Edith and Margot Frank

Edith Frank kept a Merkbuch für Das Leben unseres Kindes after the birth of her first daughter, Margot on 16 February 1926. In this pre-printed photo album, she noted the date, time and place of birth, the names of maternity nurse, nurse, midwife and nutritionist. She also noted details about the grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles and aunts, first shoes, first tooth and so on. The album contains many photographs to which Edith added comments, making it a kind of diary about Margot.^[1]

Anne writes the following in her diary about the relationship between her mother and sister:

"This afternoon Mr. Van Daan again brought up the fact that Margot eats so little. "I suppose you do it to keep your figure," he added in a mocking tone. Mother, who always comes to Margot's defense, said in a loud voice: "I can't stand that stupid chatter of yours a minute longer." Mrs. Van D. turned red as a beet. Mr. Van D. stared straight ahead and said nothing."^[2] (...) "Another reason I welcome the change is that Mama's always carping at me, especially at the table. Now Margot will have to bear the brunt of it. Or rather, won't, since Mother doesn't make such sarcastic remarks to her. Not to that paragon of virtue! I'm always teasing Margot about being a paragon of virtue these days, and she hates it. Maybe it'll teach her not to be such a goody-goody. High time she learned.."^[2]

Camp companion Bloeme Evers-Emden recalled about the time in Auschwitz-Birkenau: "It was always the three of them, mother and daughters." ^[3]