Miep Gies Research Paper
Encomium: Miep Gies
Miep Gies was a Dutch citizen that hid Anne Frank and her Jewish family during the Holocaust. When Adolf Hitler, a German Dictator, and his soldiers began the Holocaust, The Franks decided to go into hiding and Miep Gies agreed to be their helper. Gies was aware that the punishment for hiding a Jew was the death penalty, however she sacrificed her life, remained loyal to the Franks, and stood for what she knew was right. This is why Miep Gies should be considered a hero and admired for the sacrifices she made.
According to Biography.com, Miep Gies was born on February 15, 1909 as Hermine Santruschitz, in Austria. Her family lived a second classed life and after a while Hermine Santruschitz was placed into a program for malnourished children because her family struggled to take care of her. A few years later she went on to live with the Nieuwenburg family, which nurture her back to a healthy life. The family took Hermine Santruschitz as their own and nicknamed her Miep, she even moved to Amsterdam with the family. At the age of 18 Miep Gies was finished with her schooling and off to the working world. However at about the age of 24 she …show more content…
The punishment for anyone that hid a Jew or went in any Jewish establishment was death, and although she could have lost her life she still decided to look after the family. She would travel to different grocery stores to buy food for the hiding family and made sure they had all they need. When asked by students in an interview after the Holocaust, “ What was it like knowing that the fate of eight people rested in your hands and that you were on of their most valuable resources?” she answered “ I certainly felt responsible. Particularly to find them enough food so they can stay healthy, that was always on my mind.” Gies main focus was not her own needs but the needs of the family that depended on
Miep Gies was a Dutch citizen that hid Anne Frank and her Jewish family during the Holocaust. When Adolf Hitler, a German Dictator, and his soldiers began the Holocaust, The Franks decided to go into hiding and Miep Gies agreed to be their helper. Gies was aware that the punishment for hiding a Jew was the death penalty, however she sacrificed her life, remained loyal to the Franks, and stood for what she knew was right. This is why Miep Gies should be considered a hero and admired for the sacrifices she made.
According to Biography.com, Miep Gies was born on February 15, 1909 as Hermine Santruschitz, in Austria. Her family lived a second classed life and after a while Hermine Santruschitz was placed into a program for malnourished children because her family struggled to take care of her. A few years later she went on to live with the Nieuwenburg family, which nurture her back to a healthy life. The family took Hermine Santruschitz as their own and nicknamed her Miep, she even moved to Amsterdam with the family. At the age of 18 Miep Gies was finished with her schooling and off to the working world. However at about the age of 24 she …show more content…
The punishment for anyone that hid a Jew or went in any Jewish establishment was death, and although she could have lost her life she still decided to look after the family. She would travel to different grocery stores to buy food for the hiding family and made sure they had all they need. When asked by students in an interview after the Holocaust, “ What was it like knowing that the fate of eight people rested in your hands and that you were on of their most valuable resources?” she answered “ I certainly felt responsible. Particularly to find them enough food so they can stay healthy, that was always on my mind.” Gies main focus was not her own needs but the needs of the family that depended on