Johan Voskuijl, The Forgotten Helper

I find it sad that, in most retellings/accounts of Anne's story, only five people -- Miep, Bep, Mr. Kugler, Mr. Kleiman, and Jan Gies -- are recognized as helpers to those hiding in the Annex. But there was a sixth helper: Bep's dad, Johan Voskuijl, who often gets left out of the story. He was also aware of the building's secret. (He was the one who built the movable bookcase that concealed the entrance to the Annex!) More should be done to remember him.

There are a number of 'Helpers' who are barely mentioned and remain unnamed e.g. the Resistance plumbers and carpenters. Mr Voskuijl didn't have daily contact with the people in hiding so wasn't a 'core' helper.

I consider Bep's father as one of the helpers, such as Mrs. Kugler!

There's no evidence that Mrs. Kugler ever knew of the people in hiding. It seems Mr. Kugler chose not to burden her with the information.

I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but I think daily contact with those in hiding isn't a good criterion for deciding which helpers are 'core' -- or are deserving of recognition -- and which are not.

Mr. Voskuijl wasn't just some random anonymous helper, either: He was deliberately entrusted with the building's secret from the beginning and, as warehouse head, guarded the Annex daily and tried to ensure that his own workers never approached it. He also kept the other helpers and the people in the Annex informed of what was going on in the warehouse regarding suspicions and such. This is in addition to building the all-important swinging bookcase door. All of this surely sets him apart from the unnamed people you mentioned who helped out in small ways.

Speaking of the bookcase... if I remember correctly, in the 2001 miniseries and the BBC adaptation done earlier this year, Mr. Kleiman is shown constructing the bookcase, or installing it with Mr. Kugler. Nothing at all is said of Mr. Voskuijl, though Anne's diary entry from 8.21.42. states that Bep's dad made it. Which illustrates my point that Mr. Voskuijl often does get left out of the story.

As I said before, more should be done to remember him. Anne herself said that Voskuijl was "our best helper and security adviser; we miss him very much indeed."

There's no evidence that Mrs. Kugler ever knew of the people in hiding. It seems Mr. Kugler chose not to burden her with the information.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I remember that once Mrs Kugler went to the Annex and told Anne about a girl called Jopie who could go out and stay with friends (she was free) and Anne commented this on the diary. But I also could remember something wrong!

Perhaps you're thinking of Mrs. Kleiman?

"Unlike Kugler, Johannes Kleiman... was able to share his fears and worries with his wife, and on rare occasions she even accompanied him on visits to the annex." (Anne Frank: The Biography, p.225)

Yes, maybe I was thinking of Mrs. Kleiman! I'm sorry!