Canada’s ovation for Nazi
Just after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an address, Canadian lawmakers gave 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, who fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II, a standing ovation.
(Times of Israel, AP) – The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons resigned on Tuesday for inviting a man who fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II to Parliament to attend a speech by the Ukrainian President.
Just after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an address on Friday, Canadian lawmakers gave 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka a standing ovation. Speaker Anthony Rota introduced Hunka as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division.
Canadian lawmakers cheered and Zelensky raised his fist in acknowledgement as Hunka saluted from the gallery during two separate standing ovations. Rota called him a “Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service”.
Observers over the weekend began to publicise the fact that the First Ukrainian Division was also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, or the SS 14th Waffen Division, a voluntary unit that was under the command of the Nazis.
Stepping down, Rota said in Parliament, “I reiterate my profound regret … That public recognition has caused pain to individuals and communities, including to the Jewish community in Canada and around the world in addition to Nazi survivors in Poland among other nations. I accept full responsibility for my actions.”
Canadian Health Minister Mark Holland had called the incident “incredibly embarrassing”.
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies said in a statement that the incident “has left a stain on our country’s venerable legislature with profound implications both in Canada and globally”.
Dani Dayan, the head of Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum, called the ovation a “deplorable moment [that] was a result of ignorance about the facts of the Holocaust”.
In an earlier apology on Sunday, Rota said he alone was responsible for inviting and recognising Hunka, who is from the district that Rota represents. The speaker’s office said on Monday it was Hunka’s son who contacted Rota’s local office to see if it was possible for him to could attend Zelensky’s speech.
Members of Parliament from all parties rose to applaud Hunka, unaware of the details of who he was. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office said it was unaware that Hunka was invited until after the address.
In Moscow, a Kremlin spokesman said it was “outrageous” that Hunka received a standing ovation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has painted his enemies in Ukraine as “neo-Nazis”, although Zelensky is Jewish and lost relatives in the Holocaust.
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