They shall not enter: anti-semitism in Canada during the 1930s

Abstract

Examination of the historical record reveals that during the 1930s, Canada experienced a particularly vehement form of anti-Semitism across the spectrum of its society. Although anti-Semitism was then world wide, historical events unique to Canada conspired to produce a rise in violent anti-Semitism similar to that seen in Nazi Germany in the early 1930s. The combined influences of the Depression, the massive exodus of primarily Eastern European Jews (Ashkenazic), the Canadian Catholic Church and the emergence of Nazi philosophy coupled with the application of policy of a latently anti-Semitic government resulted in manifestations of dormant prejudice. With its dual French-British national heritage, immigration by Jews introduced a third force, a non-Christian religion and a second minority. By researching the prohibitions in areas of immigration, business, education and residential opportunities, it is possible to see the extent of anti-Semitism and its progression through Canadian society. Although the declaration of war effectively ended public anti-Semitism, an epilogue will reveal that the prejudice went underground, demonstrated in the fact that the Canadian government waived its own ban against immigration by potential Nazi military war criminals. It allowed the entire Galicia Division, a Nazi Waffen SS unit to enter.