Holocaust survivor and author Eddie Jaku dies, aged 101

Holocaust survivor, peace campaigner and Pan Macmillan author Eddie Jaku has died, aged 101.

Jaku died in a care home in Sydney and is survived by his wife of 75 years, Flore, their sons Michael and Andre, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was born Abraham Jakubowicz in Germany in 1920. During the Second World War he was imprisoned in Buchenwald and Auschwitz concentration camps and in 1945 he was sent on a "death march" but escaped. Finally, he was rescued by Allied soldiers. In 1950 he moved with his family to Australia.

He published his memoirs, The Happiest Man on Earth, with Pan Macmillan last year to celebrate his 100th birthday. The publisher then sold the title, an “uplifting story of resilience in the face of terrible adversity”, into 22 languages over just three weeks.

The publisher said it wished to extend its condolences to Jaku's family and friends. 

Ingrid Connell, publishing director, said: “Eddie's message of hope and compassion, his refusal to hate in spite of suffering so much during the Holocaust, is a lesson for us all. We are proud to publish him and to have helped bring his story out into the world.”