Traum relives experiences surviving the Holocaust

Priscilla Proctor, Coordinator of College and Public Relations, reported to Historic City News that Holocaust survivor Alfred “Freddie” Traum will be speaking at the Flagler College campus about his experiences surviving the Holocaust.

Traum is scheduled to speak on Thursday, October 22nd from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Virginia Room of the Ringhaver Student Center at Flagler College.

In March of 1938, Germany annexed Austria and Traum’s life changed dramatically. He and his older sister were forced to attend a school for Jewish students, where life became worse for them due to the bullying and physical abuse both of them had to endure.

In June of 1939, the Traums were so fearful for their children’s safety that they sent them to live with a Christian family in London, England. Traum quickly became fluent in the English language, but longed for his parents back in Austria.

In 1943, news regarding the Holocaust began to surface, and Traum and his sister soon learned that their entire family had been murdered. Mourning the loss of their family members, Traum and his sister soon moved to Manchester, England, to begin a new life.

After the war, Traum served in both the English and Israeli armies. He married another Holocaust survivor, Josiane, and they soon started a family.

The Traums moved to the United States in 1963. Traum recently retired from the Boeing Company and is a volunteer with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

This event is free and open to the public, but seating is on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, please contact Dr. Tina Jaeckle at (904) 819-6317