Brigitte Rabe was a German woman who survived the Second World War and who, by immigrating to Canada, had tried to leave behind memories of war and loss. Like many other Germans, Brigitte wanted to get out of a disintegrating home, “that’s really the reason why [she] left”. Most German ethnic immigrants had been affected by Nazi resettlement schemes, were part of the flight to the West in the wake of German defeats, and shared the disorientation of postwar homelessness in a smaller West Germany.
During the First and Second World War, German immigrants were sent to internment camps; German newspapers were banned and the use of German in public space was prohibited. Yet, German immigration was encouraged as the Mackenzie government needed industrious workers and farmers to plow the field and build railways in the Prairies. The tendency to associate German immigrants as potential members of the Nazi regime thus declined. Moreover, German immigrants were welcomed as hard and industrious citizens as part of an initiative to unite Western Europe against communism.
This essay argues that German Canadians have integrated themselves by learning to change and adapt their cultural and ethnic identity. To do so, the following essay will analyze the historical process of German immigration to Canada before and after the First World War, during the Second World War and in the postwar period, and finally examine how sociological and cultural factors have contributed to shape the German Canadian identity.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Being a German in the First World War and its Aftermath
- Federal Policy on German Immigration
- War against Germaneness
- Canadian Citizenship
- German Clubs and Associations
- The Canadian National Railway
- The Verein für Deutsch-Kanadische Katholiken
- Festivals and Traditions
- German Press
- Deportation during the Roaring Twenties
- German Immigration during the Second World War
- Conspiracy Theories
- German Parties
- The German War Effort
- Die Heimat im Ausland
- Anti-Semitism and Nazism
- Postwar Integration
- German Societies
- German Media
- Cold War Rhetoric
- Left vs. Right
- Unity in face of the Greater Evil: Communism
- Becoming German: German Legacies and Customs
- German Values and Practices
- German Contributions to Canada
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the historical process of German immigration to Canada, focusing on the challenges faced by German Canadians during and after the First and Second World Wars. It analyzes the factors contributing to the development of a distinct German Canadian identity. The main themes explored in the text include: * **The stigmatization and alienation of German Canadians during wartime:** The text explores how German Canadians were targeted due to their ethnicity, leading to restrictions on their civil rights and social opportunities. * **The evolving relationship between German immigrants and Canadian society:** The text examines how the perception of German Canadians shifted from being welcomed newcomers to being viewed as potential enemies and then ultimately as valuable contributors to the Canadian economy and society. * **The process of cultural adaptation and identity formation:** The text investigates how German Canadians maintained their cultural heritage while navigating the complexities of integration into Canadian society. * **The role of German clubs and associations in preserving cultural identity:** The text examines how German organizations played a key role in supporting and sustaining German culture in Canada. * **The impact of political events and ideologies on German Canadian experiences:** The text explores how major historical events, such as the First and Second World Wars, and political ideologies like communism and anti-Semitism, shaped the lives of German Canadians.Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
**Chapter 1: Being a German in the First World War and its Aftermath** This chapter focuses on the challenges faced by German Canadians during and after the First World War. It details the restrictions placed on their civil rights, the internment of many German Canadians, and the suppression of German language and culture. Despite these hardships, the chapter also highlights the efforts of German Canadians to maintain their cultural identity through clubs and associations. **Chapter 2: German Immigration during the Second World War** This chapter examines the impact of the Second World War on German immigration to Canada. It discusses the suspicion and mistrust directed towards German Canadians due to the rise of Nazism, the challenges of maintaining a German identity in a society wary of German culture, and the experiences of German immigrants in the aftermath of the war. **Chapter 3: Postwar Integration** This chapter explores the process of integration for German Canadians in the postwar era. It examines the role of German societies and media in preserving German culture, the impact of Cold War politics on German Canadian identity, and the efforts of German Canadians to contribute to Canadian society while maintaining their heritage.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key themes and concepts explored in the text include German immigration, cultural identity, integration, wartime challenges, post-war adaptation, German Canadian identity, cultural preservation, and the role of German clubs and associations. The text also examines the impact of historical events such as the First and Second World Wars, and political ideologies such as communism and anti-Semitism on the experiences of German Canadians.- Quote paper
- De Zhong Gao (Author), 2012, The native country abroad, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/206938
