MovieChat Forums > Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001) Discussion > A few questions about Miep (Spoilers)

A few questions about Miep (Spoilers)

posted 17 years ago by rasbrryswirl
6 replies | jump to latest

I was reading a little bit about Miep (played by Lili Taylor.) Does anyone know whether she got married to Jan out of love? I don't mean to sound insulting b/c I probably would've done the same if I were her, but I was just wondering if she did so to stay in the country: "...Jan Gies, whom she married on July 16, 1941 after she refused to join a Nazi women's association and was threatened with deportation back to Austria." (This is from Wikipedia, so I don't know how credible it is.)

Also, I was wondering what sort of papers she gave to her husband to "get rid of" after the Gestapo rushed into their office. Were they the families ID papers of some sort, or something? (I don't know what kind of IDs Jewish people, or any people, were required to have in that historical climate.)

Last thing: when the Sergeant of the Gestapo is interrogating Miep, he says "strange that your husband isn't here" because it's his name on the business. Then, he asks himself what he's going to do with her and yells something in German. He then says as a "personal favor" (b/c they're both from Vienna?) she can "stay here and rot", but if she leaves, they'll seize her husband. Did he mean if she fled the country?

Apparently, I'm the kind of moviegoer that needs things spelled out for her... :(

[–] maddiemoiselle 17 years ago

she arried Jan out of love and to stay in Amsterdam. and he meant if she left, like hid herself, because it was nearly impossible to escape then. i don't know the other answers, sorry

[–] rasbrryswirl 17 years ago

Oh, okay. Well, thanks for answering. I figured it must've been for some kind of love, because it sounds like she stayed with him. I mean, I haven't read much about heard, but haven't heard any mention of divorce/separation.

[–] Fifteen_Mintues_Of_Fame 17 years ago

I deffanitly think that she married Jan out of love... I just think it got rushed a bit by the war and all..... but I have no doubt in my mind that she anything but loved him.

[–] verbenaqueen 17 years ago

Miep married Jan out of love. I believe they were engaged before Miep quarrelled with a Dutch member of a Nazi Women's Group. Her imminent deportation just moved up their wedding.

The papers she had Jan dispose of were blackmarket ration cards and forged identity cards.

I haven't read the whole Wikipedia article on Miep, so I can't vouch for its accuracy. My information comes from "Anne Frank Remembered" by Miep Gies with Alison Leslie Gold, Simon and Schuster, 1988

An interesting note: The dialogue between Miep and Silberhauer, the Gestapo sgt., (I think I spelled his name correctly) in the movie is almost identical to how Miep tells it in her book.

Hope this helps!

[–] rasbrryswirl 17 years ago

Wow! Thanks for all the info! "Anne Franke Remembered" is actually on my "to read" list, so, you just bumped it up to a high priority.

I think I read the Wikipedia article on her already, but, if I remember correctly, it didn't say too much.

Anyway, again, thanks for all the info. I really appreciate it.

[–] briarswt 17 years ago

Yah, basically, here's the deal:

Miep was an Austrian - the brief details about her life before the war are true. Austria had a period where there was a severe food shortage and she was one of many children sent out to other countries.

She was intended to go back, but just never did - loved the Netherlands. She just never really went into becoming dutch I believe. However, once the Nazis came, she was approached to become a member of the women's group. She bluntly refused.

A bit later (I think some months), she had to present her passport for some reason (part of me wants to say it was one of the Nazis' attempts at catolouging and organzing the population but it could be as simple as that she needed it renewed). Anyway, apparently her refusal had gotten back to the officials, and she was black-marked which put her in imminent danger of deportation. So, she and her boyfriend agreed to move up their marriage. There was a bit of paper wrangling for her in Austria via family members, but she got the documents she needed, married Jan, and became Dutch.

The papers she shoved in his hands at the capture scene were apparently ration coupons and other documents relating to how they were supporting those in the Annex. Jan was actually a member of the Underground, so if the info had be caught, or him along with it, it would have had potentially dangerous consequences for the Dutch Resistance.

The police officer, I would not be surprised, realized what was going on with the company. I am sure that Mr. Frank was not the only one to disappear on company papers. I bet he realized that they all knew about those in hiding. And he was threatening to come back to the office that day. And according to Miep, they actually did occassionally, just to ensure they were still there.