Druy Meyer Semenovich (1911)

Druy (Druj) Meyer Semenovich (born 13 October 1911, Krāslava, Latvia) — electrical technician.

Meyer Druy was born to Semen Samuilovich Druy (died 1920, Krāslava) and Mira Meyerovna Druy (née Levin, 1887, Disna, Belarus – killed by the Nazis in 1941, Dvinsk [now Daugavpils]). He completed primary school in Krāslava in 1925, followed by the Riga Jewish Vocational School in 1928. He worked as an electrical fitter in Krāslava from 1928 to 1933, served in the Latvian Army in Dvinsk from 1933 to 1934, then returned to Krāslava to continue as an electrical fitter until 1940. From 1940 to 1941, he served as a technician in the municipal utilities department of the city executive committee.

In 1941 he was evacuated to Chelyabinsk region and worked in the kolkhoz “For the Harvest.” Later that year he moved to Namangan, Uzbek SSR, and worked at a felt‑boot (pimy) factory. (Pimy are traditional Nenets winter boots, handmade from reindeer skins or, in industrial production, rolled from felt.)

From 1942 to 1946, Meyer Druy served in the Soviet Army, receiving the medal For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945 and commemorative anniversary medals. Returning to Latvia in 1946, he was warehouse manager for the restaurant and café trust until 1957, worked at the “Dzintars” factory in 1957–58, then was employed at Restaurant “Kavkaz” (1958–62) and Café “Daile” (1962–73).

In marriage to Meri Shmerkovna Druy (née Zislina, born 1924, Dvinsk), he had two sons: Semyon Meyerovich Druy (born 1951, Riga) and Alexander Meerovich Druy (born 1954, Riga)

In 1973 Meyer Druy was granted permission to emigrate to Israel, where his older brother Boris Semenovich Druy (born 1918, Krāslava) had resided since 1966, and his wife’s cousin Resia Yankelovna Gelvan (née Zislina, born 1920, Krāslava) since 1957.

Family

Semyon Samuilovich Druy (d. 1920, Krāslava) — father
Mira Meerovna Druy (née Levin) (1887, Disna – 1941) — mother
Fanya Semenovna Druy (née Svirskaya; 1909, Krāslava – killed 1941, Riga Ghetto) — sister
Revekka Semenovna Druy (née Katitelashvili; 1910, Krāslava — emigrated to France) — sister
Samuil Semenovich Druy (1915, Krāslava – killed 1941, Riga Ghetto) — brother
Boris Semenovich Druy (1918, Krāslava) — brother
Meri Shmerkovna Druy (née Zislina; 1924, Dvinsk) — wife
Semyon Meyerovich Druy (1951, Riga) — son
Alexander Meerovich Druy (1954, Riga) — son
Resia Yankelovna Gelvan (née Zislina; 1920, Krāslava) — wife’s cousin