Milhões de Vozes - Raymond Efraim Frajmund

Summary

Efraim Friend, born in 1927 in Warsaw, Poland, survived the horrors of the Holocaust, including the loss of his family, forced labor, and a death march. After enduring extreme hardships in a Nazi concentration camp, he managed to escape, finding freedom and eventually settling in Brazil. His new life in São Paulo and Brasília included marriage, a successful career in photography, and the creation of a family. His grandson, João, reflects on his legacy, emphasizing the invaluable lesson of pursuing freedom that his grandfather imparted. Efraim passed away in 2016, leaving a lasting impact on his family.

Takeaways

• 😀 Efraim Friend was born on August 18, 1927, in Warsaw, Poland, to Morris Aymond and Felicia Pilk.
• 😀 Efraim's family lived in Belgium and suffered immense loss when his sister and parents died in a bombing during the German invasion in 1940.
• 😀 For two years, Efraim hid in a small apartment under false identities, avoiding capture during the Nazi occupation.
• 😀 Efraim was eventually arrested and sent to the Nazi extermination camp in Alfix, where he was tattooed with the number 133,381 on his left arm.
• 😀 He endured forced labor, extreme malnutrition, and constant fear of death, living on a diet of only 200 calories per day.
• 😀 Efraim adopted the name 'Remon' as his main identity after the camp, influenced by how his name was pronounced in the French wing.
• 😀 During a death march forced by the Nazis, Efraim, despite being weak and sick, ran to freedom after escaping under gunfire.
• 😀 After escaping, Efraim hid in a latrine with a French friend, waiting until Nazi officers were gone, and later encountered Russian soldiers who helped him to freedom.
• 😀 Efraim returned to Brussels, found his parents alive, and later pursued studies in law and chemistry, though he was deeply disillusioned with Europe.
• 😀 In 1952, Efraim was inspired by a classical music concert in Brussels and decided to move to Brazil, where he settled in São Paulo, leaving behind painful memories.
• 😀 Efraim eventually moved to Brasília in 1960, married Rose and Josefina, and had a successful career as a photographer, leaving a legacy that emphasized the pursuit of freedom.
• 😀 João, Efraim's grandson, reflects on his grandfather's life and the non-negotiable value of pursuing freedom, which remains a core lesson for the family.

Q & A

Where and when was Efraim Friend born?

Efraim Friend was born on August 18, 1927, in Warsaw, Poland.

What tragic event occurred in 1940 that affected Efraim's family?

In 1940, during the German invasion, Efraim's sister and parents were killed in a bombing.

How did Efraim survive during the German occupation of Belgium?

Efraim survived by hiding for two years in a small apartment on the outskirts, using false identities to protect himself.

What happened to Efraim when he went out to buy food during the war?

Efraim was arrested and placed on transport 21, heading to the Nazi extermination complex in Alfix.

What was the significance of the tattoo Efraim received at the Nazi camp?

Efraim received the permanent tattoo '133,381' on his left arm, marking him as a prisoner at the Nazi extermination camp.

What was the daily life like for Efraim in the Nazi camp?

Efraim was subjected to forced labor and had a daily diet of only 200 calories, living in constant fear of death.

How did Efraim change his identity while in the camp?

Efraim adopted the name 'Remon' as his main name, changing his identity when the Russian army approached.

What was the 'death march,' and how did Efraim escape it?

The 'death march' was a forced evacuation of prisoners under harsh conditions. Efraim, despite being weak and sick, managed to escape by running towards freedom during a stop in the march.

How did Efraim find freedom after escaping the death march?

Efraim hid in a latrine with a French friend, and the next day he found Russian soldiers who helped him to safety, marking his escape to freedom.

What was Efraim's life like after his escape from the camp?

After escaping, Efraim returned to Brussels, found his parents alive, studied law and chemistry, and later moved to Brazil, where he made São Paulo his new home.

What lasting impact did Efraim's experiences have on his family?

Efraim's grandson, João, emphasizes the lesson of pursuing freedom as a non-negotiable value, which remains an enduring lesson for his family.