Justin Trudeau has sparked outrage after refusing to reveal the names of 900 alleged Nazi war criminals who fled to Canada after World War II.
Jewish groups have called the decision “shameful” and say it dishonors Holocaust victims and survivors.
The Canadian government is withholding the list of names for fear it could be too embarrassing for the country. TNC information.
A large number of Ukrainian SS Waffen soldiers moved to Canada after the war.
Officials said there are also concerns that 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 reveal the names of 900 alleged Nazi war criminals who fled to Canada after World War II.
The list of members of the Nazi-led SS Galicia unit was compiled by the Commission of Inquiry into War Criminals in Canada.
The panel then met with members of the Ukrainian community and “a discrete group of individuals or organizations” to consult on whether the names should be revealed.
But they did not meet with Holocaust survivors or advocates pushing for the list to be published, Ottawa Citizen information.
The decision was met with chagrin by the Jewish nonprofit B’nai Brith.
“For decades, B’nai Brith and David Matas, senior legal counsel for B’nai Brith Canada, have fought for full access, only to face endless delays and obstacles,” the organization said.
“Canada is hiding hundreds of files on Nazi war crimes from the public. This shameful secret disgraces (sic) the survivors and denies justice.’
Bernie Farber, the son of a Holocaust survivor and former member of the Canadian Jewish Congress, called the decision “a shameful stain.”
Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, senior director of advocacy and policy at the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, also expressed anger.
A large number of Ukrainian SS Waffen Galicia soldiers moved to Canada after the war.
“Absolutely disgusted by the government’s decision to continue hiding the truth about 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 his barbaric hands. What a slap in the face for our great veterans!
The list constitutes the second part of the Deschênes Commission report, which began with a two-year investigation in the 1980s.
The first part was published in 1986 and admitted that Nazis had been allowed into Canada and resided there.
Activists, including Jewish and Polish groups, as well as the United Ukrainian Canadians, have long been pushing for the second 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 received a standing ovation.
Commons Speaker Anthony Rota was forced to apologize after recognizing 99-year-old Hunka as “a Ukrainian-Canadian war veteran of World War II who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians” and “a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero.”
Among them was former Nazi soldier Yaroslav Hunka, who was mistakenly hailed as a war hero during an appearance in the Canadian parliament last year.
The Canadian government fears the list could cause 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 called the Jewish people a “filthy stain” and said his men would be “anxious.” for “liquidating 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 mistake amid the fierce backlash.
The 14th SS Waffen Grenadier Division, also known as the 1st Galician, consisted mainly of Ukrainian volunteers.
It was formed in 1943 and saw action on the Eastern Front. Its main function was to support German forces in their fight against the Soviet Union.