Memorials in Canada to Nazis and Nazi collaborators: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|List of Ukrainian Insurgent Army monuments in Canada}}
{{Short description|List of Ukrainian Insurgent Army monuments in Canada}}


Canada has several monuments that to varying degrees commemorate people and groups accused of [[collaboration with the Axis powers|collaboration with Nazi forces]], including the [[14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician)]] and [[Roman Shukhevych]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Golinkin |first=Lev |date=2020-07-21 |title=Canada’s Nazi Monuments |language=en-US |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/world/canada-nazi-monuments-antisemitism/ |access-date=2022-11-20 |issn=0027-8378}}</ref> International Military Tribunal's verdict at the [[Nuremberg Trials]] declares the entire [[Waffen-SS]] a "criminal organization" guilty of [[war crimes]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Waffen-SS |url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/waffen-ss |access-date=4 October 2018 |website=jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref> Many of these monuments have been vandalized by activists at differing times as "Nazi monuments". Canadian police apologized for originally stating that the anti-Nazi vandalism of those monuments is motivated by hate.<ref name="adamcarter">{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=Adam |date=17 July 2020 |title=Police apologize for saying anti-Nazi vandalism was 'hate motivated' |work=Canada Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/monument-vandalism-nazi-1.5654169 |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pugliese |first=David |date=17 July 2020 |title=Graffiti on monument commemorating Nazi SS division being investigated as a hate crime by police |work=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/graffiti-on-monument-commemorating-nazi-ss-division-being-investigated-as-a-hate-crime-by-police/wcm/957b5e7e-e26f-46f0-92a4-6e26842dbd23/ |access-date=17 July 2020}}</ref> Leaders of the Canadian Ukrainian community said the Ukrainian monuments are not related to Nazism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holt |first=Faygie |date=2021-08-16 |title=Canadian Jewish group renews campaign to remove World War II-era monuments |url=https://www.jns.org/canadian-jewish-group-renews-campaign-to-remove-world-war-ii-era-monuments/ |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=JNS.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
Canada has several monuments that to varying degrees commemorate people and groups accused of [[collaboration with the Axis powers|collaboration with Nazi forces]]. International Military Tribunal's verdict at the [[Nuremberg Trials]] declares the entire [[Waffen-SS]] a "criminal organization" guilty of [[war crimes]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Waffen-SS |url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/waffen-ss |access-date=4 October 2018 |website=jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref> Many of these monuments have been vandalized by activists at differing times as "Nazi monuments". Canadian police apologized for originally stating that the anti-Nazi vandalism of those monuments is motivated by hate.<ref name="adamcarter">{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=Adam |date=17 July 2020 |title=Police apologize for saying anti-Nazi vandalism was 'hate motivated' |work=Canada Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/monument-vandalism-nazi-1.5654169 |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pugliese |first=David |date=17 July 2020 |title=Graffiti on monument commemorating Nazi SS division being investigated as a hate crime by police |work=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/graffiti-on-monument-commemorating-nazi-ss-division-being-investigated-as-a-hate-crime-by-police/wcm/957b5e7e-e26f-46f0-92a4-6e26842dbd23/ |access-date=17 July 2020}}</ref> Leaders of the Canadian Ukrainian community said the Ukrainian monuments are not related to Nazism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holt |first=Faygie |date=2021-08-16 |title=Canadian Jewish group renews campaign to remove World War II-era monuments |url=https://www.jns.org/canadian-jewish-group-renews-campaign-to-remove-world-war-ii-era-monuments/ |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=JNS.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Roman Shukhevych statue, Edmonton ==
[[File:Roman Shukhevych statue, Edmonton, vandalised.jpeg|thumb|The Shukhevych statue vandalised (left) and normally (right)]]
{{Main|Roman Shukhevych statue (Edmonton)}}
The bronze bust<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2018-08-13 |title=Canadian monument to controversial Ukrainian national hero ignites debate |url=https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2018/08/13/shukhevych-monument-canada-oun-upa/ |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=RCI {{!}} English |language=en-US}}</ref> of Nazi collaborator Roman Shukhevych was built in 1973 by Ukrainian [[World War II]] veterans on private land near the Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex in [[Edmonton]], Alberta.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=25 Oct 2022 |title=Alberta journalist charged with mischief in vandalism of controversial statue |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-police-mischief-charge-roman-shukhevych-statue-1.6629671}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Group resumes decades-old fight to remove statue of Ukrainian Nazi collaborator outside Edmonton cultural centre |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/group-resumes-decades-old-fight-to-remove-statue-of-ukrainian-nazi-collaborator-outside-edmonton-cultural-centre |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=edmontonjournal |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-13 |title=Ukrainian monuments vandalized, group calls for their removal over historical record |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/ukrainian-monuments-vandalized-group-calls-for-their-removal-over-historical-record-1.5546656 |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=Edmonton |language=en}}</ref> The statue was vandalised in 2019 when someone added the words "Nazi scum".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Noakes |first=Taylor |date=7 Nov 2022 |title=Canada Has a Nazi Monument Problem |url=https://jacobin.com/2022/11/roman-shukhevych-monument-canada-nazi-ukrainian-ultranationalism |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=jacobin.com |language=en-US}}</ref> It was vandalised again in 2021 when someone added the words "Actual Nazi" in red paint.<ref name=":2" />

== Memorial at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Edmonton ==
[[File:War Memorial St. Michael’s Cemetery, Edmonton.jpeg|thumb|Vandalism of the memorial at St. Michael's Cemetery]]
A memorial reading: ''For those who fought for Ukraine’s Freedom'' was constructed in 1976 by the former Ukrainian Waffen-SS<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rudling |first=Per A. |date= |title=Multiculturalism, memory, and ritualization: Ukrainian nationalist monuments in Edmonton, Alberta |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/nationalities-papers/article/abs/multiculturalism-memory-and-ritualization-ukrainian-nationalist-monuments-in-edmonton-alberta/822C91BEEA821235D6E3CD0007530A25 |journal=Nationalities Papers |language=en |volume=39 |issue=5 |pages=733–768 |doi=10.1080/00905992.2011.599375 |issn=0090-5992}}</ref> in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Edmonton was vandalized by painting "Nazi monument to [[14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician)|14th Waffen SS]]". According to Friends of [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]], such a painting reflects the actual historical record of people commemorated by the monument. Jewish organizations requested the removal of damaged memorial.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lung |first=Raylene |title=Jewish groups call for removal of vandalized Ukrainian WWII memorial |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/jewish-groups-call-for-removal-of-vandalized-ukrainian-wwii-memorial-1.6139297 |url-status=live |archive-url= |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> However, the [[Ukrainian Catholic Church]] called the vandalism "part of the decades long Russian disinformation campaign against Ukraine and Ukrainians to create a false Nazi image of Ukrainian freedom fighters."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-13 |title=Ukrainian monuments vandalized, group calls for their removal over historical record |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/ukrainian-monuments-vandalized-group-calls-for-their-removal-over-historical-record-1.5546656 |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Edmonton |language=en}}</ref> The St. Michael’s monument is dedicated to "Fighters for the Freedom of Ukraine". One of it's plaque is an abbreviation for the First Division Division of the [[Ukrainian National Army]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2021 |first=Duncan |last=Kinney |title=Nazi collaborator monuments in Edmonton defaced with red paint and words “Actual Nazi” and “Nazi Monument” |url=https://www.theprogressreport.ca/monuments_to_nazi_collaborators_in_edmonton_vandalized_again |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=The Progress Report}}</ref><ref name="Toronto p. 17">Hajke Wolf-Dietrich The Ukrainian Division "Galicia" Toronto, 1970 p. 17</ref> On April 25, 1945, the Waffen-SS Galizien was officially reorganized as the First Division of the Ukrainian National Army, and swear a new oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last=Rudling |first=Per Anders |date=July–September 2012 |title='They Defended Ukraine': The 14. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (Galizische Nr. 1) Revisited |journal=Journal of Slavic Military Studies |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=339–359 |doi=10.1080/13518046.2012.705633 |s2cid=144432759}}</ref> [[Bernie Farber]] of the [[Canadian Jewish Congress]] writes that: "Removing this monument will require the [[Ukrainian Canadians|Ukrainian-Canadian]] community to take a hard look at its own history."<ref>{{Cite news |first=Bernie |last=Farber |date=2020-07-22 |title=Bernie Farber: Canada's monument to Nazi soldiers |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/bernie-farber-canadas-monument-to-nazi-soldiers |access-date=2022-11-21}}</ref>

== Memorial at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery, Oakville ==
{{multiple image
| width = 135
| image1 = UPA Monument 3.jpg
| alt1 =
| image2 = SS Galician monument.jpg
| alt2 =
| footer = ''Monument to the Glory of the UPA'' (left) and cenotaph (right) at the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery
| align = right
}}

The granite [[Ukrainian Insurgent Army]] memorial entitled ''Pamiatnyk Slavy UPA'' ([[English language|English]]: ''Monument to the Glory of the UPA'') was inaugurated on May 26, 1988 in the [[St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery]] in [[Oakville, Ontario]].<ref name=":5" /> The memorial commemorates a [[World War II]] battle fought by the [[14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician)]], a military branch of the [[Nazi Party]] [[Waffen-SS]], against the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Red Army]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Samphir |first=Harrison |date=26 July 2020 |title=Why is a monument commemorating a Nazi SS division still standing outside Toronto? |url=https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/why-is-a-monument-commemorating-a-nazi-ss-division-still-standing-outside-of-toronto |journal=[[Canadian Dimension]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Golinkin |first=Lev |date=2020-07-21 |title=Canada’s Nazi Monuments |language=en-US |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/world/canada-nazi-monuments-antisemitism/ |access-date=2022-11-21 |issn=0027-8378}}</ref> The SS division's insignia was added to the memorial soon after inauguration.<ref name=":5">{{cite book |last1=Rudling |first1=Per Anders |url=https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/progressalberta/pages/2693/attachments/original/1594062960/Per_Anders_Rudling_-_Nationalist_Monuments_in_Canada.pdf?1594062960 |title=Public Memory in the Context of Transnational Migration and Displacement |date=3 July 2020 |isbn=978-3-030-41329-3 |editor1-last=Marschall |editor1-first=Sabine |pages=105–108 |chapter=Long-Distance Nationalism: Ukrainian Monuments and Historical Memory in Multicultural Canada |author-link1=Per Anders Rudling}}</ref> The memorial was vandalised in mid-June 2022 when someone added the words "Nazi war monument".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Pugliese |first=David |date=17 July 2020 |title=Graffiti on monument commemorating Nazi SS division being investigated as a hate crime by police |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/graffiti-on-monument-commemorating-nazi-ss-division-being-investigated-as-a-hate-crime-by-police |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=ottawacitizen |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-17 |title=Canada police investigate vandalism of monument to Nazi troops as hate crime |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/17/canada-nazi-monument-vandalism-hate-crime |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

The memorial was also the subject of complaints from the [[Embassy of Russia, Ottawa|Russian Embassy to Canada]] in 2017, although the criticism was dismissed by Canadian media as part of a "disinformation campaign" in the context of the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russian annexation of Crimea]] three years earlier.<ref name=":6" /> Ihor Michalchyshyn, the CEO of the [[Ukrainian Canadian Congress]] accused Russia of obfuscation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Marie-Danielle |date=2017-12-23 |title=Ukrainian-Canadian community urged to confront WWII past amid controversy over monuments |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ukrainian-canadian-community-urged-to-confront-past-amid-controversy-over-monuments-to-nazi-collaborators |access-date=2022-11-21}}</ref>

Jewish [[B'nai B'rith|B’nai Brith]] organization and the [[Canadian Polish Congress]] joined forces and called for the monument's removal by releasing a joint statement saying that the presence of monuments that whitewash the [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]] and [[Nazism|Nazi ideology]] is unacceptable in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-28 |title=B'nai Brith Taking Action Against Nazi Glorification |url=https://albertajewishnews.com/bnai-brith-taking-action-against-nazi-glorification/ |access-date= |website=Alberta Jewish News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Canadian Jewish and Polish Groups Join Forces to Demand Removal of SS Monument at Ontario Cemetery |url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/07/31/canadian-jewish-and-polish-groups-join-forces-to-demand-removal-of-ss-monument-at-ontario-cemetery/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Algemeiner.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton stated that he would remove the monument but he can’t, because municipalities have no right to regulate private cemeteries.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Disgusted': Oakville cemetery facing calls to remove what's being called a Nazi monument |url=https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/10130501--disgusted-oakville-cemetery-facing-calls-to-remove-what-s-being-called-a-nazi-monument/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=InsideHalton.com |language=en-CA}}</ref>


== Draža Mihailović statue, Hamilton ==
== Draža Mihailović statue, Hamilton ==

Revision as of 11:46, 26 November 2022

Canada has several monuments that to varying degrees commemorate people and groups accused of collaboration with Nazi forces. International Military Tribunal's verdict at the Nuremberg Trials declares the entire Waffen-SS a "criminal organization" guilty of war crimes.[1] Many of these monuments have been vandalized by activists at differing times as "Nazi monuments". Canadian police apologized for originally stating that the anti-Nazi vandalism of those monuments is motivated by hate.[2][3] Leaders of the Canadian Ukrainian community said the Ukrainian monuments are not related to Nazism.[4]

Draža Mihailović statue, Hamilton

Draža Mihailović Monument in Hamilton, Ontario.

There is a statue in Hamilton, Ontario of Draža Mihailović, a Yugoslav Serb general during World War II. He was the leader of the Chetniks, a royalist and Serbian nationalist movement and guerrilla force, who collaborated with the Nazis following the German invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941.[5]

Mount Pétain

A mountain formerly known as Mount Pétain, but with no current official name, is located on the border of the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. It was named in 1918 after the then-to-be Nazi collaborator, the French Marshal Philippe Pétain,[6][7] who was then an honoured war hero for the Allies of World War I. The name was retained despite the later reversal in Pétain's reputation after his having been Head of State of Vichy France and being partly responsible for the murder of 76,000 Jews.[8][9]

The name was rescinded by the governments of the two provinces in which the mountain sits in 2019 and 2021 respectively. As of July 2022, neither of the government had decided on a new name.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Waffen-SS". jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  2. ^ Carter, Adam (17 July 2020). "Police apologize for saying anti-Nazi vandalism was 'hate motivated'". Canada Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  3. ^ Pugliese, David (17 July 2020). "Graffiti on monument commemorating Nazi SS division being investigated as a hate crime by police". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  4. ^ Holt, Faygie (2021-08-16). "Canadian Jewish group renews campaign to remove World War II-era monuments". JNS.org. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  5. ^ "Nazi collaborator monuments in Canada". The Forward.
  6. ^ "Mount Petain". cdnrockiesdatabases.ca. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  7. ^ "Mount Petain". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  8. ^ Golinkin, Lev. "Nazi collaborator monuments around the world". The Forward. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  9. ^ "Mount Pétain". BC Geographical Names. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  10. ^ "Canadian mountain no longer named for Nazi collaborator thanks to father and son". CBC Radio. July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.

External links

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