Biography

About Ephraim Behr

Ephraim Behr was a son of Abraham Izak Behr and Jette Bernard. His parents died before the war.
Addition of a visitor of the website

Ephraim Behr studied medicine in Groningen. He took the medical finals on 3 October 1929. He obtained his doctoral degree on 3 July 1931 in Groningen on the thesis 'Thrombocytes and thrombosis'. He practised in Assen and later became anatomist-conservator of the Pathology Laboratory of the University of Groningen. Outside his professional career, Ephraim Behr fulfilled an important role in the Zionist movement of Assen. He also played in a football team.
During the war, he participated voluntarily as a medical officer (captain in the reserves). Ephraim Behr died in action during the fights at the Grebbeberg when he, according to a witness, 'made a brave and compassionate attempt to evacuate some wounded soldiers from the Grebbe line to safety'.
On 30 May 1940, Ephraim Behr was buried in the Jewish cemetery in Groningen. Chief rabbi Dasberg gave the eulogy at the graveside and a contingent of the Behr regiment brought a military salute.
J.H. Coppenhagen, Anafiem Gedoe‘iem. Overleden joodse artsen uit Nederland 1940-1945 (Rotterdam 2000) 75-76;
F.J. Hulst and H.M. Luning, De joodse gemeente Assen; Geschiedenis van een behoorlijke Kille, 1740-1976 (Assen 1993) 118 and 142-143


This person is commemorated on a memorial in Assen. More information on this memorial can be found (in Dutch) on the website of the Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei.