The Happiest Man on Earth

Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, a Jew second. He was proud of his country. But all of that changed in November 1938, when he was beaten, arrested and taken to a concentration camp.Over the next seven years, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors every day, first in Buchenwald, then in Auschwitz, then on a Nazi death march. He lost family, friends, his country.Because he survived, Eddie made a vow to smile every day. He pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom and living his best possible life. Despite everything he has endured, he now believes he is the ‘happiest man on earth’.Published as Eddie turns 100, this is a powerful, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful memoir of how happiness can be found even when we’re surrounded by darkness.

Eddie Jaku OAM, was born Abraham Jakubowicz in Germany in 1920.His family considered themselves German, first, Jewish second. On 9 November 1938, the night immortalised as Kristallnacht, Eddie returned home from boarding school to an empty house. At dawn Nazi soldiers burst in. Eddie was beaten and taken to Buchenwald. Eddie was released and with his father escaped to Belgium and then France, but was again captured and sent to a camp, and thereafter to Auschwitz. On route, Eddie managed to escape back to Belgium where he lived in hiding with his parents and sister. In October 1943, Eddie's family were arrested and again sent to Auschwitz where his parents were both murdered. In 1945, Eddie was sent on a 'death march' but once again escaped and hid in a forest until June 1945 he was finally rescued by Allied soldiers.Eddie has volunteered at the Sydney Jewish Museum since its inception in 1992. Self-proclaimed as 'the happiest man on earth', he saw death every day throughout WWII, and because he managed to survive, he made a vow to himself to smile every day.Eddie has been married to Flore for 74 years. They have two sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Jacek Koman has had an extensive career across film, television and theatre. Recent works include Tidelands, series two and three of the ABC comedy drama series Mustangs FC and the third season of the Network Seven series Wanted. Jacek is well known for playing the Narcoleptic Argentinean and his unforgettable rendition of ‘Roxanne’ in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge.

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