The Second World War fascinates me, in large part because all four of my grandparents suffered through the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, from 1940 to 1945.
My grandfather was also a prisoner of war in a German camp. He returned to the Netherlands in 1945 as a mere shell of his former self, both physically and mentally. Some of his scars never healed; the kind, jovial, fun-loving practical jokester from the pre-war years was gone forever.
kAm(96? E96 C:89ED 2?5 7C665@>D @7 r2?25:2?D H6C6 23CFAE=J EC2>A=65 :?E@ E96 8C@F?5 :? 62C=J a_a_[ x 4@F=5 ?@E 96=A 3FE ?@E:46 E96C6 H6C6 D@>6 G6CJ C62= D:>:=2C:E:6D E@ H92E E96 sFE49 6IA6C:6?465 7@C 7:G6 F8=J J62CDi C6DEC:4E:@?D @? >66E:?8D 2?5 82E96C:?8D[ G:@=2E:@?D @7 C6=:8:@FD 7C665@>[ A2DE@CD :? ;2:=[ 4FC76HD[ E96 46?D@CD9:A @7 :562D H9:49 E96 2FE9@C:E:6D 566>65 “HC@?8” @C “72=D6[” 2 9@DE @7 ?6H CF=6D E@ >2<6 52:=J =:76 >:D6C23=6[ 2?5 E96 @?8@:?8 AF3=:4 G:=:7:42E:@? @7 2 >:?@C:EJ 2D 36:?8 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C D@4:6EJ’D AC@3=6>D]k^Am
kAmp== >2??6C @7 DF776C:?8 2?5 92C5D9:A H6C6 :?7=:4E65 @? A6@A=6 :? E96 ?2>6 @7 2? :56@=@8J[ 2? :56@=@8J E@ H9:49 6G6CJ@?6 H2D C6BF:C65 E@ A2J =:A D6CG:46]k^Am
kAmqFE DFC6=J H6VC6 ?@H :? E96 4=62C :? r2?252[ D@>6 >:89E 2C8F6] (6 2C6 ?@ =@?86C C6BF:C65 E@ G:CEF6\D:8?2= @FC 2==68:2?46 E@ E96 8@G6C?>6?E’D 72=D6 4=2:> E92E r~'xs\`h :D 2D 325 2D E96 $A2?:D9 u=F @7 `h`g[ 3642FD6 >2D< >2?52E6D 92G6 =2AD65] u656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E @77:4:2=D 25>:EE65 AF3=:4=J[ :? E96 4@?E6IE @7 qC:2? !64<7@C5’D 4@FCE 24E:@? 282:?DE EC2G6= C6DEC:4E:@?D E92E G:@=2E65 @FC r92CE6C >@3:=:EJ C:89ED[ E96C6 H2D ?6G6C 2?J >65:42= @C D4:6?E:7:4 32D:D 7@C 32CC:?8 F?:?;64E65 r2?25:2?D 7C@> 3@2C5:?8 2:CA=2?6D]k^Am
kAmw@FD6D @7 H@CD9:A 2C6 7F==J @A6?[ 2?5 ?@ A2DE@CD 2C6 :? ;2:= … 4FCC6?E=J] $>2== 3FD:?6DD6D 4C:AA=65 3J =@4<5@H?D 2AA62C E@ 36 >2<:?8 2 4@>6\324<[ D2G6 E9@D6 E92E H:== ?6G6C 4@>6 324<] %96 C646?E AF3=:4 :?BF:CJ :?E@ E96 FD6 @7 E96 t>6C86?4:6D p4E >256 :E 4=62C E@ C62D@?23=6 r2?25:2?D E96C6 H2D ?@ =682= 32D:D 7@C 564=2C:?8 2? :?4@?G6?:6?E\3FE\A62467F= AC@E6DE :? ~EE2H2 E@ 36 2 “?2E:@?2= 6>6C86?4J]”k^Am
kAm|2?J[ E9@F89 ?@E 2==[ @7 E96 F?;FDE=J 5:D>:DD65 6>A=@J66D 2C6 324< E@ H@C<[ ?@ =@?86C AF?:D965 7@C E96:C =68:E:>2E6 564:D:@? E@ C67FD6 2? :?;64E:@? H:E9 2 DF3DE2?46 7@C H9:49 E96C6 :D DE:== ?@ =@?8\E6C> D276EJ 52E2] |2?J r2?25:2?D C68C6E E96:C 564:D:@? E@ DFCC6?56C E@ F?6E9:42= AC6DDFC6 E@ 86E :?;64E65 H:E9 D@>6E9:?8 E92EVD 4=62C=J ?@E 67764E:G6 :? DE@AA:?8 r~'xs EC2?D>:DD:@? @C :==?6DD] (:E9 8C@H:?8 6G:56?46 @7 G244:?6 92C>D 2?5 G244:?6 562E9D[ >2?J 5@F3=6\:?;64E65 r2?25:2?D A=2? E@ C67FD6 2 E9:C5 D9@E :7 E96 2FE9@C:E:6D >2?52E6 :E]k^Am
kAmx?5665[ r2?252 :D :? 36EE6C D92A6 E92? :E H2D `a >@?E9D 28@[ @C ac >@?E9D 28@]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 =24< @7 C6>@CD6 2?5 E96 F?H:==:?8?6DD E@ 2446AE C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ @? E96 A2CE @7 >@DE A@=:E:4:2?D 2?5 962=E9 3FC62F4C2ED :D 5:D4@?46CE:?8] $@ :D E96 F?H:==:?8?6DD @7 >2?J r2?25:2?D E@ E2<6 2 92C5 2?5 9@?6DE =@@< 2E E96 92C>D 42FD65 3J =@4<5@H?D 2?5 G244:?6 >2?52E6D]k^Am
kAm(6 2C6 @?6 DF446DD7F= C@F?5 @7 A@=:E:42= 762C>@?86C:?8 2H2J 7C@> =@D:?8 @FC C:89ED 2?5 7C665@>D 2== @G6C 282:?] u656C2= =68:D=2E:@? E@ 6IE6?5 E96 A@H6C @7 E96 r2?25:2? #25:@\E6=6G:D:@? 2?5 %6=64@>>F?:42E:@?D r@>>:DD:@? Wr#%rX @G6C r2?25:2?D’ A@542DED 2?5 k6>m*@F%F36k^6>m G:56@D :D @>:?@FD] %2=< @7 32??:?8 2?5 AF?:D9:?8 “92E6” DA6649 WH9:49 :D DA6649 H@<6 AC@8C6DD:G6D 92E6X 2?5 “5:D:?7@C>2E:@?” W6I4=F5:?8 8@G6C?>6?E 5:D:?7@C>2E:@?[ @7 4@FCD6X :D @>:?@FD[ 2?5 G6CJ >F49 :? =:?6 H:E9 E96 C2E:@?2=6 E92E 2== C6AC6DD:G6 C68:>6D FD6 E@ ;FDE:7J 46?D@CD9:Ai “H6 ?665 E@ AC@E64E E96 AF3=:4 7C@> 52?86C@FD :562D]”k^Am
kAm%96 7@C465 :>A@D:E:@? @7 E96 H@<6 :56@=@8J @7 “5:G6CD:EJ[ 6BF:EJ[ :?4=FD:@?” W8@@5 E9:?8D H96? AC@A6C=J F?56CDE@@5[ 3FE 52?86C@FD D=@82?D H96? 23FD65X :D :?764E:?8 F?:G6CD:E:6D[ D49@@=D[ 4@CA@C2E:@?D 2?5 8@G6C?>6?E 3@5:6D 2E 2? 2=2C>:?8 C2E6]k^Am
kAmx7 =@4<5@H?D[ EC2G6= C6DEC:4E:@?D 2?5 5:D4C:>:?2E:@? 282:?DE E96 F?:?;64E65 >:?@C:EJ 5@ ?@E >2<6 2 4@>6324<[ H6 =:<6=J DE:== 7246 7FCE96C 288C6DD:G6 2DD2F=ED @? @FC r92CE6C 7C665@>D :? E96 ?@E\E@@\5:DE2?E 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAm%9:D 4FCC6?E =F==[ 36EH66? E96 C646?E G:@=2E:@?D @7 @FC r92CE6C 7C665@>D Wa_a_\a_aaX 2?5 @E96CD E92E >2J 36 7@CE94@>:?8 :? a_ab[ >2<6D >6 E9:?< @7 E96 !9@?J (2C E92E E@@< A=246 7C@> $6AE6>36C `hbh E@ |2J `hc_]k^Am
kAmp7E6C w:E=6C 2?5 $E2=:? D6?E E96:C C6DA64E:G6 2C>:6D :?E@ !@=2?5 :? $6AE6>36C `hbh[ 3@E9 uC2?46 2?5 qC:E2:? 564=2C65 H2C @? }2K: v6C>2?J] qFE G:CEF2==J ?@ 7:89E:?8 E@@< A=246 5FC:?8 E96 ?6IE 6:89E >@?E9D[ F?E:= E96 }2K:D DF446DD7F==J :?G2565 2?5 4@?BF6C65 E96 }6E96C=2?5D[ q6=8:F>[ {FI6>3FC8 2?5 uC2?46 :? |2J @7 `hc_] w6?46 E96 E6C> “!9@?J (2C” E@ 56D4C:36 E9@D6 6:89E >@?E9D @7 “7@C>2= H2C” H:E9 2=>@DE ?@ >:=:E2CJ 24E:G:EJ] xE D66>D r2?252’D 7656C2= 2?5 AC@G:?4:2= 8@G6C?>6?ED 2C6 ?@E H:==:?8 E@ C6:>A@D6 =@4<5@H?D 2E E9:D E:>6] qFE E96 DA:C:E @7 2FE9@C:E2C:2?:D> :D 2=:G6 2?5 H6== :? E96 962CED 2?5 >:?5D @7 >@DE A@=:E:4:2?D 2?5 E96:C va_\2EE6?5:?8 76==@H EC2G6==6CD[ A@:?E:?8 E@ 8C2G6 52?86CD :? a_ab]k^Am
kAm$@[ H92E E@ 5@nk^Am
kAm!C@\7C665@> r2?25:2?D ?665 E@ 4@?E:?F6 DAC625:?8 ECFE9 E@ @A6?\>:?565 7C:6?5D[ ?6:893@FCD[ 4@==628F6D 2?5 72>:=J >6>36CD] %9@D6 H9@ 496C:D9 2 7C66 2?5 AC@DA6C@FD D@4:6EJ >FDE 4@?E:?F6 4@>>F?:42E:?8 H:E9 @FC |!D 2?5 @FC AC@G:?4:2= A@=:E:4:2?D[ 6G6? :7 @FC >6DD286 D@>6E:>6D 72==D @? 5627 62CD]k^Am
kAm{2DE 3FE ?@E =62DE[ E9@D6 H9@ 2AAC64:2E6 E96 7C66 D@4:6EJ 2?5 E96 CF=6 @7 =2H ?665 E@ 5@?2E6 >@C6 86?6C@FD=J E92? 6G6C 367@C6 E@ E96 @C82?:K2E:@?D H9@D6 >:DD:@? 2?5 AFCA@D6 4@?D:DED @7 5676?5:?8 @FC r92CE6C C:89ED 2?5 7C665@>D] |2?J H@CE9J 8C@FAD 6I:DE[ D@>6 @7 E96> C68:DE6C65 492C:E:6D[ @E96CD ?@E[ H9:49 56D6CG6 @FC D24C:7:4:2= DFAA@CE]k^Am
kAmx E2<6 :?DA:C2E:@? 52:=J 7C@> E96 96C@6D @7 E96 sFE49 C6D:DE2?46 H9@ C:D<65 E96:C @H? =:G6D 3J 9:5:?8 y6HD[ E96C63J D2G:?8 y6HD 7C@> 36:?8 56A@CE65 E@ E96:C 562E9D :? v6C>2?J] u@C 7:G6 =@?8 2?5 52C< J62CD[ E96 sFE49 C6D:DE2?46 4@?E:?F65 E@ F?56C>:?6 E96 }2K: @44FA2E:@? :? >2?J H2JD[ 7@C 6I2>A=6 3J 7@C8:?8 C2E:@? 42C5D E@ @3E2:? 7@@5 7@C E9@D6 :? 9:5:?8[ 2?5 3J DAC625:?8 H92E E96 2FE9@C:E:6D 566>65 E@ 36 “5:D:?7@C>2E:@?” 23@FE E96 :?6G:E23=6 G:4E@CJ 7@C 7C665@>]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 H9@ C6D:DE65 }2K: EJC2??J H6C6 @? E96 =@D:?8 D:56 7@C 7:G6 J62CD[ F?E:= E96J H@?] %96:C 4@FC286[ 56E6C>:?2E:@? 2?5 A6CD:DE6?46 2C6 H@CE9 6>F=2E:?8[ 6G6? :7 @FC @H? AC6D6?E 4:C4F>DE2?46D :? r2?252[ H9:=6 56AC6DD:?8[ 2C6 72C =6DD 5:C6 2?5 52?86C@FD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mk6>my@9? r2CA2J[ q]p][ {{]q] :D AC6D:56?E @7 E96 yFDE:46 r6?EC6 7@C r@?DE:EFE:@?2= uC665@>D W;447]42X]k^6>mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
(7) comments
Even though it so often feels like a losing battle, I believe these words from Mr. Carpay can inspire:
"Pro-freedom Canadians need to continue spreading truth to open-minded friends, neighbours, colleagues and family members. Those who cherish a free and prosperous society must continue communicating with our MPs and our provincial politicians, even if our message sometimes falls on deaf ears."
Thanks John for another excellent column. I think the sure sign of tyranny is when a government continually creates a crisis and then claims to be able
To implement policy to “fix” the crisis they deliberately started, and make no mistake
Canada is living under tyranny, Trudeau and his Liberals are deliberately creating crisis after crisis and implementing more and more draconian legislation to “fix it” from energy cost crisis, inflation crisis, cost
Of living crisis, healthcare crisis, food crisis, violent crime crisis, these are all created by this this Liberal regime, and this is exactly how tyrants and dictators work, self made crisis after crisis with ever increasing restrictions on our freedoms to “fix”
These problems that the liberals are solely responsible for. Once any freedom is taken away by a government you will never get it back.
Great article, couldn't agree more.
This is was the rallying cry during lockdowns and mandates. "Once any freedom is taken away by a government you will never get it back."
And yet all those freedoms have been restored.
Another election is coming up and people will be able to vote any 'dictators' or 'tyrants' out of office. Canada is just a regular functioning democracy that applied pandemic rules like all the other democracies (and yes, dictatorships). Humans take shelter from storms and they also take shelter from viruses.
very good piece. And many thanks to John for the work that he has done and continues to do. JCCF is on my list for support in the new year.
I sent the JCCF $100 yesterday, and another $100 to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Also maxed out my donation to the PPC for the year.
[thumbup]
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.