If you’re ever asked to honor a World War II veteran, it’s a good idea to take a few minutes to learn which side of the war they were on.
The Canadian government, it turns out, did not do that. As a result, the Speaker of Canada’s House of Commons, Anthony Rota, called a Nazi fighter a “hero.” You hate to see it.
So how did we even get here? It’s a long story, but we’ll make it quick. During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent visit to Canada, some local Ukrainians were invited to spice up the audience. One of those local Ukrainians was 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka.
canadian nazi being honored in parliament: has best day of his entire life
— pudding person (@JUNlPER) September 26, 2023
next morning: *poland ringing up canada* can we execute him please
“We have here in the chamber today a Ukrainian-Canadian veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops today, even at his age of 98,” Rota remarked. “He’s a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service.”
So what was that service, you ask? According to Politico, Hunka “fought with the First Ukrainian Division — also known as the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division, which served under command of the Nazis.” Rota has since apologized for the action.
I still can't believe the entire Canadian parliament gave a standing ovation to a literal Nazi SS officer who fought against the army that liberated Auschwitz, and Canada itself. But it's true. They actually did. And no one will face any consequences. In fact they'll do it again pic.twitter.com/Rxx1pUWglg
— ☀️ (@zei_squirrel) September 24, 2023
Somehow, this isn’t the first Ukrainian Nazi gaffe in Canada’s history. In January of last year, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said that the country needed to support Ukraine unconditionally in its defensive war against Russia. “Canadians — our own parents and grandparents — fought and died to establish a rules-based international order during and after the Second World War,” she said.
The only problem? Her own grandfather “edited Krakivski Visti, a Nazi propaganda rag in occupied Krakow that was printed on a press confiscated from a Jewish newspaper,” per Tablet. Oops!
While Rota’s call for applause appears to have been a genuine accident, it’s not a great look, especially given a number of images coming out of the current war showing Ukrainian soldiers sporting Nazi iconography.
The lesson here? If you’re going to applaud someone, make sure you Google them first.
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