Celebrity Info
He’s often remembered for his close connection to the famous diarist Anne Frank, as he went into hiding alongside the Frank family in Amsterdam back in 1942. Sadly, after the Nazis discovered their secret annex, he was deported and ultimately died at Auschwitz in late 1944. Before all the turmoil and before his story became widely known, he spent his early years in Germany, growing up in Gehrde and Osnabrück with his five siblings. Life took a more personal turn when he married Auguste Rottgen in late 1925. The couple welcomed their son, Peter, just a year later, in November 1926. His life, though marked by tragedy, remains an important part of history—especially through the lens of those who knew him and survived to tell the story. He showed strength and resilience throughout unimaginable hardship, and his memory lives on through the accounts of those who shared his journey.
In Anne Frank’s diary, he is mentioned as Hermann van Daan, though at times she also refers to him as Hans van Daan. The name appears throughout her writings, offering a glimpse into the dynamics within the hidden annex. He is, of course, one of the central figures she writes about, and the way she describes him—under the name van Daan—adds depth to the personal stories she records. While the name may vary slightly between Hermann and Hans, it’s clear that she is referring to the same individual, and his presence, under that name, plays an important role in her narrative.
