Movie
Description
Born in Osnabrück, Germany, Hermann van Pels held Dutch nationality through his family's origins in Groningen, Netherlands. Facing increasing Nazi antisemitism, he moved with his wife Auguste and son Peter to Amsterdam in 1937. There, he applied his expertise in meat and sausage seasonings while working for Otto Frank's company, Pectacon. The Van Pels family lived near the Franks in Amsterdam.
By spring 1942, Hermann collaborated with Otto Frank to prepare a secret annex hiding place within Otto's Prinsengracht 263 business premises. The Van Pels family entered this hiding place on July 13, 1942, a week after the Franks. During confinement, Hermann stayed involved with the business, reviewing correspondence, and studied encyclopedias, medical texts, and detective novels. Described as intelligent with significant political insight, he was also known as opinionated and stubborn, frequently insisting on having the final word in discussions.
A chain smoker, Hermann grew irritable without cigarettes, which affected his mood. Despite occasional temperamental behavior, he provided humor in the annex, with Anne Frank recording his jokes. His relationship with his wife was strained, leading to frequent arguments witnessed by others. After D-Day in 1944, he voiced optimism about liberation by October, though this hope went unrealized.
On August 4, 1944, the annex was raided. Hermann reportedly attempted to bribe the arresting officer, Karl Josef Silberbauer, but received no response. Following detention in Amsterdam and Westerbork transit camp, he was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau on September 3, 1944. Separated from his wife upon arrival but remaining with his son Peter, he was assigned to forced road construction labor. An injury later confined him to the barracks. He met his death in the gas chambers in October 1944 at age 46.
By spring 1942, Hermann collaborated with Otto Frank to prepare a secret annex hiding place within Otto's Prinsengracht 263 business premises. The Van Pels family entered this hiding place on July 13, 1942, a week after the Franks. During confinement, Hermann stayed involved with the business, reviewing correspondence, and studied encyclopedias, medical texts, and detective novels. Described as intelligent with significant political insight, he was also known as opinionated and stubborn, frequently insisting on having the final word in discussions.
A chain smoker, Hermann grew irritable without cigarettes, which affected his mood. Despite occasional temperamental behavior, he provided humor in the annex, with Anne Frank recording his jokes. His relationship with his wife was strained, leading to frequent arguments witnessed by others. After D-Day in 1944, he voiced optimism about liberation by October, though this hope went unrealized.
On August 4, 1944, the annex was raided. Hermann reportedly attempted to bribe the arresting officer, Karl Josef Silberbauer, but received no response. Following detention in Amsterdam and Westerbork transit camp, he was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau on September 3, 1944. Separated from his wife upon arrival but remaining with his son Peter, he was assigned to forced road construction labor. An injury later confined him to the barracks. He met his death in the gas chambers in October 1944 at age 46.