“Unraveling the Myth: Debunking Canada’s Reputation as a Safe Haven”

FIRST READING: Canada has long been slammed as a ‘haven’ for ex-Nazis like Yaroslav Hunka

Pierre Trudeau’s Controversial Decision

The recent incident of an ex-member of the Waffen-SS being applauded in the Canadian House of Commons has reignited long-standing criticism of Canada as a “haven” for ex-Nazis. While the applause was an embarrassment, it is not entirely surprising considering Canada‘s history of harboring former Nazis who fled to the country after World War II. It has been alleged that Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau intentionally refrained from prosecuting Nazi war criminals living in Canada in order to maintain peaceful relations with the European expat communities.

Steve Rambam, a war crimes investigator, has accused Canada of being reluctant to prosecute and deport Axis war criminals. In the 1990s, Rambam went undercover as a university researcher to record testimonies of former Nazi soldiers and collaborators living in Canada. Despite his efforts, only one of his cases, Antanas Kenstavicius, a former member of a collaborationist Lithuanian police force, was pursued by Canadian law enforcement. Kenstavicius ultimately died before his deportation hearings began.

Canada‘s Complicity and Deliberate Inaction

Nazi-hunters have long criticized Canada for its reluctance to prosecute and deport war criminals. The Canadian Jewish Congress, in the late 1940s, warned the Canadian government about the influx of refugees from Eastern Europe, believing that many former Nazi collaborators were using these streams to enter the country under false pretenses. However, their warnings were largely ignored, and it is estimated that around 2,000 war criminals were able to settle in Canada without fear of prosecution.

Irving Abella, a historian and former president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, claimed that Canada‘s decision to ignore the ex-Nazis in its midst was deliberate. He cited a conversation he had with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in which Trudeau openly admitted that Canada did not pursue war criminals to avoid worsening relations between the Jewish and Eastern European ethnic communities.

The Canadian government eventually established the Deschênes Commission in 1986 to address the issue. The commission revealed that there were approximately 100 suspected Axis war criminals living in Canada, with 90 already deceased. It also found that Canada was home to several thousand ex-Nazis who couldn’t be directly implicated in war crimes due to lack of evidence. This included the Galicia Division, a Ukrainian Waffen-SS unit in which Yaroslav Hunka, the ex-member who was applauded in the House of Commons, served.

The Galicia Division and the Limits of Prosecution

The Galicia Division surrendered to the Western Allies at the end of the war and was granted entry into Canada under the belief that its members had joined the SS to fight communism rather than out of Nazi sympathies. While many German commanders in the division were clearly implicated in war crimes, the division itself had not been conclusively linked to any specific atrocities. As a result, the Commission concluded that mere membership in the Galicia Division was insufficient to justify prosecution.

Despite the promise of the Deschênes Commission to bring Canada‘s Nazis to justice, very few cases were pursued by the Canadian government, and only three resulted in successful deportation or extradition. The most notable case was that of Jacob Luitjens, a Dutch-born botany professor who had served in a collaborationist Dutch paramilitary group. Luitjens was stripped of his Canadian citizenship in 1992 and sent back to Europe.

Another significant case was that of Helmut Oberlander, a former member of the Einsatzgruppen “death squads” during the war. It took over three decades to establish that Oberlander had obtained Canadian citizenship through a misrepresentation of his past. However, just as authorities were moving forward with his deportation, Oberlander died of natural causes in 2021.

Editorial: Confronting Canada‘s Dark History

Canada‘s history as a “haven” for ex-Nazis is a stain on its reputation and a source of immense pain for Holocaust survivors and their families. The deliberate inaction and reluctance to prosecute war criminals allowed these individuals to live comfortable lives in Canada, free from the consequences of their actions.

It is crucial for Canada to confront this dark chapter in its history. The recent incident in the House of Commons highlights the need for a comprehensive reevaluation of how Canada deals with individuals associated with war crimes and human rights abuses. The government must take concrete steps to address the concerns raised by Nazi-hunters and ensure that justice is served.

This reevaluation should also extend to examining the ideological underpinnings that allowed ex-Nazis to find safe refuge in Canada. The notion that some war criminals joined the SS to fight communism rather than out of Nazi sympathies must be critically examined and debunked. Canada must reaffirm its commitment to human rights and justice, ensuring that there is no safe haven for individuals involved in war crimes and genocide.

Advice for the Canadian Government

The Canadian government should establish a specialized unit within its law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute war criminals and individuals involved in human rights abuses. This unit should have the necessary resources, expertise, and jurisdiction to effectively carry out its mandate.

Additionally, Canada should collaborate closely with international organizations and other countries to share information, intelligence, and best practices in dealing with war criminals and ex-Nazis. Multilateral efforts can ensure that no country becomes a safe haven for those responsible for horrific crimes against humanity.

Furthermore, Canada should prioritize the education of its citizens about the country’s dark past and the atrocities committed during World War II. Holocaust education should be integrated into school curricula, ensuring that future generations understand the importance of upholding human rights and confronting hate and discrimination.

By taking these measures, Canada can begin to address the lingering consequences of its past actions and work towards justice, accountability, and healing for the survivors of the Holocaust and their families. Only by actively confronting its history can Canada truly live up to its reputation as a champion of human rights and justice.