Opekta

Opekta was a company founded by Otto Frank, the father of Anne Frank, in 1933. The company specialized in the production and sale of pectin, a gelling agent used in the making of jams and jellies. Opekta played a significant role in the Frank family's life, particularly during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.

History

Opekta was originally established in Germany but later expanded to the Netherlands when Otto Frank moved his family to Amsterdam to escape the growing persecution of Jews in Germany. The Dutch branch of Opekta was located at 263 Prinsengracht, the same building that would later become the Anne Frank House.

Role During World War II

During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Otto Frank used the Opekta offices as a front to hide his family and several other Jews. The hidden annex, known as the Secret Annex, was concealed behind a movable bookcase. The Frank family, along with the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer, lived in hiding from 1942 until their discovery in 1944.

Post-War Period

After the war, Otto Frank was the only member of his immediate family to survive the Holocaust. He returned to Amsterdam and discovered that his daughter Anne's diary had been preserved by one of the helpers, Miep Gies. Otto Frank devoted the rest of his life to publishing Anne's diary and preserving the memory of those who perished during the Holocaust.

Legacy

The building at 263 Prinsengracht has since been converted into the Anne Frank House, a museum dedicated to the life and legacy of Anne Frank. The story of Opekta and its role in the Frank family's life is an integral part of the museum's exhibits.

See Also

• Anne Frank
• Otto Frank
• Secret Annex
• Anne Frank House
• Nazi occupation of the Netherlands
• Holocaust