Miep Gies

Date of Birth: February 15, 1909

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: January 11, 2010

Biography

Miep Gies, born Hermine Santruschitz, was a courageous Dutch woman who played a pivotal role during World War II by helping to hide Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis. Born on February 15, 1909, in Vienna, Austria, she moved to the Netherlands at the age of 11 to escape the food shortages caused by World War I. In the Netherlands, she lived with a foster family and later met and married Jan Gies. Miep worked as a secretary for Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father, in his company, Opekta. When the Frank family went into hiding in 1942, Miep, along with her husband Jan and other helpers, provided the family with food, supplies, and news from the outside world. After the Frank family was betrayed and arrested in 1944, Miep found Anne’s diary and kept it safe until Otto Frank returned from the concentration camps. She handed over the diary to Otto, leading to its eventual publication as “The Diary of a Young Girl,” a seminal work that has educated millions about the horrors of the Holocaust. Miep Gies lived a long life, passing away on January 11, 2010, in Hoorn, Netherlands, at the age of 100. She is remembered as a symbol of bravery and human kindness.

5 Interesting Facts about Miep Gies

1. Miep Gies was not Jewish but risked her life to protect her Jewish friends during the Holocaust.

2. She received numerous honors for her bravery, including being named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.

3. Miep wrote a memoir titled “Anne Frank Remembered,” which provides a detailed account of her experiences during the war.

4. She was one of the last surviving members of the group that helped hide the Frank family.

5. Despite her significant role in preserving Anne Frank’s diary, Miep always maintained that she was not a hero but simply did what needed to be done.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Miep Gies

1. “I am not a hero. I stand at the end of the long, long line of good Dutch people who did what I did and more – much more – during those dark and terrible times years ago, but always like yesterday in the heart of those of us who bear witness.”

2. “I could foresee many sleepless nights and the need to be constantly on guard. But I had no alternative.”

3. “I am glad that Anne’s diary has reached so many people all over the world. But it is up to us to learn from it.”

4. “We did our duty as human beings: helping people in need.”

5. “I don’t want to be considered a hero. Imagine young people would grow up with the feeling that you have to be a hero to do your human duty. I don’t want that.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Miep Gies was not known for her financial wealth. Her highest net worth is unknown, but her legacy is measured in moral and historical terms rather than monetary value.