On 1 April 1945, the group left Katowice. Their destination was unclear. During the journey, they saw transports of German POWs in cattle wagons heading east. Finally, on the evening of 6 April, they arrived in Chernivtsi. They received a cordial and warm welcome. Chernivtsi still had a relatively large community of returned Jews. They provided the former prisoners with food and money and invited them to dinner almost every day. Otto was also invited several times. The generous reception was also because many Jewish residents were busy preparing for their own emigration, and they would only be allowed to bring the bare necessities. And so, they chose to share what they couldn’t take.

Postcard of the old city of Czernowitz (presentday Chernivtsi)

Terugreis Otto Frank: Tsjernivtsi

A warm reception in Chernivtsi

Out of the eight people from the Secret Annex, Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father, was the only one to survive the Holocaust. This is the story of his return from the Auschwitz concentration camp to Amsterdam. This reconstruction is based on Otto’s notes and other testimonies and documents. Click through the slides for the story and on the markers for more information.

Bevrijding Otto Frank

Otto Frank herstelt in ziekenzaal

The liberation of Auschwitz

A long and uncertain journey

Terugreis Otto Frank: Katowice

Overlijden Edith Frank

A school in Katowice

A sad encounter

Edith's death

Terugreis Otto Frank: Odessa

Weeks of waiting in Odessa

A protest telegram

Aboard the ‘Monowai’

Terugreis Otto Frank: met de Monowai naar Marseille

Terugreis Otto Frank: Roermond en Arnhem

The national anthem in Marseilles

Terugreis Otto Frank: terug in Amsterdam

Otto Frank woont in bij Jan en Miep Gies

Otto Frank verhuist samen met Jan en Miep Gies

Back in Amsterdam

The deaths of Anne and Margot

Anne’s writings

Otto Frank tussen de helpers, Amsterdam, augustus 1945.

The return of Otto Frank