Summary: April 6–August 1, 1944

The annex endures another attempted burglary, forcing the residents to cower almost motionless for hours. Expectedly, they fear the worst: they’re afraid they have been discovered. The incident causes Anne to wonder about their fates as Jews; again, she states her belief that these sufferings would enable them to emerge stronger. The atmosphere in the annex is understandably very tense after the break-in. Everyone seems more on edge. The city, on the other hand, is under heavy air raids.

Anne writes about the time when Peter kisses her for the first time (April 16, 1944), although she has doubts about its propriety. When Anne tells her father about this, she is discouraged from pursuing the romance in such close quarters. After this, Anne and Peter decide to remain just friends. When her father asks Anne to visit Peter less often, she responds with a letter, which her father finds hurtful. Anne’s father has a long and emotional talk with her after this letter, and Anne regrets wounding his feelings. She even acknowledges that she might have misjudged him.

Anne often thinks deeply about the futility of war. She firmly believes that the money spent on war could be put to better use. She fills several pages with biographical details of her family, especially her parents. The news of the Allied invasion of Europe revives the group’s optimism, and Anne’s fifteenth birthday is celebrated more cheerily.

Anne’s last entry, on August 1, 1944, three days before the “secret annexe” is raided by the police and its occupants are sent to concentration camps, is one in which Anne analyzes herself and her situation. These entries illustrate her rather perceptive nature. She ends with the following sentiment: “Trying to find a way to become what I’d like to be and what I could be if… if only there were no other people in the world.”

Analysis: April 6–August 1, 1944

In these last few months, Anne has become more philosophical, thinking about the futility of war, the role of women in society, and human nature. Her optimism and hopefulness despite the gloom are rather heartbreaking. Even a month before her deportation, she writes: “I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.”

Her growth as a person is phenomenal, from being young and self-consumed to becoming sensitive, self-aware, and empathetic. Anne’s ability to analyze people and situations also grows with time. The entries are as much about the workings of a young girl’s mind as they are about the hardships of life in hiding.