“enemy aliens”: the internment of jewish refugees in ... · • 1 digital tablet containing...

tel. 604.264.0499 | fax. 604.264.0497 email. [email protected] | www.vhec.org 50-950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 2N7

Through eyewitness testimony and artefacts, this bilingual travelling exhibit illustrates a little-known chapter in Canadian history. The internees’ journey — from fascist Europe to refuge in England, imprisonment by Britain and Canada and eventual release — is a bittersweet tale of survival during the Holocaust.

As Nazi Germany drew the world into war, Canada’s discriminatory immigration policies denied entry to those seeking refuge, particularly Jews. In 1940, when Canada agreed to Britain’s request to aid the war effort by taking in “enemy aliens” and prisoners of war, it did not expect to also receive approximately 2,300 civilian refugees from Nazism, most of them Jews.

These men, many between the ages of 16 and 20, had found asylum in Britain only to be arrested under the suspicion that there were spies in their midst. After a brief period of internment in England, they were deported to Canada and imprisoned in New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec alongside political refugees and, in some camps, avowed Nazis.

Although the British soon admitted their mistake, Canada, saddled with refugees it did not want, settled into a policy of inertia regarding their welfare, their status, and their release. Antisemitic immigration policy and public sentiment precluded opening Canada’s doors to Jews, and that included through the “back door” of internment.

The refugees faced the injustice of internment with remarkable resilience and strived to make the most of their time behind barbed wire. Meanwhile, Canada’s Jewish community worked with other refugee advocates in an effort to secure freedom for the “camp boys.”

The Internment of Jewish Refugees in Canada, 1940-1943

“EnemyAliens”

WWW.VHEC.ORGPhotograph of an internee in a camp uniform, taken by internee Marcell Seidler, Camp N (Sherbrooke, Quebec), 1940-1942. Seidler secretly documented camp life using a handmade pinhole camera. − Courtesy Eric Koch / Library and Archives Canada / PA-143492

VANCOUVER HOLOCAUST EDUCATION CENTRE

“ENEMY ALIENS”: THE INTERNMENT OF JEWISH REFUGEES IN CANADA, 1940-1943


The exhibit consists of 1 hanging banner, 71 cintra panels , 5 digital tablets, 3 USBs, and 2 CD’s.

Educational resources are available, including a comprehensive teaching website on the Virtual Museum of Canada www.enemyaliens.ca and a downloadable digital teacher’s guide.

ExHIbITION CONTENT

SPACE REQUIREMENTS: Approximately 150 linear feet of total wall space (does not need to be continuous).

BREAKDOWN

BANNER 1 hanging banner

Introduction Image 40”x60”

PANELS: SECTION 1 5 English + 5 French panels

Introductory Panel 14”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

The Life That Was 26”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Nazism in Germany & Austria 26”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Emigration to Britian 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Canada’s Closed Doors 26”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)


Fragile Roots 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

“Enemy Aliens” 42”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

“Collar the Lot” 42”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Calling on the Colonies 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

“The Line Must Be Drawn…” 26”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

The Arandora Star 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)


Perilous Voyage 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

An Enemy’s Welcome 42”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

The Dunera 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)


Camp Barbed Wire (Image) 42”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Quote Panel 14”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Internment in Canada 34”x45”(E){x2} 14”x45” (F)

Education 34”x42” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Writing 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Arts 42”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Work 42”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Religion 42”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Morale 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Politics 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)


The Paterson Mission 42”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

United Jewish Refugee…. 34”x42” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Refugee Committees 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Other Advocates 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Canadian Policy 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)


The Vivante Precedent 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Release 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Publicity 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

The War Years 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

The Legacy of Internment 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

Remarkable Achievements 34”x45” (E) 14”x45” (F)

MEDIA

• 1 digital tablet containing artefact slideshow

• 1 digital panel mounted

• 3 tablets containing video testimony

• 3 USB Keys containing video testimony (we recommend playing USBs on large screen TVs or projection screens)

• 2 CDs requiring 2 computers or laptop (limited French content)


The exhibit was generously funded by the Community Historical Recognition Program of the Department of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada.

With the generous support of:

Oasis Foundation

The Ben and Esther Dayson Charitable Foundation

The Kahn Family Foundation

Isaac and Sophie Waldman Endowment Fund of the Vancouver Foundation

Frank Koller

The Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre gratefully acknowledges the financial investment by the Department of Canadian Heritage in the creation of the online presentation of the exhibit for the Virtual Museum of Canada.

With special thanks to: Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver Golan Heights Winery – Israel, International Cellars Inc. – Vancouver

bOOkING INFORMATION

LOAN PERIOD: The exhibit may be booked for a 6 to 8 week period. Longer rental periods are available by arrangement.

RENTAL FEE: $7,000

DEPOSIT: $1,500

SECURITY LEVEL: Low

INSURANCE VALUE: $30,000

SHIPPING: Two-way shipping costs to be assumed by the borrower. Shipping to be arranged by the borrower. It is recommended that the borrower check the shipping costs before booking an exhibit.

SHIPPING SPECIFICATIONS: TBA

CONTACT: Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre tel. 604.264.0499 email. [email protected]

“enemy aliens”: the internment of jewish refugees in ... · • 1 digital tablet containing...

Documents