Publisher apologizes after criticism of Anne Frank book

Dutch publisher Ambo Anthos has apologized for publishing the book “The Betrayal of Anne Frank,” which puts forth a theory that a Jewish man betrayed Anne Frank and her family to the Nazis during World War II, reports the BBC.

The book by Canadian author Rosemary Sullivan was based on research by an investigative team including a retired FBI detective. It posits that Arnold van den Bergh, a fellow Jew, betrayed the location of the family to save his own family, leading to their arrests.

The Anne Frank Fund, an organization based in Switzerland, said that the book’s investigation was “full of errors.”

Ambo Anthos wrote Sullivan telling her that it would delay printing another run of the books, noting it should have taken a more “critical stance” toward the book, according to the BBC.

“We offer our sincere apologies to anyone who might feel offended by the book,” said the publisher, adding that a research team was looking into the book’s findings. 

World War II historian Bart van der Boom told The New York Times the publisher’s decision to delay further printings was vindication. 

“It will undoubtedly cement the notion that there’s something seriously wrong,” he told the newspaper. 

Pieter van Twisk, an investigator who helped draw the book’s conclusions, defended the findings of his team, saying the theory has a “probability percentage of at least 85%,” but that it was not meant to be read as absolute truth.

Ambo Anthos said that HarperCollins, the book’s English-language publisher, “determined the content” of the book.

The Hill has reached out to HarperCollins for comment. 

Anne Frank is well known for her diary, published posthumously, documenting her experience as a Jew during World War II.

The Frank family was in hiding for two years before being moved to a concentration camp, where Anne died.