ANNE FRANK TREE

Anne frank about the chestnut tree in their garden
“Our chestnut tree is in full blossom. It is covered with leaves and is even more beautiful than last year...” - Anne Frank, 13 May 1944

Anne Frank often looked from the attic window at the chestnut tree behind the secret annex. She wrote about it in her diary. Now, the more than 150 year old tree is diseased, but online it will live on.

The academy award winning actress and screenplay writer Emma Thompson officially launched the Anne Frank House’s new ‘Anne Frank Tree’ website (www.annefranktree.com).

The website, in six different languages, offers people around the world a platform to express their affinity with Anne Frank. For many people Anne Frank symbolizes their hope for a world in which people can live together respectfully and in freedom, regardless of their origin, faith or political beliefs. The core of the website ‘Anne Frank Tree’ is the chestnut tree that Anne Frank could see from the attic window in the hiding place. Emma Thompson placed the first leaf with her name in the virtual tree.

Leave your leaf in the virtual chestnut tree, forward it and keep Anne Frank’s ideals alive.

What does your leaf represent?
Anne Frank was in hiding in the secret annex for over two years. During the day she had to be very quiet and she could never go outside. She yearned for freedom. Anne had a clear opinion about many things. She wrote about them in her diary. Writing made her less sad and it gave her the courage to carry on.

Anne wanted to be useful to others after the war. Not only to the people around her, but also to people she did not know. Anne did not survive the Holocaust but her diary has inspired millions of people all over the world to do their best for a better world. Anne’s wish came true after all.

With your leaf you can show that you too have been inspired by the diary of Anne Frank.

Anne Frank Tree

(information based on www.annefrank.org and www.annefranktree.com)