The Year of 1942

Anne Frank goes hiding

During the time when countries were ravaged with World War II and the Nazi’s were taking control, one iconic young lady recorded her life as she was in hiding. Anne Frank along with her family, hid in a Secret Annex. They were originally from Frankfurt but due to the Nazi’s rapidly approaching, the Frank family fled to Amsterdam in the Netherlands for safety.  Margot, Anne Frank’s mother, was supposed to report to a work camp, causing the family to go in to hiding sooner than planned. Eventually not only was the Frank family in hiding but they graciously hid four other Jews - Hermann, Auguste, Peter Van Pels, and Fritz Pfeffer. They all hid successfully for 2 years until they were betrayed and were later arrested before being sent away to concentration camps. Otto Frank was the only survivor in the whole ordeal. Anne’s diary was given back to him and he later had it turned into a publication that has enlightened thousands of people to what life was like living in hiding.  (Holocaust Museum)

Japanese-Americans held in camps
While the Jewish were being held in concentration camps overseas, the U.S government sent thousands of people who were of Japanese decent to internment camps.  Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 enabling this movement. This was a precaution taken by the Roosevelt administration after the bombing of Pearl Harbor justifying it by saying anyone of Japanese decent could possibly be a spy for the Japanese.  Life on the internment camps was intense. Because most internees were forced to evacuate in 48 hours, they had little belongings with them. Many died from sickness and emotional stress. After being released in January 1945, some of the internees stayed in the US while others decided to move back to Japan.  (History)

The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway, fought near the Central Pacific island of Midway, is considered the decisive battle of the war in the Pacific. The Japanese wanted to use the Midway as an advanced base and to entrap and destroy the U.S Pacific Fleet.  The U.S had communication intelligence successes and surprised the Japanese forces, sinking the four Japanese carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbor only six months before, while only losing one carrier.  (Parker)