Unmasking Historical Nazi Revisionism

October 1, 2023 –
From Internationalist 360

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Ekaterina Cabylis
Annual events held on Jan. 1 in Ukraine to celebrate the birth of Ukrainian ultra-nationalist Stepan Bandera, and other Nazi collaborators.

“If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

– Malcolm X

Nazi historical revisionism seeks to rewrite the history of the Holocaust, minimizing or denying the horrific crimes committed by the Nazis during World War II. When revisionist narratives gain traction, they risk undermining the lessons learned from history, making it easier for future generations to repeat similar atrocities. Nazi historical revisionism often lacks rigorous research methods and credibility, making it a mockery of genuine historical scholarship.

In recent years, Europe has witnessed a concerning resurgence of Nazi revisionism, fueled by far-right extremism, populist movements, and the ease of spreading such views on online platforms. Political alliances with far-right-leaning politicians have further normalized revisionist views, posing a threat to accurate historical memory and the lessons learned from the Holocaust.

The Nazis made concerted efforts to distort and rewrite history during World War II, particularly when it came to the Soviet Union’s role in the conflict. They sought to downplay the significant contribution of the Soviet Union in the fight against Nazi Germany and the liberation of Europe. In reality, the Soviet Union bore the brunt of the Eastern Front, engaging in fierce battles and suffering the most casualties. It was the Red Army that ultimately broke through the German lines and pushed them back, leading to the liberation of Eastern Europe and the eventual fall of Berlin. However, the Nazis, in their propaganda, attempted to undermine the Soviet Union’s role and promote their own false narratives of superiority. Despite their efforts, the historical record remains clear: the Soviet Union played the lead role in defeating Nazi Germany and shaping the outcome of World War II.

Before and during World War II, Canada had a strict immigration policy that turned away Jewish and leftwing refugees fleeing persecution by the Nazis and fascist forces in Europe. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, during the Cold War’s emergence, Canadian governments continued to limit immigration for Jews, communists, and others considered undesirable.

They actively encouraged around 160,000 predominantly anti-Soviet migrants from Eastern Europe, many of whom had collaborated with or shared extreme anti-Soviet and antisemitic views. These migrants had initially welcomed the Nazis as liberators during the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, resulting in millions of Soviet citizens’ deaths.

This shift was a response to the previous wave of Ukrainian migrants who had shown solidarity with international socialism, and Indigenous communities who were building a robust labor union force while advocating for progressive social policies. These earlier Ukrainian migrants had drawn the scrutiny of Canadian authorities, leading to their surveillance and imprisonment.

Canada welcomed Nazi sympathizers, including veterans from Baltic and Ukrainian Waffen SS divisions and fighters from Eastern Europe’s guerrilla armies. These militias, backed by the Nazis, formed the Committee of Subjugated Nations in 1943, later rebranding as the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations in 1946 with support from US, UK, and West German intelligence agencies.

During World War II, Centrist political leaders and parties in various countries faced the challenge of responding to the rise of fascism in Europe. While some centrists opposed fascism and extremism, others were hesitant to take strong and decisive actions. Their desire for stability and avoidance of conflict sometimes led to appeasement policies, as seen in the Munich Agreement in 1938 when Western democracies tried to appease Adolf Hitler. This approach, driven by centrist tendencies, emboldened fascist regimes like Nazi Germany and allowed them to expand their influence and aggression.

The horseshoe theory, which suggests similarities between the far left and far right, isn’t backed by historical or factual accuracy. The Nazis propagated the false belief that Jews were responsible for the rise of Bolshevik communism and were using it to seek global dominance. Consequently, they frequently referred to communism as “Judeo-Bolshevism.” In the eyes of the Nazis, conquering the Soviet Union became a perceived imperative in their quest to eliminate what they perceived as Jewish influence on a global scale. This distorted ideology played a significant role in shaping their policies and actions during World War II.

The Nuremberg Laws, enacted in 1935, were foundational to Nazi racial policies. These laws were directly inspired by American racial legislation, such as the segregation laws in the Southern United States. The Nuremberg Laws introduced a systematic classification of people based on their racial heritage, particularly targeting Jews, similar to the racial segregation of African Americans under Jim Crow. The American eugenics movement, which advocated for selective breeding and the promotion of “Aryan” purity, also influenced Nazi ideas on racial hygiene and the concept of a “master race.”

The Nazi regime, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels, used propaganda extensively to shape public opinion, confuse people and maintain control. They employed various techniques, including the dissemination of false information, manipulation of emotions, and the creation of a cult of personality around Hitler. By fostering a sense of nationalistic pride and portraying the Nazi Party as the savior of Germany, they were able to garner support from a significant portion of the population. They demonized certain groups, particularly Jews, as scapegoats for Germany’s problems, fueling hatred and division. The consistent repetition of these messages through posters, films, speeches, and other media channels made it challenging for many people to discern the truth from the propaganda, contributing to the confusion and the spread of Nazi ideology.

Newspapers were another essential channel for disseminating wartime propaganda. Headlines and articles were carefully curated to boost morale, demonize the enemy, and rally citizens behind their respective causes. Nazi authorities attempted to conceal the extent of their atrocities, using misinformation and secrecy to mask the horrors of concentration camps.

The aftermath of World War II saw the pursuit of justice against Nazi war criminals through various means, such as the Nuremberg Trials and the subsequent hunt for those responsible for heinous crimes. A lesser-known aspect of post-war history involves the immigration of some former Nazis to Canada and the United States. While many high-ranking Nazis faced prosecution, a number managed to enter North America, securing prominent positions. Canada, like the United States, was primarily concerned with attracting skilled labor and did not thoroughly vet all immigrants for wartime activities.

One of the most well-documented cases of former Nazis finding refuge in the United States is Operation Paperclip. This covert CIA program aimed to recruit German scientists, engineers, and technicians, many of whom had worked on advanced military projects during the war. The goal was to harness their expertise for American interests, particularly in the context of the emerging Cold War.

As the old right-wing ideologies became discredited in Western Europe due to their associations with fascism and a struggling capitalist system, the CIA recognized the need to counter anti-NATO trade unionists and intellectuals by cultivating a Democratic Left, whether genuine or manufactured, to engage in ideological warfare. To achieve this, a dedicated CIA sector was established, navigating around potential right-wing Congressional opposition. The Democratic Left served as a tool to combat the radical left and to provide ideological support for U.S. hegemony in Europe. It’s important to note that the ideology of the democratic left had no real influence over shaping U.S. strategic policies and interests; their role was primarily one of ideological reinforcement in service of U.S. objectives.

In the early 1950s, the CIA turned to the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence for insights into the British Columbia shipping industry. Their interest in Canadian trade often stemmed from worries about transactions involving the Soviets, nations under Moscow’s influence, and notable figures like Norman Bethune, who had ties to the USSR due to his fervent commitment to socialism and healthcare reform. Bethune’s advocacy in 1935 for socialist ideals and his experiences in the USSR were closely monitored.

During the Cold War, the USA concealed or downplayed Soviet support for liberation movements by adopting a public stance emphasizing support for self-determination and independence, promoting non-alignment to prevent African nations from aligning with the Soviet bloc, covertly engaging in proxy conflicts framed as battles against Soviet expansionism, discrediting liberation movements as Soviet proxies, and favoring moderate leaders within these movements to shape their direction in ways that aligned with American interests. This complex strategy allowed the U.S. to navigate the Cold War dynamics in Africa while not openly opposing the broader goals of decolonization.

In the mid-20th century, McCarthyism and the formation of NATO were two significant events that shaped the political landscape of the era. McCarthyism, led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, was a period of intense anti-communist sentiment in the United States. McCarthy and his supporters conducted investigations and accused many individuals of being communist sympathizers without substantial evidence. This era of fear and suspicion had a profound impact on American society, leading to blacklists and the infringement of civil liberties. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in 1949, primarily to combat socialism and to counter the expansion of Soviet influence in Europe during the Cold War. NATO’s primary goal was the collective defense against external “socialist threats” in Europe.

There has been criticism of how broader issues concerning Ukrainian collaboration with the Nazis, mass murder, and genocide, including the Holocaust, have been kept under wraps in society by Ultranationalist Ukrainian diaspora groups, the Liberal government, and mainstream corporate media.

Nazis in Ukraine: Seeing through the fog of the information war

These cases, like that of Chrystia Freeland, the Liberal Foreign Minister, have brought attention to the historical narratives surrounding wartime collaboration and its impact on contemporary society. While these instances may not be unique, they highlight the importance of acknowledging historical facts, even when they involve close family members, to ensure a truthful understanding of the past.

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