The Speaker of Canada’s House of Commons has apologized for recognizing a man who allegedly fought for the Nazi SS in World War II.
Anthony Rota had hailed 98-year-old Jaroslaw Hunka as “a Ukrainian-Canadian World War II war veteran who fought for Ukraine’s independence against the Russians” and as “a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero.”
Members of the Canadian Parliament then gave Hunka a standing ovation, prompting him to smile and give a thumbs up.
Rota then apologized when it emerged that Hunka had served in a division of the Nazi SS during the war, according to the Jewish advocacy group Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center.
They called Rota’s heartfelt introduction “shocking” and “incredibly disturbing” and said an apology was due to survivors and veterans of the Holocaust.
Rota, a Liberal MP, apologized on Sunday and said he “later became aware of additional information” that caused him to “regret” his recognition of Hunka.
The speaker’s address came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an impassioned speech to the Canadian House of Commons.
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Yaroslav Hunka (right) waits for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to arrive at the House of Commons in Ottawa on Friday. The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons apologized Sunday for recognizing Hunka, who fought for a Nazi military unit in World War II
The apology came Sunday in a statement from Anthony Rota (right), who said he had only just learned that Hunka, 98, had served in a Nazi unit. Also present were Justin Trudeau and Zelensky, who the speaker said were also unaware of the veteran’s story
After Rota praised Hunka, Canadian lawmakers cheered and Zelensky, who is Jewish and lost a relative in the Holocaust, raised his fist in recognition as the veteran saluted from the gallery.
Both Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took part in the standing ovation that followed.
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center said Sunday that Rota’s comments “ignore the terrible fact that Hunka served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well documented.” “.
They added: “Every Holocaust survivor and World War II veteran who fought against the Nazis deserves an apology and an explanation must be given as to how that person could enter the hallowed halls of the Canadian Parliament and receive recognition from the Speaker of the House.” Parliament received a standing ovation.’
Rota, 62, said in his statement yesterday: “In my remarks following the speech by the President of Ukraine, I recognized a person in the gallery.”
“Subsequently, I became aware of further information that makes me regret my decision to do this.”
He further emphasized that it was his idea to honor Hunka.
“This initiative was entirely my own… I would like to extend my deepest apology especially to the Jewish communities in Canada and around the world,” he said.
Hunka could not immediately be reached for comment.
The 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS – also called the 1st Galician Division – consisted largely of Ukrainian volunteers.
It was founded in 1943 and saw action on the Eastern Front. Its main task was to support the German armed forces in the fight against the Soviet Union.
The division’s involvement in war crimes and atrocities – particularly during the German occupation of Ukraine – remains controversial.
On the 78th anniversary of the division’s formation in 2021, hundreds of Ukrainians took part in a parade in Kyiv.
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center claimed the department was “responsible for the mass murder of innocent civilians with a level of brutality and malevolence that is unimaginable.”
MPs then gave Hunka a standing ovation after Speaker Rota drew attention to him. In response, the elderly former Third Reich supporter gave a thumbs up and smiled at some of Canada’s most important figures. He has not yet commented on the apparent mix-up
After Zelensky addressed the House of Commons on Friday, Canadian MPs gave the hunka a standing ovation – after Rota drew attention to the senior by calling him a “Canadian.” [and] Ukrainian Hero’
The Ukrainian politician’s visit came as part of the two countries’ continued alliance against Russia and after a year he secured another multi-million dollar aid package from the US
MPs from all parties rose to applaud Hunka. A Conservative Party spokesman said the party was not aware of his past at this time
Regarding Rota’s apology, a statement issued on Mr. Trudeau’s behalf said: “It was the right thing to do.”
“The Prime Minister’s Office and the Ukrainian delegation were not informed in advance of the invitation or recognition,” the prime minister’s team said.
The Ukrainian president was in Ottawa to further bolster support from Western allies for his country’s war against Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly described Ukrainian troops as neo-Nazis.
Canadian lawmakers cheered and Zelensky raised his fist in recognition as Hunka saluted from the gallery with two standing ovations – almost everyone in attendance, including Trudeau and Zelensky, who did not know him, gave him a standing ovation
Although Zelensky is Jewish and a relative in the Holocaust, he has not yet commented on the massive mix-up
The First Ukrainian Division was also known as the Waffen-SS Galizien Division or 14th SS Waffen Division, a volunteer unit that was under Nazi command.
Michael Mostyn, the CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, said it was “beyond outrageous” that Parliament honored Hunka.
He said Ukrainian “ultranationalist ideologues” who volunteered for the Galicia Division “dreamed of an ethnically homogeneous Ukrainian state and advocated the idea of ethnic cleansing.”