Jan Augustus Gies operated as a Dutch Resistance fighter during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, coordinating the logistics required to keep eight individuals hidden from persecution. While he performed his duties as a bookkeeper and manager, he clandestinely managed the survival of those sheltered in the Prinsengracht annex for two years, securing essential food supplies and uncensored news.
Early Career and Personal Life
Born in Amsterdam in 1905, Gies spent his early career working as a bookkeeper. He met Miep Gies in 1933 while they both worked at a textile company. After their paths diverged, with Jan moving into the Dutch Social Services, they reconnected in 1936. They married on 16 July 1941 in Amsterdam, an event attended by several individuals who would later rely on them for sanctuary, including Otto and Anne Frank.
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In 1941, Nazi regulations forced Otto Frank to step down from the board of his own company due to his Jewish heritage. Jan Gies was appointed as the nominal director, transitioning the business name to Gies & Co. This position allowed him to maintain a facade of normalcy while he engaged in the illegal procurement of ration cards and resources intended to sustain those in hiding at 263 Prinsengracht.
Resistance Efforts
Gies dedicated himself to the survival of the Frank family, the van Pels family, and Fritz Pfeffer. His efforts included providing British newspapers to keep those in the annex informed of events outside the reach of propaganda. He and his wife even sheltered a student who had refused to sign a Nazi oath. Following the raid on the hiding place in August 1944, the couple helped preserve the manuscripts belonging to Anne Frank.
Post-War Recognition
Following the liberation of the Netherlands, Gies hosted Otto Frank, the sole survivor of those they helped hide, in his home for seven years. Gies later participated in public memorial ceremonies and discussions regarding the necessity of anti-fascist efforts. In 1972, he received the Righteous Among the Nations award, followed by the Jan Karski Courage to Care Award in 1987. He died in 1993 from kidney failure at the age of 87.
Fast facts
- Born: 1905, Amsterdam
- Died: 26 January 1993, Amsterdam
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Primary Occupation: Resistance fighter
- Marriage: 16 July 1941 to Miep Gies
- Righteous Among the Nations: 1972
- Jan Karski Courage to Care Award: 1987
- Son: Paul Gies, born 1950
Questions readers ask
What was the professional relationship between Jan Gies and Otto Frank?
Gies became the nominal director of Otto Frank's company, Opekta, in 1941 after Frank was forced to resign under Nazi law. The company was renamed Gies & Co.
How many people were hidden at the Prinsengracht address?
Jan Gies assisted in hiding eight people, including the Frank family, the van Pels family, and Fritz Pfeffer.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1972
- Worked as resistance fighter
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