Debates and questions are still in the air after veteran Yaroslav Hunka who fought for the Nazis during the Second World War was invited into the Canadian House of Commons to mark Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit. A 98-year-old Nazi veteran received a standing ovation in Canada’s Parliament and he was also called a hero, who “fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russian aggressors then, and continues to support the troops today”.
However, it later emerged that Hunka used to be part of a Nazi military unit known as the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS organisation, which was involved in killing thousands of innocent people. The SS 14th Waffen Division was also known as the First Ukrainian Division. The unit was made up of Ukrainian volunteers from Galicia, a region that’s changed hands several times throughout history and has been a part of both Poland and Ukraine. The unit was under Nazi command and its members pledged allegiance to Adolf Hitler.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed the regret about the “terrible accident”, but stressed that the country’s authorities “continue to stand incredibly strong with Ukraine in its fight against Russia”. Indeed, the Trudeau speech did not look like the apology, but rather like a chance to remind that Canada would continue support Ukraine and fight against the “Russia’s aggression” by any possible means.
Moreover, the Canadian experts and historians later tried to excuse Parliament’s mistake saying it is not possible to say whether Hunka was involved in the massacre without examining historical records. In 1985, Canada determined that being involved with the division wasn’t a war crime on its own, though people who were involved could still be prosecuted for specific brutalities.
Yet, neglecting of unforgivable crimes of the Nazi is becoming a regular pattern for Canadian authorities. Only a week later after the “Hunka case” Canadian authorities apologized for nominating former SS fighter Peter Savarin for the highest state award back in 1987. Savaryn died in 2017 and as part of the constitution of the Order of Canada his award was automatically rescinded. He was also awarded Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee medals, and Rideau Hall is considering whether those can be rescinded.
The recent “mistakes” of Canadian Parliament show that the country did not learn the historical lessons and have taken the wrong side of the history. So have current Ukrainian President Zelensky who greeted Hunka with the ovation. An effort to excuse Nazi crimes only to show unsolidarity with Russia would lead to more than fatal consequence than anyone in Canadian Parliament can imagine. By fighting fascism the world paid the greatest price which can hardly be carried once again.
