Canada 2024 Feels Like Germany 1939: A Dark Echo of History and the Failure of Operation Paperclip

Canada 2024 Feels Like Germany 1939: A Dark Echo of History and the Failure of Operation Paperclip

In 2024, Canada feels disturbingly similar to Germany in 1939. Neo-Nazism is on the rise, and institutions meant to protect us from hate, violence, and extremism have crumbled. We are witnessing the systematic failure of Canadian authorities, particularly the RCMP and the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC), to protect citizens from individuals like Andrew "Christo" Nelson and his neo-Nazi cell, the Thule Society Moncton.

In pre-war Germany, the failure to confront extremism allowed hate to fester and grow, eventually engulfing the world in violence and genocide. Today, in Canada, we see echoes of this dangerous inaction as white supremacy and Nazism spread with little to no intervention from law enforcement. What’s worse, the repeal of Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act—previously a key tool in combating online hate speech—has made it easier for individuals like Nelson to act with impunity, mirroring the way hate speech was normalized in Nazi Germany.

Operation Paperclip: A Historical Failure

Even the post-war strategy of Operation Paperclip, which aimed to harness Nazi intelligence for the Cold War, has proven to be a tragic failure. Instead of fully dismantling the toxic ideologies of Nazism, many of its proponents were quietly integrated into Western institutions, allowing dangerous strains of fascism to continue, festering under the radar for decades. The consequences of allowing Nazi ideology to survive and resurface are clear today as hate groups openly organize in countries like Canada.

Neo-Nazism in Canada: An Existential Threat

Andrew Nelson and his Thule Society Moncton are not isolated extremists; they represent a larger trend of organized hate. Nelson has actively promoted Nazi propaganda, weaponized social media and the dark web, and even made direct threats against political figures, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Despite these open displays of extremism, the RCMP has refused to investigate, citing outdated legal excuses such as the repeal of Section 13. This dismissal is not just a failure of the law—it is a failure of moral responsibility.

Canada’s inaction mirrors the failures of institutions in pre-war Germany that were unable—or unwilling—to stand up to fascism. The danger now is not just inaction; it is complicity. By failing to act, Canadian authorities are sending a clear message: neo-Nazism and far-right extremism are tolerated in this country.

The Path to Violence and Genocide

The trajectory of far-right extremism is predictable. Hate speech, once normalized, escalates to violence. Organized groups, emboldened by the lack of consequences, grow stronger, and the targeted hate against marginalized groups—LGBTQ+, Jewish communities, people of color, and anti-fascists—becomes deadly. History has shown us this path before, and we are dangerously close to walking it again.

In 1939, Germany stood at the edge of a precipice, and the world watched as it descended into genocide. Canada 2024 feels chillingly similar, with the failure of institutions to respond to the growing threat of organized hate. The question is: will we let history repeat itself?

A Call for Action

Canada’s government must urgently reinstate protections against hate speech, such as Section 13, and hold individuals like Nelson accountable. We cannot afford to let extremists organize and spread violence under the protection of outdated or neglected laws. CSIS has shown some response, but without broader institutional support, this is not enough. Strong action is needed from all levels of government and law enforcement.

It’s time for Canadians to wake up to the threat. Our country’s moral integrity is at stake, and the risk of organized violence, even genocide, grows by the day. We cannot allow ourselves to become a failed state when it comes to human rights. Canada has failed, but it’s not too late to fight back.