1942 Going into hiding

Otto Frank and Hermann van Pels agreed that their families would go into hiding together in the Secret Annex to escape the persecution of Jews. After Margot Frank received a call-up to report for transportation to a German labour camp, the Frank family went into hiding in the Secret Annex. One week later, on 13 July 1942, the Van Pels family joined them. Peter brought his cat Mouschi and his bicycle. He had a room of his own on the third floor of the Secret Annex, behind the large room where his parents slept. His parents’ room doubled as the kitchen and dining room for the people in hiding. Four months later, someone joined them in the Secret Annex: Fritz Pfeffer. He shared Anne’s room.