Visit to Montreal of the Emden was a coup for the Nazi regime

by Barry Artiste | May 11, 2008 at 11:37 am | 393 views | 4 comments

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Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
In 1936,the first post WW I German Warship to come into service as the Nazi Regimes flagship Emden paid a visit to Montreal in time for Germany's 11th Olympiad.

The Light Warship Emden's port of call was Montreal, Quebec Canada in which Montreal laid out the Red Carpet, complete with Pomp and Circumstance bestowed on the Emden and her crew.

Celebrations though were not shared by Montreal's Jewish Community, whose foresight and word from German relatives back in Germany, saw what would be in a few short years, the beginning of World War II.

The world leaders today, including Canada are according the same courtesies to China during her Olympics, knowing the full potential of a global economic and political adversary. But are lulled into a false sense of security in the diplomatic belief the Red Dragon is sleeping. Sleeping perhaps, but with one eye open.

Perhaps History will one day repeat itself, and Canada will remember the adage of "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies even closer".

JOHN KALBFLEISCH, The GazettePublished: 7 hours ago
"Out of a grey morning mist, the Reich cruiser Emden - first German warship to dock here in 22 years - came into the port of Montreal yesterday."

- Gazette, Wednesday, May 13, 1936

It was a stirring sight, though the emotions stirred up by the arrival of the German cruiser Emden were by no means the same for everyone.The ship, with its eight 152-mm guns, was the first German warship built after the First World War, and for Montreal's Germans it was a proud day.

The community was small, numbering perhaps 5,000 people, but many were German nationals rather than Canadian-born and their ties to the Fatherland were especially strong. As The Gazette noted, the Emden tied up "to the ringing cheers of German-Canadian patriots who lined the pier."

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jordan

at 11:50 on May 11th, 2008

good stuff:

Looking back, it boggles the mind how warmly the rest of the world embraced Germany's new regime, since the Nazis were so good for the global economy... even though the warning signs could not have been more visible.

I'm not equating China with the Nazis, but the historical lesson is pretty clear.

Barry Artiste

at 12:07 on May 11th, 2008

Thanks Jordan for the comments and GS, I too would never equate the Chinese with the Nazis, after all the Nazis only killed 6 to 10 million people, compared to China who since communism, pretty much decimated a population equal or greater than the population of Canada, if you take into consideration the Aid and Abetting of countries who practice Genocide. But then even China's 20-30 million dead and their atrocities are a drop in the bucket when compared to Russia's Stalin and 50 million or so dead, right up to the mid 1980's, North Korea's untold 30 million or so dead by North Korea's answer to Tatoo (Fantasy Island), and African Despots in the untold millions and millions. Yep, the Nazi's were all "Sunshine and Chocolate Kisses" by comparison.

You know, Mothers All the world over used to warn us about playing with those from the "Other Side of The Tracks". Certainly this Mother's Day, you would think Politicians would remember that Age Old Advice when it comes to being New Best Pals with "World Genocidal Despots", and take it to Heart, after all, Politicians have Mothers, even the majority of those Politicians were born as "Bottom Feeders".

jordan

at 13:33 on May 11th, 2008

For me, the major difference is in how the two regimes engage the rest of the world. WHen the money's so good, it's all too easy for nations to ignore other nations' treatment of their own citizens, and that's the thin edge of the wedge.

Beijing has cemented its power economically, which is ultimately far more powerful than military hegemony. For example, the US won't make a peep about China's record, since China basically owns American debt.