A footnote in a book by Dr. Myroslav Shkandrij, titled ‘In The Maelstrom: The Waffen-SS 'Galicia' Division and Its Legacy’ noted that statements against Freeland made in ‘Espirit de Corps,’ accusing Freeland of defending WWII Ukrainian Waffen SS Galicia were 'malicious' and 'defamatory' in intent.
The world watched last Friday as the entirety of Canada’s parliament, including Prime Minster Justin Trudeau, delivered a grandiose standing ovation to First Ukrainian Division World War II (WWII) veteran Yaroslav Hunka. He was there to watch a speech before the House of Commons by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ivan Katchanovksi, a political scientist at the University of Ottawa, first noticed the grave error. “These are photos of SS Galicia Division veteran who was given standing ovation by Canadian parliament, Prime Minister of Canada and president of Ukraine. He published these photos of himself in in this division during training in Germany,” the post read.
The scandal gathered momentum from there, culminating in the resignation of House Speaker Anthony Rota on Tuesday after a rushed convening of party leaders. Rota had been tasked with introducing the special guest seated in the gallery during Zelenskyy’s historic visit.
Rota had described Hunka to the parliamentarians in his speech as a “veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians,” further adding that he was “a Ukrainian hero.”
Hunka, a 98-year-old still active in the Ukranian community, received a thunderous round of applause from the Commons.
Hunka, as it would be revealed, fought in the First Ukrainian Division, or the First Galicia Division - previously known as the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Schutzstaffel (SS) of the Nazi party.
The First Ukrainian Division was crafted in part by Heinrich Himmler, the chief architect of the Holocaust. “Your homeland has become more beautiful since you have lost - on our initiative, I must say - the residents who were so often a dirty blemish on Galicia’s good name - namely the Jews,” said Himmler to his Ukrainian troops in a 1944 speech. “I know that if I ordered you to liquidate the Poles, I would be giving you permission to do what you are eager to do anyway.”
And they did. (more...)
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