Kelowna Daily Courier

Nazi death-squad member Oberlander dead at 97

Former Nazi death-squad member Helmut Oberlander has died in the midst of a decades-long deportation battle with the federal government, prompting Jewish organizations to express frustration his legal saga never reached completion.

Oberlander’s family said Thursday the 97-yearold died peacefully surrounded by loved ones.

The federal government had stripped Oberlander of his citizenship several times — revocations he repeatedly fought in court. Earlier this month, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada began a hearing on whether he could remain in the country or be returned to Germany.

His lawyer sought a stay in those proceedings, partially due to Oberlander’s declining health. The decision maker in the case adjourned proceedings to consider the application, but did not set a date.

Michael Levitt, president of the Canadian Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies, said there was a “great sadness justice was never done.”

“What about those that perished in the Holocaust at the hands of that Nazi unit?” Levitt said. “They didn’t get to die peacefully at home surrounded by their families. They got their dignity, their lives, everything taken away from them.”

He said it’s time to close the chapter on Oberlander and remember victims of the Holocaust instead. Levitt, a former Liberal MP, said it was time to reflect on the case’s failures.

“Moving forward we should be much stronger and we should commit to making sure that our justice system can better deal with war criminals in Canada,” he said.

B’nai Brith Canada said it was frustrated with Canada’s failure to deport Oberlander.

“The peaceful demise of Helmut Oberlander on Canadian soil is a stain on our national conscience,” CEO Michael Mostyn said.

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2021-09-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://kelownadailycourier.pressreader.com/article/281621013482622

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