frank aan Anne Frank, van 12 mei 1939.
  12. ^ Zie de getuigenissen van Janny Brandes-Brilleslijper, Leny de Jong-van Naarden en Ronnie Goldstein-van Cleef in: Willy Lindwer, De laatste zeven maanden. Vvrouwen in het spoor van Anne Frank, Hilversum: Gooi & Sticht, 1988.