in 1939 anne's family fled from the nazi germans and escaped to spain, then to portugal finally to the united states. she attended the parsons school of design in new york city from 1940 to 1943. she also worked as a sales assistant at macy's department store. in 1943 she joined the french army as an ambulance driver. she served in algeria, morocco, italy, luxembourg and germany. she received the french "croix de guerre" for her wartime service.