In "The Happiest Man on Earth," Eddie Jaku shares his extraordinary life story, from his childhood in Germany to his survival of the Holocaust and his journey to find happiness despite unimaginable suffering. This powerful memoir serves as both a testament to human resilience and a warning about the dangers of hatred and intolerance.
Eddie Jaku was born in Leipzig, Germany, in 1920. As a young Jewish boy, he grew up feeling proud to be German and had little awareness of anti-Semitism. However, his life changed dramatically when Adolf Hitler rose to power in 1933. Eddie's story takes us through the escalating persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany, his experiences in concentration camps, including Buchenwald and Auschwitz, and his eventual escape and survival against all odds.
But this book is more than just a recounting of the horrors of the Holocaust. It's also a story of friendship, family, love, and the conscious choice to find joy and meaning in life despite trauma. Eddie shares how he went from questioning his will to live to becoming "the happiest man on Earth," offering wisdom on resilience, gratitude, and the importance of kindness.
Growing Up in Nazi Germany
A Changing World
Eddie's childhood in Leipzig was happy and comfortable. His family was well-off, and he excelled in school. But everything changed when Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Suddenly, being Jewish became the defining aspect of Eddie's identity, overshadowing his sense of being German.
The rise of Nazism brought immediate consequences for Jewish families like Eddie's. Anti-Semitic policies were quickly implemented, affecting every aspect of their lives. For Eddie, one of the most significant blows was being barred from attending high school. In a city that prided itself on education and culture, this was a shocking betrayal.
A Drastic Solution
Eddie's father, determined to secure a good education for his son, came up with a risky plan. He forged identity papers for Eddie, creating a new persona: Walter Schleif, a German orphan. Under this assumed identity, Eddie was sent to a different city to study precision mechanics.
For five long years, Eddie lived away from his family, unable to see them or reveal his true identity. While he received an excellent education, the experience was isolating and emotionally challenging. Eddie had to constantly be on guard, living a lie throughout his formative teenage years.
Kristallnacht: A Brutal Awakening
In 1938, Eddie made a fateful decision to return home for his parents' wedding anniversary. Unbeknownst to him, his family had gone into hiding, and he arrived on the eve of Kristallnacht – the Night of Broken Glass.
Eddie woke to Nazi thugs breaking down the door. They savagely beat him and forced him to watch as they destroyed his childhood home. Even more painful was seeing former friends and neighbors join in the violence and looting. This night shattered Eddie's sense of belonging in Germany and marked the beginning of his ordeal under Nazi persecution.
Life in the Camps
Buchenwald: The First Taste of Hell
After Kristallnacht, Eddie was taken to Camp Buchenwald, one of the earliest concentration camps established by the Nazis. The conditions were appalling – overcrowded bunks, inadequate sanitation, and constant hunger. The camp was designed to strip prisoners of their dignity and humanity.
Eddie witnessed unimaginable cruelty, with prisoners beaten for minor infractions and subjected to sadistic games by the guards. However, he also experienced his first stroke of luck. A guard who recognized him from his time as "Walter Schleif" convinced the camp commander that Eddie's mechanical skills made him valuable. This led to Eddie's release, though under the condition that he would work in Nazi factories.
A Narrow Escape
Instead of reporting to the factory, Eddie and his father attempted to flee to Belgium. While Eddie made it across the border, his father was caught. This began a period of separation and uncertainty for the family, with Eddie's mother and sister also facing arrest back in Leipzig.
Eddie's time in Belgium was fraught with challenges. He was arrested for illegal entry and spent a year in a Belgian camp. When Germany invaded Belgium in 1940, Eddie was released but found himself wandering through France, relying on the kindness of strangers to survive.
The Road to Auschwitz
Eddie's journey took another turn when he was arrested in France and sent to a prison camp called Gurs. From there, he was to be transported to Auschwitz. In a daring escape, Eddie managed to pry open the floorboards of the train and jump to freedom before reaching the infamous death camp.
Through a series of risky train journeys, Eddie made his way back to Belgium, where he was miraculously reunited with his family. They spent several months hiding in an attic, a period that Eddie recalls as some of the happiest of his life despite the cramped conditions and scarcity of food.
However, their refuge was short-lived. Someone reported the family to the authorities, and they were arrested and put on a train bound for Auschwitz. This time, there would be no escape.
The Horror of Auschwitz
The journey to Auschwitz was a nightmare. Packed into train cars with no food and little water, many didn't survive the nine-day trip. Eddie's father's quick thinking in devising a water rationing system saved many lives in their car.
Upon arrival at Auschwitz, Eddie faced the cruel reality of the camp's selection process. The young and fit, like Eddie, were sent to the labor camp. The elderly and children, including Eddie's parents, were sent directly to the gas chambers. Eddie lost his mother and father without even a chance to say goodbye.
Life in Auschwitz was a daily struggle for survival. Prisoners faced extreme cold, starvation, and brutal labor conditions. Many chose suicide over the constant suffering. For Eddie, two things kept him going: the knowledge that his sister Henni was alive in another part of the camp, and the support of his best friend, Kurt.
Eddie and Kurt had met during their arrest on Kristallnacht and had somehow managed to stay together through their ordeals. Their friendship was a lifeline in the dehumanizing environment of Auschwitz. They shared food, clothes, and most importantly, emotional support – a rare commodity in such a place.
The Final Days of the War
The Death March
As the Russian Army approached in January 1945, the Nazis began evacuating Auschwitz. Eddie and thousands of other prisoners were forced on a grueling death march through the freezing countryside. With inadequate clothing and no food or water, many died along the way.
During this march, Eddie faced one of the hardest decisions of his life. His friend Kurt was growing weaker by the day and couldn't keep up. Knowing that those who fell behind were shot, Eddie helped Kurt hide in the ceiling of an abandoned building where they stopped for the night. It was a desperate gamble, but one that ultimately saved Kurt's life.
The Last Escape
As the war neared its end, the prisoners were moved from camp to camp. Conditions worsened, and even the Nazi guards began to show signs of desperation. Eddie knew he had to find a way to escape or he wouldn't survive.
His opportunity came when he noticed some large drainage pipes by the roadside. In a daring move, Eddie slipped away from the group and into one of the pipes. He used barrel lids to keep afloat as icy water rushed through the pipe. Exhausted and on the brink of unconsciousness, Eddie wedged himself in place with the lids and fell asleep.
When he awoke, he realized the Nazis had been shooting into the pipe, but miraculously, he hadn't been hit. Eddie emerged from the pipe, weak but free at last.
Liberation and Its Challenges
Eddie's ordeal wasn't over yet. Severely malnourished and ill with typhoid and cholera, he was found by American soldiers and taken to a hospital. Weighing just 28 kilograms, Eddie was given only a 35% chance of survival.
It was at this low point that Eddie made a promise to God: if he lived, he would dedicate his life to being a force for good in the world and never take his life for granted. Whether through medical care or divine intervention, Eddie survived.
After six weeks in the hospital, Eddie returned to Belgium to search for his family. But like many Holocaust survivors, he found that liberation brought its own set of challenges. His family was gone, and he felt adrift in a world that had fundamentally changed. Belgium, once a place of refuge, now felt hostile due to the presence of Nazi collaborators.
In this dark time, Eddie had two encounters that gave him hope. First, he reunited with his friend Kurt, who had been rescued from his hiding place by Russian soldiers. Then, he discovered that his sister Henni had also survived. Together, the three of them began the difficult process of rebuilding their lives.
Love and New Beginnings
Meeting Flore
In the aftermath of the war, Eddie met Flore Molho, a Greek Jewish girl who had spent most of her life in Belgium. Flore had managed to avoid deportation for much of the war by hiding her Jewish identity, and later escaped to Paris using false papers.
When Eddie first saw Flore at the municipal office where she worked, it was love at first sight for him. Flore, however, was initially skeptical. Eddie, still recovering from his ordeal, was emaciated and sickly. But he was also full of bold plans for the future, talking about starting a new life together.
Building a Life Together
As they got to know each other, Flore began to fall for Eddie too. Her mother welcomed him into the family, and on April 20, 1946, Eddie and Flore were married.
Their early years of marriage were challenging. Eddie was dealing with complex trauma from his experiences during the war. He struggled with constant fear and deep grief for his lost family members. Often, he questioned why he had survived when so many others hadn't.
Everything changed when Flore became pregnant. Holding his first child, Eddie had a profound realization. He understood how incredibly fortunate he was to be alive and to have this beautiful family. This moment marked a turning point for Eddie. He made a conscious decision to embrace happiness and to smile every day, determined to make the most of the life he had been given against all odds.
A Fresh Start in Australia
Despite finding love and starting a family, Eddie never felt truly at home in Belgium. As a refugee, his residency was always uncertain, making it difficult to build a stable life. In 1950, Eddie and Flore made the decision to emigrate to Australia, hoping for a fresh start.
The move to Sydney marked the beginning of a new chapter for the family. Eddie found work building medical instruments, and they were able to buy a house. In Australia, they finally felt a sense of true freedom and belonging that had eluded them in Europe.
For many years, Eddie avoided talking about his experiences during the war. He didn't want to burden his children and grandchildren with the horrors he had endured. However, as time passed, he began to feel a moral obligation to share his story.
Becoming "The Happiest Man on Earth"
Breaking the Silence
In 1972, Eddie joined a group of 20 other Holocaust survivors to share their experiences. For the first time, he was able to talk openly about what he had been through with people who truly understood. This group later became the Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and went on to establish the Sydney Jewish Museum in 1992.
Eddie began giving regular talks at the museum, sharing his story with audiences. He spoke about the unimaginable cruelty he had witnessed, but also about the acts of kindness that had helped him survive. He shared his strategies for survival and his decision to choose happiness despite his traumatic past.
Choosing Happiness
Eddie's journey to becoming "the happiest man on Earth" wasn't an easy one. It required a conscious decision to find joy in life despite the trauma he had endured. He realized that while he might never understand why he had survived when so many others didn't, he had an obligation to make the most of the life he had been given.
For Eddie, happiness became a daily choice. He made a point of savoring every moment and never taking his life for granted. This attitude not only helped him heal but also inspired countless others who heard his story.
A Living Testament
As one of the few remaining survivors of Auschwitz, Eddie felt a deep responsibility to speak out against Holocaust denial and to educate future generations about the dangers of hatred and intolerance. His talks at the Sydney Jewish Museum became a powerful tool for promoting understanding and combating prejudice.
In 2020, Eddie celebrated his 100th birthday and his 75th wedding anniversary with Flore. Their anniversary date – April 20 – happens to be Hitler's birthday as well. For Eddie, the fact that their love has endured while Hitler is long gone is the sweetest form of revenge.
Lessons from a Century of Life
The Power of Friendship
Throughout his memoir, Eddie emphasizes the crucial role that friendship played in his survival. His bond with Kurt in Auschwitz gave him a reason to keep going when all seemed hopeless. Even after the war, it was reuniting with Kurt and his sister Henni that helped Eddie find the strength to rebuild his life.
Eddie's experiences taught him the immense value of human connection. He encourages readers to cherish their friendships and to be a good friend to others, as you never know when you might be someone's lifeline in their darkest hour.
The Importance of Kindness
Despite witnessing unimaginable cruelty, Eddie also experienced profound acts of kindness that restored his faith in humanity. From the farmers who fed him as he wandered through France to the American soldiers who rescued him, these moments of compassion made a lasting impact.
Eddie believes that kindness has the power to change the world. He urges people to perform small acts of kindness every day, arguing that these gestures, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in someone's life.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Eddie's story is a testament to human resilience. Despite enduring trauma that would break most people, he found the strength not just to survive, but to thrive. He attributes this resilience to several factors:
Having a purpose: Whether it was protecting his friend Kurt or later, sharing his story to educate others, having a sense of purpose gave Eddie the will to keep going.
Adaptability: Eddie's ability to adapt to new situations – from assuming a false identity as a teenager to building a new life in Australia – was crucial to his survival.
Maintaining hope: Even in the darkest moments, Eddie never completely lost hope. He always believed that things could get better, and this belief sustained him.
Gratitude: After the war, Eddie made a conscious effort to be grateful for every day of life. This gratitude helped him find joy even in small things.
The Choice to Be Happy
Perhaps the most powerful lesson from Eddie's life is that happiness is a choice. Despite experiencing trauma and loss that could have left him bitter and angry, Eddie made a conscious decision to embrace joy and positivity.
This doesn't mean that Eddie didn't struggle with the aftermath of his experiences. He acknowledges the pain and grief he carried with him. However, he refused to let these negative emotions dominate his life. Instead, he chose to focus on the good things – his family, his freedom, and the simple pleasures of everyday life.
Eddie's approach to happiness involves:
Living in the present: Rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, Eddie emphasizes the importance of appreciating the here and now.
Finding meaning: By sharing his story and working to educate others, Eddie found a sense of purpose that brought him fulfillment.
Cultivating relationships: Eddie places great value on family and friendships, recognizing that strong connections with others are a key source of happiness.
Practicing gratitude: Eddie makes a point of being thankful for everything he has, never taking even the smallest comforts for granted.
Choosing a positive outlook: While acknowledging the reality of suffering, Eddie consciously chooses to focus on the positive aspects of life.
The Danger of Hatred and Intolerance
Eddie's experiences during the Holocaust serve as a stark warning about the dangers of hatred, prejudice, and intolerance. He saw firsthand how quickly a society can descend into barbarism when these toxic ideologies take hold.
Through his talks and his memoir, Eddie aims to educate people about the horrors of the Holocaust and the importance of standing up against hatred in all its forms. He believes that education and understanding are key to preventing such atrocities from happening again.
Eddie emphasizes that the Holocaust didn't start with gas chambers – it started with words. He urges people to be vigilant against hate speech and discrimination, no matter how small it may seem. By speaking out against intolerance and treating all people with respect and dignity, we can help create a more just and peaceful world.
Conclusion
"The Happiest Man on Earth" is more than just a Holocaust memoir. It's a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a guide to finding joy and meaning in life, even in the face of unimaginable suffering.
Eddie Jaku's journey from the depths of Auschwitz to becoming "the happiest man on Earth" offers profound lessons on survival, resilience, and the power of choosing happiness. His story reminds us of the darkest chapters of human history while also offering hope for a brighter future.
Through his experiences, Eddie teaches us about the importance of friendship, the power of kindness, and the danger of hatred and intolerance. He shows us that happiness is not something that happens to us, but a choice we can make every day.
As one of the last survivors of the Holocaust, Eddie's memoir serves as both a warning and an inspiration. It warns us about the consequences of allowing hatred and prejudice to take root in society. At the same time, it inspires us to embrace life fully, to treat others with kindness and respect, and to find joy in every day.
Eddie's message is clear: life is precious, and every day is a gift. No matter what challenges we face, we have the power to choose happiness and to make a positive impact on the world around us. By sharing his story, Eddie Jaku not only honors the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust but also offers a roadmap for living a life filled with purpose, gratitude, and joy.