By BETHAN SEXTON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
Published: 13:58, 12 November 2024 | Updated: 16:06, 12 November 2024
Justin Trudeau has sparked outrage after refusing to release the names of 900 alleged Nazi war criminals who fled to Canada after the Second World War.
Jewish groups have called the decision, 'disgraceful' and say it dishonors Holocaust victims and survivors.
The Canadian government is concealing the list of names amid fears it could be too embarrassing for the country, TNC reports.
Large numbers of Ukrainian SS Waffen soldiers relocated to Canada following the war.
Officials said there are also concerns the list could be used as Russian propaganda against Ukraine amid Vladimir Putin's ongoing invasion of the eastern European nation.
Justin Trudeau has sparked outrage after refusing to release the names of 900 alleged Nazi war criminals who fled to Canada after World War Two
The list of members of the Nazi-led SS Galicia unit was compiled by the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals in Canada.
The panel then met with members of the Ukrainian community and 'discrete group of individuals or organizations' to consult on whether the names should be released.
But they did not meet with ant Holocaust survivors or advocates pushing for the list's released, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
The decision was met with disgust from Jewish non profit B'nai Brith.
'For decades, B'nai Brith & David Matas, B'nai Brith Canada's senior legal counsel, have fought for full access—only to face endless delays and stonewalling,' the organization said.
'Canada is withholding hundreds of Nazi war-crimes files from the public. This disgraceful secrecy dishonours [sic] survivors and denies justice.'
Bernie Farber, who is the son of a Holocaust survivor and a past member of the Canadian Jewish Congress, branded the decision 'a shameful blot'.
Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, senior director of advocacy and policy at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre, also expressed anger.
Large numbers of Ukrainian SS Waffen Galicia soldiers relocated to Canada following the war
'Absolutely disgusted by the government's decision to continue to conceal the truth about the Nazi war criminals who moved to Canada and enjoyed total impunity,' she said in a post on X.
'What a grave insult to those who suffered at their barbaric hands. What a slap in the face to our great veterans.'
The list makes up the second part of the Deschênes Commission report, which began with a two year inquiry in the 1980s.
The first part was released in 1986 and admitted that Nazis had been permitted to enter Canada and were residing there.
Campaigners including Jewish and Polish groups as well as the United Ukrainian Canadians have long been pushing for the latter half of the report to be released.
However, they were overruled by other Ukrainian heritage groups including the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
It comes after Canadian officials were heavily criticized for inviting former SS soldier Yaroslav Hunka to parliament where he was hailed as a war veteran and given a standing ovation.
House of Commons speaker Anthony Rota was forced to apologize after he recognized Hunka, 99, as 'a Ukrainian Canadian war veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians' and 'a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero.'
They included former Nazi solider Yaroslav Hunka, who was mistakenly hailed as war hero during an appearance at the Canadian parliament last year
The Canadian government fear the list could cause an international embarrassment or be used as Russian propaganda
In 1944, Hunka's unit - the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division - was visited by SS leader Heinrich Himmler, who branded Jewish people a 'dirty blemish' and said his men would be 'eager' to 'liquidate the Poles'.
The division's involvement in war crimes and atrocities - particularly during the German occupation of Ukraine - remains a point of controversy.
Rota was eventually forced to resign over the blunder amid the fierce backlash.
The 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS - also known as the 1st Galician - was mostly made up of Ukrainian volunteers.
It was formed in 1943 and saw action on the Eastern Front. Its primary role was to support German forces in their fight against the Soviet Union.
Source
Published: 13:58, 12 November 2024 | Updated: 16:06, 12 November 2024
Justin Trudeau has sparked outrage after refusing to release the names of 900 alleged Nazi war criminals who fled to Canada after the Second World War.
Jewish groups have called the decision, 'disgraceful' and say it dishonors Holocaust victims and survivors.
The Canadian government is concealing the list of names amid fears it could be too embarrassing for the country, TNC reports.
Large numbers of Ukrainian SS Waffen soldiers relocated to Canada following the war.
Officials said there are also concerns the list could be used as Russian propaganda against Ukraine amid Vladimir Putin's ongoing invasion of the eastern European nation.
Justin Trudeau has sparked outrage after refusing to release the names of 900 alleged Nazi war criminals who fled to Canada after World War Two
The list of members of the Nazi-led SS Galicia unit was compiled by the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals in Canada.
The panel then met with members of the Ukrainian community and 'discrete group of individuals or organizations' to consult on whether the names should be released.
But they did not meet with ant Holocaust survivors or advocates pushing for the list's released, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
The decision was met with disgust from Jewish non profit B'nai Brith.
'For decades, B'nai Brith & David Matas, B'nai Brith Canada's senior legal counsel, have fought for full access—only to face endless delays and stonewalling,' the organization said.
'Canada is withholding hundreds of Nazi war-crimes files from the public. This disgraceful secrecy dishonours [sic] survivors and denies justice.'
Bernie Farber, who is the son of a Holocaust survivor and a past member of the Canadian Jewish Congress, branded the decision 'a shameful blot'.
Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, senior director of advocacy and policy at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre, also expressed anger.
Large numbers of Ukrainian SS Waffen Galicia soldiers relocated to Canada following the war
'Absolutely disgusted by the government's decision to continue to conceal the truth about the Nazi war criminals who moved to Canada and enjoyed total impunity,' she said in a post on X.
'What a grave insult to those who suffered at their barbaric hands. What a slap in the face to our great veterans.'
The list makes up the second part of the Deschênes Commission report, which began with a two year inquiry in the 1980s.
The first part was released in 1986 and admitted that Nazis had been permitted to enter Canada and were residing there.
Campaigners including Jewish and Polish groups as well as the United Ukrainian Canadians have long been pushing for the latter half of the report to be released.
However, they were overruled by other Ukrainian heritage groups including the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
It comes after Canadian officials were heavily criticized for inviting former SS soldier Yaroslav Hunka to parliament where he was hailed as a war veteran and given a standing ovation.
House of Commons speaker Anthony Rota was forced to apologize after he recognized Hunka, 99, as 'a Ukrainian Canadian war veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians' and 'a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero.'
They included former Nazi solider Yaroslav Hunka, who was mistakenly hailed as war hero during an appearance at the Canadian parliament last year
The Canadian government fear the list could cause an international embarrassment or be used as Russian propaganda
In 1944, Hunka's unit - the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division - was visited by SS leader Heinrich Himmler, who branded Jewish people a 'dirty blemish' and said his men would be 'eager' to 'liquidate the Poles'.
The division's involvement in war crimes and atrocities - particularly during the German occupation of Ukraine - remains a point of controversy.
Rota was eventually forced to resign over the blunder amid the fierce backlash.
The 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS - also known as the 1st Galician - was mostly made up of Ukrainian volunteers.
It was formed in 1943 and saw action on the Eastern Front. Its primary role was to support German forces in their fight against the Soviet Union.
Source
