Anne Frank and her older sister, Margot Frank, tragically died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in February 1945. Both sisters contracted spotted typhus, an infectious disease prevalent in the dire conditions of the camps, and succumbed to it after enduring extreme exhaustion.
The Final Days in Bergen-Belsen
After being discovered in their secret annex in Amsterdam in August 1944, Anne, Margot, and their family were arrested by the Nazis and deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Later, in October 1944, Anne and Margot were transported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany, separated from their mother.
The conditions at Bergen-Belsen were horrific. Overcrowding, lack of sanitation, starvation, and the spread of diseases like typhus, tuberculosis, and dysentery were rampant. By early 1945, a massive typhus epidemic swept through the camp, claiming thousands of lives.
Key Facts about Their Deaths:
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Names | Anne Frank and Margot Frank |
| Cause of Death | Spotted typhus, exacerbated by exhaustion and severe camp conditions |
| Date of Death | February 1945 (Margot died first, followed by Anne a few days later) |
| Location | Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, Germany |
| Circumstances | Died amidst a typhus epidemic and extreme deprivation, just weeks before the camp's liberation by British troops in April 1945. |
Margot, weakened by illness, reportedly fell from her bunk and died first. Anne, already very ill, passed away only days later. Their deaths occurred mere weeks before the Bergen-Belsen camp was liberated by British forces on April 15, 1945.
For more information about Anne Frank's life and the history of the Holocaust, you can visit the official Anne Frank House website.
