Interview material for Eddie Jaku
Object numberM2025/062
TitleInterview material for Eddie Jaku
CreatorRuth Wirth
DescriptionAudio recording with mini-disk cassette, transcript summary and questionnaire for Eddie Jaku interview.
This interview was part of a research project conducted by Ruth Wirth researching the impact of the Holocaust on orphaned teenage survivors as well as Jewish traditions and practices. During this project, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire before a reference audio interview was recorded with transcript summary.
Eddie Jaku OAM was born Abraham Salomon Jakubowicz in Germany on 14 April 1920 to parents Isidor and Lina. Growing up, Eddie and his family always considered themselves German first and Jewish second. On 9 November 1938, during Kristallnacht, Eddie returned home from boarding school to an empty house. At dawn, Nazi soldiers burst in and beat him before taking him to Buchenwald. He was later released and, with his father, escaped to Belgium and then France. However, he was again captured and sent to a camp, and from there, to Auschwitz. On route, Eddie managed to escape and returned to Belgium where he lived in hiding with his parents and sister.
In October 1943, Eddie's family was arrested and sent to Auschwitz again, 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 he was rescued by Allied soldiers in June 1945.
Flore Mohlo was born in Salonica, Greece, on 28 September 1923. In 1930, her family moved to Brussels, Belgium, primarily for economic reasons, where they joined Flore's maternal grandfather, Bohor Codoverno, who had previously relocated and established a successful dry cleaning and laundry business.
Flore was employed in Brussels when she received a notification of deportation. However, her employer, acting on her behalf, secured an identity card and arranged for the Resistance to facilitate her transportation to Paris. It was during this period that Flore adopted the false name Christiane Delacroix.
After obtaining these false papers, Flore lived in Paris with her half-brother Albert and his wife Madeleine. She regularly attended an acting class at a nearby theater, a pursuit she enjoyed until it became financially unviable. Thereafter, she spent her time standing in long food queues while also attending to domestic duties.
In 1945, Flore returned to Brussels and resumed her work with the Burgermeister Municipal Office. After Liberation, Eddie met Flore in Brussels in 1946 at an office that was distributing ration cards and coupons to Holocaust survivors. They soon married and immigrated to Sydney in 1950.
Eddie and Flore were married for 74 years and had two sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
This interview was part of a research project conducted by Ruth Wirth researching the impact of the Holocaust on orphaned teenage survivors as well as Jewish traditions and practices. During this project, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire before a reference audio interview was recorded with transcript summary.
Eddie Jaku OAM was born Abraham Salomon Jakubowicz in Germany on 14 April 1920 to parents Isidor and Lina. Growing up, Eddie and his family always considered themselves German first and Jewish second. On 9 November 1938, during Kristallnacht, Eddie returned home from boarding school to an empty house. At dawn, Nazi soldiers burst in and beat him before taking him to Buchenwald. He was later released and, with his father, escaped to Belgium and then France. However, he was again captured and sent to a camp, and from there, to Auschwitz. On route, Eddie managed to escape and returned to Belgium where he lived in hiding with his parents and sister.
In October 1943, Eddie's family was arrested and sent to Auschwitz again, 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 he was rescued by Allied soldiers in June 1945.
Flore Mohlo was born in Salonica, Greece, on 28 September 1923. In 1930, her family moved to Brussels, Belgium, primarily for economic reasons, where they joined Flore's maternal grandfather, Bohor Codoverno, who had previously relocated and established a successful dry cleaning and laundry business.
Flore was employed in Brussels when she received a notification of deportation. However, her employer, acting on her behalf, secured an identity card and arranged for the Resistance to facilitate her transportation to Paris. It was during this period that Flore adopted the false name Christiane Delacroix.
After obtaining these false papers, Flore lived in Paris with her half-brother Albert and his wife Madeleine. She regularly attended an acting class at a nearby theater, a pursuit she enjoyed until it became financially unviable. Thereafter, she spent her time standing in long food queues while also attending to domestic duties.
In 1945, Flore returned to Brussels and resumed her work with the Burgermeister Municipal Office. After Liberation, Eddie met Flore in Brussels in 1946 at an office that was distributing ration cards and coupons to Holocaust survivors. They soon married and immigrated to Sydney in 1950.
Eddie and Flore were married for 74 years and had two sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Subjectmarriage, children, impact of Holocaust on family life, mental illness, nightmares, post-liberation recovery, antisemitism, holocaust narratives, barter, camp experiences, mourning, education
Object nametestimonies
Language
- English
German
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum collection, donated by Ruth Wirth
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.