We also know about some of her friends. How did they and their families fare? From survivors we hear the stories, but who tells the stories of those who were (almost) erased? About one of Anne Frank’s best friends, Ilse Wagner, we know little to nothing. Writer Janny van der Molen delved into the history of the children around Anne Frank. She conducted research in cooperation with the Anne Frank House and came across impressive stories. In her latest book ‘Do not Forget Me’, she recounts them.
We don’t even have a photo of her nor of her family. Of the girl who played table tennis with Anne Frank, we know little more than the place where she was murdered. Distruction camp Sobibor.
Dutch podcastreators from Audiodroom, Richard Grootbod, and Patty-lou Middel-Leenheer, go back to the places that defined their lives. They do this together with Janny van der Molen.
For this quest, the makers travelled around the world to speak with the last surviving friends of Ilse and Anne. They scour various archives in search of information and speak to witnesses, researchers and experts.
The series is made storytelling, we take the listener on this journey, also by using emersive stereo techniques that carry you along in the search. You are taken back to the period when Ilse Wagner lived and disappeared. In this 9-episode podcastseries, the makers match excerpts to answer what happened to Ilse Wagner. Here and there, the series also draws a parallel to recent (war) developments, putting urgency on prevention at the centre. How do we stay sharp, what questions should we keep asking and why is that so important.
