Miep Gies, a remarkable woman who bravely helped hide Anne Frank and her family from Nazi persecution, shared her poignant memories in a 1997 interview. Her insights offer a unique window into the lives of those in hiding and the challenges they faced. Among the many questions posed to Miep, one that often surfaces is about the fate of Peter van Pels’ cat, Mouschi. This article delves into Miep Gies’s interview, focusing on the question, “What happened to Mouschi, Peter’s cat?” and exploring the broader context of life in the Secret Annex.
Life in Hiding: Questions for Miep Gies
Students had the extraordinary opportunity to ask Miep Gies about her experiences during World War II, her relationship with the Frank family, and the harrowing realities of hiding Jewish families from the Nazis. Her answers provide invaluable historical and personal perspectives.
Hiding the Franks: A Difficult Decision?
Miep was asked about her initial reaction to the request to hide the Frank family. Her response was immediate and resolute: “I agreed right away to take care of the Frank family. I simply could not do anything else.” She emphasized her deep respect for Otto Frank, her boss, and her sympathy for the family’s plight. It wasn’t a matter of convincing, but an immediate acceptance of her human duty. The hiding place wasn’t her home, but Otto Frank’s business premises, a crucial detail often overlooked.
Feelings About the Franks Going into Hiding
Miep expressed relief at Otto Frank’s decision to go into hiding, driven by the horrifying scenes of Jewish deportations in Amsterdam. “Every day you saw trucks with Jews heading for the railway station, from where the trains left for the camps. Nobody ever heard from them again,” she recounted, highlighting the palpable fear and urgency of the situation.
Observing Life in the Secret Annex
Witnessing the Franks and others confined to the Secret Annex was deeply affecting for Miep. She described it as “extremely painful to see people who would love to go out and live in freedom now sitting in a small place and worrying all the time what the future would bring.” The constant fear and confinement were the stark realities of their hidden lives. The power dynamic also shifted, as Otto Frank, her former boss, became dependent on her for their survival.
The Secret Room and the Decision to Hide
The hiding place, initially a laboratory for product development at Otto Frank’s business, was transformed into the Secret Annex. Miep’s decision to help was not a choice, but a necessity for her. Refusing would have meant “many sleepless nights and an unhappy life,” a burden of conscience she couldn’t bear. Her husband, Jan Gies, fully supported her efforts, actively participating in assisting the families in hiding.
The Weight of Responsibility
Miep felt a profound sense of responsibility for the eight individuals in hiding. Providing enough food to maintain their health was a constant worry. “I certainly felt responsible. Particularly to find them enough food so they would stay healthy, that was always on my mind.”
Keeping the Secret: A Daily Challenge
Maintaining secrecy was a continuous challenge. Curiosity from outsiders and the need to shield the hidden families from the grim realities of Jewish persecution in Amsterdam added to the difficulty. Anne’s inquisitive nature meant Miep shared more with her about the outside world, including the deportations.
Close Relationships in the Annex
Miep developed close bonds with Anne and Otto Frank. Anne’s constant questions about the outside world fostered a unique connection, despite their age difference. Miep found herself speaking to Anne as if she were much older than a teenager. With Otto, the relationship was built on managing the logistics of their survival in hiding.
Avoiding Suspicion
To avoid raising suspicion, Miep had to be resourceful in procuring supplies. She visited multiple shops daily, never buying everything from one place. Even her foster parents remained unaware of the hidden families. Workers at the factory were kept in the dark by limiting access to the hiding place during office hours and maintaining strict silence within the Annex, including refraining from flushing the toilet during the day.
Securing Food and Supplies
Obtaining enough food was a constant struggle. Miep resorted to the black market and relied on illegally obtained ration cards provided by her husband, Jan. Support from sympathetic suppliers, like the greengrocer, was also crucial. Transporting food discreetly required careful planning, using shopping bags or concealing items under her coat and making multiple trips daily.
A Night in the Hiding Place
Spending a night in the Secret Annex with her husband provided Miep with a stark realization of the families’ plight. Living in such a confined space, constantly fearing discovery and police raids, and deprived of freedom was a harsh reality she witnessed firsthand.
Daily Life for Young People in Hiding
Life was particularly challenging for the younger members, Anne, Margot, and Peter. Confined indoors, they missed out on the simple joys of childhood and adolescence – playing outside, meeting friends, sports, and exploring the world.
What Happened to Mouschi, Peter’s Cat?
The question on many minds, “What happened to Mouschi, Peter’s cat?” finally gets answered by Miep. She explained, “After they were arrested, the cat was still there. It did not run away. But the cat did not feel at home anymore. It missed Peter. But one day the office cleaner asked if she could take the cat. She took Mushi and gave the cat a new home.” Mouschi, left behind after the arrest, was eventually cared for by the office cleaner, finding a new home after the tragic events. This small detail offers a glimpse into the lives of pets affected by the war and the kindness extended to them even in those dark times.
Challenges of Coexistence in Hiding
While Miep didn’t perceive tensions during her visits, Anne’s diary revealed the difficulties of eight people living in close quarters for an extended period. Otto Frank, however, kept these conflicts from the helpers, wanting to shield them from additional burdens.
Constant Fear of Discovery
The ever-present threat of a raid and the potential consequences were a constant backdrop to life in hiding. However, Miep recalls being too preoccupied with the daily tasks of providing for the families to dwell on fear. Her focus was on ensuring their survival, leaving little room for personal anxieties.
Betrayal and Capture: The Day the Nazis Arrived
Miep recounted the dreadful day of the arrest. It began with a terrifying encounter at gunpoint in her office. The following day, she desperately tried to intervene at the German police office, offering money for their release, but to no avail. The arrest was sudden and devastating.
The Last Sighting of Anne
The last time Miep saw Anne was on the morning of the arrest, just hours before the police arrived. Anne’s usual cheerful greeting, “Hello Miep, and what is the news?” remains a poignant memory, highlighting the abrupt end to their ordinary routines.
How the Nazis Found the Secret Annex
The question of who betrayed the families in hiding remains unanswered. Despite investigations after the war, the identity of the informer remains a mystery. Miep mentions possibilities ranging from neighborhood residents to burglars or even someone within the building, emphasizing the uncertainty and the lasting pain of this betrayal.
Feelings After the Capture
Miep’s immediate reaction to the capture was profound disappointment. So close to the war’s end, the arrest felt like a cruel blow. They had held onto hope of liberation, but it was snatched away at the last moment.
Fate of the Franks’ Possessions
The Franks’ home was ransacked, and their possessions were taken to Germany, never to be recovered. This detail underscores the systematic plundering and dehumanization inflicted upon Jewish families.
Miep’s Narrow Escape
During interrogation after the arrest, Miep’s Viennese accent surprisingly became her salvation. Recognizing the police officer’s Viennese origin, she exclaimed her own connection to Vienna, which seemed to disarm him and prevent her arrest. It was a moment of incredible luck amidst a horrific situation.
Sustaining Hope After the Capture
After the Franks’ capture, Miep clung to the hope of their safe return. With the war nearing its end and the Franks being healthy at the time of arrest, there was still a glimmer of optimism.
Regrets and Unanswered Questions
Miep believed they had done everything possible to help the Franks. After the arrest, communication ceased, and no further information about their fate reached Miep until after the war. The question of the betrayer remains a painful, unresolved aspect of this tragic history.
Anne and Margot’s Final Journey and Demise
Anne and Margot were sent to Westerbork transit camp, then to Auschwitz, and finally to Bergen-Belsen, where they perished due to typhus in March 1945. The precise date of Anne’s death remains unknown.
Reunion with Otto Frank: After the War
Miep’s reunion with Otto Frank after the war was bittersweet. While overjoyed at his survival, the immense loss he suffered was heartbreaking. Learning about the death of his entire family was devastating for both of them.
Otto Frank’s Return and Life After Loss
Otto Frank returned to Amsterdam, resuming his business but dedicating much of his time to responding to letters about Anne’s diary after its publication. He later moved to Switzerland. He remained the sole survivor from the Secret Annex.
Lasting Friendship with Otto Frank
Miep and her husband remained close friends with Otto Frank until his death in 1980. For the first seven years after the war, Otto even lived with them, highlighting the depth of their bond and shared experience.
Miep Gies’s Legacy
Miep Gies’s interview provides a powerful testament to courage, compassion, and the enduring human spirit amidst unimaginable darkness. Her willingness to risk her life to help others and her vivid recollections offer invaluable lessons about history, humanity, and the importance of standing up against injustice. Her answer to the simple question, “What happened to Peter’s cat Mouschi?” reveals a larger story of resilience and care, even for the smallest creatures, during times of immense hardship. Mouschi’s story, though a minor detail in the grand narrative, adds a poignant touch, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all lives affected by war and persecution.
