A Brief History of Austrian-Canadian, Dr. Christoph Wolkenstein

Stories become memorable not for the events themselves but for the compelling narratives surrounding them. Chris Wolkenstein was just 17 years old when he was forced to flee his homeland of Austria. What he managed to make of his life is extraordinary and exemplary of the power of the human spirit. Thanks to a collection of letters¹ (1941-42; 1945–52), we are able to peer into the formative years of his life.

Dr. Christoph Franz Wolkenstein (1922–2011) was an Austrian-born Canadian physician. He survived wartime internment before turning to a career in medicine. He was a direct descendant of poet-composer Count Oswald von Wolkenstein of Tyrol (c. 1376-1445).

On March 12, 1938, Austria was annexed by Germany, reluctantly relinquishing its independence in fear of the looming threat of Hitler’s military forces. As a result, Kalksburg College was forced to close and repurposed to military use. This directly affected the Wolkensteins and Chris in particular who had been enrolled in the college. Seeing the growing aggression of the Nazi Party, Graf Fortunat and his five sons Christoph, Oswald, Wolfgang, Ulrich, and Leonhard fled their native Austria for England. It was a decision faced with criticism from friends and relatives, and a far cry from the noble Wolkenstein name whose prestige and privilege were eroded after the First World War. In hindsight, this decision saved him and his sons.

In September of that year, the Munich Agreement was signed by Britain, France, Germany, and Italy in an effort to deescalate growing tensions and avoid another world war. In September 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, breaching the agreement, and triggering a full scale war. While initially tolerant of Hitler’s territorial violations, England had to honour the agreement and officially declared war against Nazi Germany.

“Christoph and Oswald at the Alfred Hospital Ball in Melbourne”, March 1949″ (Source: Anne Wolkenstein)

In May 1940, newly appointed Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued the internment of German and Austrian refugees in England from the ages of 16 to 60. Among those interned were Chris and Oswald, ages 17 and 16 respectively. In June, they boarded the HMT Dunera passenger ship, and were transported to Australia where they inevitably spent years away from Papa and their brothers who remained in England.

Chris and Oswald were interned for 20 months in Australia before being granted emancipation on January 12, 1942 by order of Archbishop Daniel Mannix on the promise that they complete their education. The brothers dutifully packed their belongings and took a train to Melbourne. In his diaries, Chris noted this as the “greatest day of his life.”² With his freedom marked the transition from childhood to adulthood. Rather than viewing this newfound freedom simply as an opportunity for independence, Chris understood it as a responsibility to serve others and reclaim the family name. And so, on January 15, he entered Newmann College, at the University of Melbourne. He would go on to graduate in 1947 with a degree in Medicine and Surgery, fulfilling the promise he made when he first received the grace of freedom, and becoming the first Doctor of the Wolkenstein family.

Letter from Christoph to his father, dated 20th May 1947. (Source: Anne Wolkenstein)

It is incredible to think that through a series of decisions made by forces outside of their control the Wolkensteins found their family fractured. Over the intervening years the family would experience hardships from the war and its aftermath, an economic downturn and job instability, the liberation of their native Austria, and all other personal and professional failures and successes. And only by their own efforts did they maintain familial bonds. Through letters, they would endure until their fateful reunion in 1950, approximately a decade after the tragic separation.

The letters depict Chris as an encouraging and faithful son and brother. During Oswald’s continued academic struggles, it was Chris who supported him in moments of uncertainty. This was later repaid when Chris similarly reached a lowpoint after graduating and suffered a nervous breakdown. The mental toll it took to finish his degree left Chris burnt out. And it was Oswald who attended to his older brother and relayed messages to Papa.

Letter from Christoph’s father to him on 23. May 1947, congratulating him on receiving his PhD. (Source: Anne Wolkenstein)

Upon receiving his degree in Medicine, a momentous achievement, Papa sent Chris a letter of congratulations, attesting to his resolve honed and tested by the sufferings they had to endure in preparation for the triumphs. Here, we get a glimpse of Papa’s paternal pride. Furthermore, to pass down the family legacy, he sent the signet ring once belonging to his deceased brother and Chris’ namesake, Christoph Franz.

And over the years Chris would assume more responsibility over the family. He would go on to continue his education at the Royal College of Surgeons (1951–52) in England and at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center (1952–54) in New York. It was here that he would meet his future wife, French-Canadian Marguerite “Margo” Ricard who worked as a nurse at the hospital he was appointed in. They would marry in Montreal at the end of his tenure in 1954, and soon after settle in Winnipeg. Chris worked at Winnipeg General Hospital (now Health Sciences Centre) for 33 years before retiring in 1988. He passed away on November 29, 2011 and was buried beside Margo at Assumption Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Part of GCS’ initiative is to examine individual lived experiences through major events such as the Second World War, the postwar period, migration and navigating life in Canada. Our aim is to present their stories in an effort to preserve their lives and legacies for future research.

–Justin Barachina, University of Winnipeg

1. From diary entries donated by Anne Wolkenstein (daughter of Chris) to the Dunera News, issue no. 118, June 2024: https://www.duneraassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2024/07/Issue-118-Dunera-News-June-2024.pdf ↩︎
2. Dunera News (June 2024); pg. 13 ↩︎

Interview with Kass Head, DAAD Young Ambassador at the University of Manitoba

Are you thinking of studying abroad in Germany but don’t know if it’s right for you? GCS’ recent discussion with the UofM’s DAAD Young Ambassador Kass Head about her exchange experience might just convince you to take the next step!

---

Why should I study in Germany?

Students playing beach volleyball, Trier University. (Photo provided by Kass Head.)

I think there is a lot to gain going abroad to Germany. Universities are a bit different in Germany, but no harder to learn how to navigate than the first day at a home university. And there is always resources to help international students. The most valuable thing I got was the friendships and connections I made to other people. I still talk to the friends I made, and getting to talk to other international students I got to learn what is really Canadian about myself, that I would never have realized staying in Canada. Germany itself is a good choice to study abroad regardless of your field. Between the strong industrial, financial and business sectors, to the vast history, art, literature and environment, there is something there for everyone.

Isn’t Europe too expensive?

Since I was staying in dorms I did not need to worry about finding housing, but one thing that was a large factor was food. The mensa – our university’s cafeteria – always had a large amount of options. Lunch there was around $7 CAD and it was a proper full meal. I also loved that there were multiple options if you had dietary restrictions or allergies. I didn’t need to rotate the same three foods because of my diet. In general the grocery stores were also good for labels, even if you need to learn those few German words. Travel was very cheap compared to home, but when you grow up in a rural area without any public transit, any form of country wide transport feels like a luxury.

Though most exchanges happen through your home university so you pay your local tuition rates, if you were to say apply for a masters tuition even for international students is virtually nothing. So taking a year aboard to check it out may be a good choice if you do plan on doing more studying. That was certainly a bonus when I was considering taking German courses at my home university.

Do I have to know German?

Kass Head receiving a German Language certificate from instructor, Trier University. (Photo provided by Kass Head.)

I do speak German, and I went on an exchange to improve my German, however there were people from my group that were starting from “Hallo!” If you are thinking about a smaller town, German is useful, as not everyone there spoke English, however in a city like Frankfurt or Berlin, it is less of a necessity. Regardless when you are there you will pick up some German purely by exposure to it.

There are of course more opportunities in Germany if you speak the language as some programs are only offered in German, but there are a lot of work placements, and masters degrees offered in English. My cousin did an engineering work term near Hamburg, and he doesn’t speak any German. He told me it was a very fun time, and there were other students there from various other universities, so he always had people to hang out with.

Is this really for me?

There are a lot of scholarship opportunities through programs like DAAD (find funding here), to help support you, either in helping with expenses, helping place you into a work term, or various other things. It is also worth talking to the international center at your university. There are often scholarships, or bursaries available that somethings no one is even claiming. The international center might also be able to point you towards other opportunities for funding.

Trier Cathedral. (Photo provided by Kass Head.)

As for it fitting into a degree, there are so many arts and science programs all over Germany that something is out there for you. Exchanges done through the university are design to make sure every course you take abroad can be used when you get back, it is something that is usually even set up before you leave to make sure it won’t cause you any set backs. The German university timeline is different than in Canada and starts later, in October. So if you are thinking about only doing a semester be aware that their winter semester goes into January, meaning you would be missing about a month of the Canadian winter term.

---

For more information about DAAD’s student funding opportunities and to register for John Paul Kleiner’s webinar on September 30th at 11:30 a.m. (Central Time), visit https://www.daad-canada.ca/en/2026/08/11/daad-student-funding-webinar/

To learn more about UWinnipeg’s exchange programs, visit the Study Abroad webpage.

Interview with the DAAD’s John Paul Kleiner – Why Study Abroad in Germany?

Chair in German-Canadian Studies Alexander Freund recently spoke with John Paul Kleiner, the Canadian representative for DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service Information Centre – in Toronto. Below, John Paul discusses the benefits and considerations of studying in Germany, and how DAAD can help. DAAD offers a number of scholarship and grant programs to students at Canadian universities who want to go to Germany for study, research and internships. For details on all these programs, visit: www.daad-canada.ca/find-funding.

---

Why should a Canadian undergraduate student consider studying or spending time in Germany? What can students gain academically, professionally, and personally from the experience?

Spending a semester, or even a full year, of your undergraduate studies has a wide range of benefits.

Academically, you’ll encounter different ways of learning and studying. Typically, study abroad students fill part of their course calendar with elective courses and this can expose you to new and engaging topics, themes and ideas that weren’t on their radar previously.

Professionally, that experience abroad can be a real catalyst for personal growth. Immersing yourself in another culture helps you see the world in a different way something that is only reinforced by learning a second language. And you’ve graduated, the cultural literacy that you’ve gained is something that can impress future employers during your job search.

Students who go abroad make new friends, have experiences they could never have had at home and find themselves changed in the most positive of ways. By navigating through the challenges that come with transplanting oneself into unfamiliar environment, your self-confidence and resilience will grow and the world will be become a smaller place.

You mentioned that the traditional year abroad no longer appeals to many students. Why is that? Are there shorter-term opportunities?

For a lot of students at Canadian universities, a full year abroad isn’t realistic. Between course requirements at home, getting a summer job or keeping a part-time gig that helps pay the costs of going to school, picking up and leaving for studies in another country doesn’t seem realistic.

Many Canadian universities offer short-term programs in Germany during the summer semester. These vary in length but are typically taught by their own faculty, in English and for credit with the aim of making a study abroad experience accessible to students who might not otherwise have the chance to do this. Check your university’s International or Study Abroad Office for details on these opportunities.

What opportunities does the DAAD currently offer specifically to Canadian undergraduate students who want to study, conduct research, or otherwise spend time in Germany?

At the Bachelor-level, DAAD programs aimed at two groups of students:

1. Learners of the German language
2. Students enrolled in degrees related to the Natural Sciences and Engineering.

For students taking German language course, our University Summer Course Grant gives them the chance to do a 3-4 week summer course at a German university. This year’s deadline for summer schools in 2027 is October 30, 2026.

Our RISE Germany program offers undergrads from the Natural Sciences or Engineering the chance to do a 3 month research internship in the lab of a German PhD student (working language is English). Successful applicants receive a $7,000 stipend to cover travel and living costs while in Germany. Application deadline for this program is November 30, 2026.

How affordable is studying in Germany in practice? What should Canadian students expect in terms of tuition, housing, travel, insurance, and everyday living costs?

In many German university towns or cities, the cost of living is comparable to, or even lower than, what you would pay in Canada. A great place to get information on the logistics of doing part of your degree in Germany is the Study in Germany web portal, a website designed to give international students answers to their questions. Keep an eye out for the “Living in Germany” tab; here you’ll find information on all aspects of everyday student life in Germany.

How important is knowledge of German? Are there opportunities for students who speak little or no German, and what opportunities are there for students who know the language?

Everyday life in Germany takes place in German, so the more German you know, the more opportunities will be open to you – both on and off campus.

That said, most German universities offer courses taught in English and have English-speaking staff to assist international students on their campus. You’ll find that a lot of German young people speak decent English too, so heading over before you have a full command of German is not a problem.

And the German language’s reputation as being particularly hard to learn is, in my opinion, unfair. For anyone who has English will find the similarities with German are considerable and getting to a point where you are functional doesn’t need to take a long time. Now if you want to master the language, that’s a different story . . .

Where should an interested student begin? How early should students begin planning? If a student hopes to go to Germany next summer or during the following academic year, when should they start looking at programs, funding, applications, and credit transfer?

Check with your International or Study Abroad office about the German university partners they have and what options are open to you and speak with your program office about where students in your degree have gone previously. Ask about their deadlines and attend their info sessions. These usually happen late in the fall semester or soon after the Christmas break with deadlines following shortly thereafter.

---

John Paul will be giving a webinar introducing all of DAAD’s programs for students on September 30^th at 11:30 a.m. (Central Time). For details and to register to attend, visit: https://www.daad-canada.ca/en/2026/08/11/daad-student-funding-webinar/

To find out more about UWinnipeg’s exchange programs, visit the Study Abroad homepage.

The GDR Embassy in Ottawa during German Re-Unification

For most Canadians, Cold War Germany is remembered primarily through West Germany, but until 1990 there were two German states, each with its own government, foreign policy, and diplomatic service. Canada established diplomatic relations with East Germany (the German Democratic Republic (GDR)) in 1975, and in 1987, East Germany established an embassy in Ottawa. At that time, the East German diplomats could not know that their time in Canada would be short-lived. Below, former GDR diplomat Dieter Tietz recalls watching the collapse of East Germany from Ottawa and, in September 1990, helping to close an embassy of a state that  ceased to exist only weeks later.

Memoirs of an East German Diplomat on the Occasion of “75 Years Canada-Germany Diplomatic Relations”, Symposium, University of Ottawa (5-6 June 2026).

Ambassador Heinz Birch und Dieter Tietz with Hidi und Howdy, the Olympic mascots.
(Photo provided by Dieter Tietz).

In September 1990, I was the one who had to switch off the lights in the embassy of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in Ottawa, returning to my home country that would join the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) a month later. Heading into the unknown, I felt like a loser.

We had opened our embassy at 150 Kent Street on December 1, 1987, a few weeks before the Olympic Games started in Calgary. This was one of our government’s main intentions: to have an officially accredited ambassador representing the GDR along with our successful athletes, most famously Katarina Witt, who defended her gold medal in figure skating from the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo.

Back in Ottawa, we tried to deepen the political, economic and cultural relations between Canada and the GDR, but of course, we all noticed what was going on back home, developments that increasingly influenced our political work at the embassy and also our private lives. The new course of Mikhail Gorbachev, the then-Secretary General of the Communist Party in the former Soviet Union; the decline of our economic and financial resources; the permanent ignorance of the third “Helsinki basket” that, as a result of the Helsinki process in 1975 in particular, promised the freedom of travel and human rights. All these things increasingly led the people at home to protest or even leave the country.

Ambassador Heinz Birch hands Governor General Madam Jeanne Sauvè his letter of accreditation. 10 February 1988. (Photo provided by Dieter Tietz).

The police violence against peaceful protesters on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in early summer 1989, and the hundreds of GDR citizens crossing the fences of the West German Embassy in Prague from August 1989 on, eagerly awaiting their permission to leave for West Germany, made global headlines that we in Ottawa did not want to cover up or justify any longer.

So, when the GDR officially celebrated its 40^th anniversary in Berlin’s Palast der Republic on October 7, 1989, amidst mass protests in Berlin and other towns, guests at our anniversary reception and during the following days and weeks asked more and more questions about the situation at home. At the same time, we received less and less of the usual information that came from Foreign Affairs or the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party (SED).

To stay updated, we watched CNN more regularly, and we noticed how the scarce information we got from Berlin did not always correspond with the reality we saw on TV. Diplomats who travelled home for vacation and returned added to the growing mistrust in regard of Berlin’s information policy.

On November 9, 1989, we suddenly received word of the press conference and remarks given by Günter Schabowski. Schabowski was one of the influential politicians within the politburo. He used to be editor-in-chief of the party newspaper “Neues Deutschland” (New Germany) from 1978 to 1985. Until 1989 he was the SED’s First Secretary of the Berlin district and member of the politburo until the board’s dissolution.

The message Schabowski read was on a tiny piece of paper he had gotten from Egon Krenz. Krenz at that time was the new head of the SED Party. It was an excerpt of a secret draft paper for the members of the council of ministers that was to be read and discussed on that day. The contents were an extract of the “New Travel Regulations”, which was a strong demand of the GDR people. So Schabowski read it ‘accidentally’ and thus initiated the immediate opening of the wall that evening.

The embassy team. (Photo provided by Dieter Tietz).

Ambassador Birch asked me to come to his office. We both watched on TV what evolved in Berlin, not believing our eyes and ears. No official information had come from Berlin. The ambassador and I agreed to call our diplomats and their partners for a meeting. Everybody was surprised, if not outright shocked, about the news. I could see their concern, especially in the eyes of those who had left their children back home. And of course, my wife and I were also concerned about our family at home. So, the meeting we had was not a joyful one.

During that meeting, one of the mothers whose kids were back home asked the ambassador whether he could make an exception and allow her a phone call to her children. It took quite a long time before the ambassador found his words. His answer was that the mother could apply for a phone call and he would approve this exception. Now it was on me to demand that all of the embassy staff should have the right to call their kids or relatives immediately and without any application. Everyone would pay for their call, and that’s it. The ambassador agreed.

On Friday, November 10, 1989, my former boss, Ambassador Dr. Gerhard Herder, gave a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. His words were remarkable and I agreed completely. I knew Dr. Herder from my time in Washington (1980-1984). He was posted to Washington in 1983 and stayed there until 1990. He arrived as our new boss after Ambassador Dr. Horst Grunert left Washington to become the next GDR ambassador to Austria.

I have great respect for Dr. Herder. He is not only a highly educated politician, but also a man with great empathy. We often discussed political and other problems we had under the conditions in Washington, and I appreciated his excellent knowledge and ability to find solutions. In 1989 he was something like the doyen of all the ambassadors in Washington.

I knew that Dr. Herder and Erich Honecker had had a close relationship when they used to work together at the Central Council of the Free German Youth (FDJ) organization in the fifties. Honecker was chairman of the council and Dr. Herder used to be the head of the International Department of the FDJ Central Council (1953-56), a department I also used to work at in the late seventies. Later on, when Honecker became the secretary general of the ruling party in the GDR, the contact between the politicians decreased.

Ambassador Birch and I watched the press conference, astonished about the clarity of his assessment. Ambassador Birch called Herder shortly after and asked him whether he had gotten the green light from Berlin for this press conference. Herder said no and claimed he had done this on his own. When we met in Berlin some months later – Ambassador Herder was now a pensioner – he told me that he had expected his dismissal right after the press conference, but nothing had happened.

After November 9 we as GDR diplomats got calls from many of our partners and friends all over Canada. They all wanted to know what was going on in the GDR and if both German states would unite again. We did our best to find answers although we received no information from Berlin. However, it was only a matter of months until we realized the end of the GDR was coming, and with it the end of our diplomatic activities.

When the “Open Skies” conference kicked off in Ottawa in February 1990, preparing the ground for the eventual “Two-plus-four” talks, our foreign minister Oskar Fischer paid a visit to our embassy at 150 Kent Street. Ambassador Birch and I had a very quiet meeting with him, and he gave a very pessimistic assessment of the situation. “Don’t be too optimistic about the future of the GDR diplomats. We all will not be needed anymore.” And indeed, immediately after this meeting, the GDR embassy staff got reduced worldwide, and almost no one kept their job in the united Germany’s new diplomatic service.

Aware of what was coming, our Ambassador Heinz Birch and the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Wolfgang Behrends, travelled to the Kitchener Concordia Club in June 1990. As guest speakers they were to give an answer to the question, “What is going on in Germany?”. Both ambassadors expressed their views in a mutually respectful way.

In early September 1990, Ambassador Birch was given a dignified send-off by External Affairs Canada’s Allan McLane as well as by Ambassador Wolfgang Behrends. I returned to Berlin in autumn 1990 as one of those who had switched off the lights at the GDR embassies all over the world. While many of my colleagues remained unemployed and struggled to find their place in the “new Germany”, I changed my career and worked a job in private industry, wrote a novel about my experience as a GDR diplomat in the USA and Canada, and have finally reached the wonderful time of retirement.

Heinz Birch and I kept our friendship until he passed away in December 2024. I had the honour to deliver the eulogy at his funeral.

–Dieter E. Tietz

Further reading

Manuel Meune, “Der transatlantische Magnet DDR – Kanada: die unmögliche Nähe?” Zeitschrift für Kanada-Studien 30.2 (2010) 9-27. https://www.kanada-studien.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/01_Meune_DDR.pdf

Exploring Manitoba’s Archives: An Introduction to MAIN – Manitoba Archival Information Network

Archives are valuable resources for discovering the history of individuals, families, communities, and organizations. But finding the right records can sometimes feel overwhelming. Where should you begin if you are looking for photographs, letters, manuscripts, maps, and legal documents? One useful place to start is the Manitoba Archival Information Network (MAIN). It is an online database that brings together descriptions of archival materials held by archival institutions across Manitoba. It provides researchers, students, families, and members of the public with a convenient approach to explore archival collections.

MAIN’s core strength is searching across many archives at once. Manitoba has many active repositories, such as the Archives of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg (UW) Archives, Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies, and others. MAIN pulls their catalogued descriptions together, so you don’t have to repeat the same search several times across different websites. It’s also a practical starting point for genealogy and local history research. You can search by creator, subject, place, or language, which makes it easier to trace an individual, a family, or a community organization through the records they left behind.

To see how this works in practice, take the Imhof Family Fonds — a collection arranged and described by German-Canadian Studies (GCS) and UW Archives. It documents the immigration experience of the Imhof family from Germany to Canada. The records offer insight into family relationships, professional activities, cultural traditions, and communication between family members.

Step 1: Start with a Keyword Search

Imagine that you are interested in materials related to the family letters about immigration. You can begin by entering “family letters” into the MAIN search field. Look through the results and identify the title that is most relevant to your research. In this example, you would select: Imhof Family Fonds. It is identified by the reference code CA UWA 25.22 and covers records spanned from 1997–2024.

Step 2: Read the Fonds-Level Description

Once you open the fonds description, please start by reading the general overview. This section provides important context. It tells you who created or accumulated the materials, what the records are about, and what kinds of items are included. Archival research is not simply about finding individual documents. Understanding the creator’s background, why the records were created, and how they relate to one another can help you interpret them more accurately.

Step 3: Look at the Series

The Imhof Family Fonds is organized into three series: Photographs, Peter’s Work Documents, Family Letters. In this case, you’re interested in the last one. The series structure is particularly helpful, as it allows researchers to narrow their search down to the specific holdings they want.

Step 4: Pay Attention to the Reference Code

The reference code is another key piece of information. For the Imhof Family Fonds, it is CA UWA 25.22. This code identifies the fonds within the archival system and can be useful when communicating with the University of Winnipeg Archives. If you contact the archives about this collection, providing the fonds title with the reference code can help archivists locate the correct materials more efficiently. 

Step 5: Check Access Information

It is important to remember that a description in MAIN doesn’t mean the original material is available online. In most cases, MAIN only helps you find a collection; you will still need to contact the archives to set up an appointment and go in person to view the records. Before reaching out, check the access information in the note area. Not every record is immediately available for public use. Some materials may have access restrictions due to privacy, donor agreements, copyright, or preservation requirements.

MAIN is a powerful tool, but it works best when researchers take the time to explore it thoughtfully: reading descriptions carefully, following links to detailed finding aids and looking through the different levels. If you are interested in family history, immigration, German-Canadian history, Manitoba communities, or another research topic, start your search with MAIN.

If you’ve got family papers worth preserving, please consider reaching out to GCS or UW Archives to ask about donating and how the process works. Your family’s story could be the next one added to MAIN!

–Juan Li, The University of Winnipeg

Left Behind and Forgotten: The History of German-Canadian Families and Internment During the Second World War

On 12 September 1939, an exhausted 44-year-old Mathilde Maria Schneider began to write another letter to her missing husband:

It is so horrible for me that I do not know, where you are, how you are and when you will come back. I did not get any information today of your where abouts. I am just waiting and waiting and thinking that I love you so very dearly. They must release you, they can’t keep you. We need you so badly. Life is nothing without you and everything with you. But I will not complain. I must be strong and cheerful for the sake of my children. My duty is to keep our home nice and our family happy. Do not worry about me and the children. I know it is harder for you than for us. But Fritz there will be one day when we will be together again. I pray that it will be very soon.¹

Mathilde Schneider’s letter to her husband on 12 September 1939. Thilde’s letters are the only known publicly preserved correspondence of the wife of a German-Canadian internee. (Credit: Zac Code, sourced from The University of Winnipeg Archives).

The previous day, Mathilde had spent the entire day in Winnipeg investigating her husband’s disappearance after being informed that he had been transferred to an undisclosed location. Her 42-year-old husband, Frederick Karl Schneider, had been taken to Winnipeg by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police a week earlier under the Defence of Canada Regulations for what was supposedly to be only a routine questioning. After being detained for a week at the Winnipeg Immigration Building, Frederick was placed on a train in the early morning of 11 September 1939 bound for the Kananaskis Internment Camp, located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Known to one another as Thilde and Fritz, both had been born in Germany before immigrating to Canada in 1926. Throughout the 1930s, they were prominent members of their community. Fritz’s internment in 1939 set in motion a chain of events that not only imposed significant physical, emotional, and financial hardships for the family but ultimately led to their exile from Manitoba.

The Second World War remains a delicate and complex period in the history of German-Canadians. Although this period in the historiography was once regarded as “controversial,” the passage of time has dulled many of its more volatile aspects.² During the war, approximately 847 German men were interned under the Defence of Canada Regulations. Many of those branded by the Canadian government as pro-Nazi sympathizers or potential saboteurs were, in fact, German Canadians who had established their lives in Canada long before Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany. These men disappeared virtually overnight into remote internment camps, while their families were deliberately left behind and largely forgotten by the Canadian wartime government. As a result, many families experienced severe economic, physical, and emotional hardship even as they were expected to continue to comply with the Defence of Canada Regulations. In contrast, postwar government accounts have tended to portray the implementation of wartime internment policies as efficiently managed and well-organized affair.

Translation: “Names and addresses of the captured comrades, Camp Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada.” This is the only known list that documents the names of the German interned during the Second World War. The author is unknown, but it was compiled at Kananaskis. (Credit: Zac Code, sourced from LAC)

If we fast forward through some of the historiography to the 1990s, German-Canadian historian Lothar Zimmermann sought to shift German-Canadian historiography away from an emphasis on the governmental structures behind internment and toward the individuals directly affected by it. Zimmermann argued for greater attention to the “human element” and concluded his 1993 article by expressing hope “that the stories of other former internees will be preserved and this aspect of German-Canadian and immigrant history secured. Time is running out.”³ Unfortunately, time did run out, and many of those affected by Canada’s wartime internment policies passed away without the opportunity to record or share their experiences. My recently completed master’s thesis seeks to recover some of those overlooked experiences by examining the lives of internees and their families through the surviving archival record.⁴

This thesis presents three case studies of Winnipeg German-Canadian families affected by internment policies under the Defence of Canada Regulations (DOCR) during the Second World War. The experiences of the Schneider, Martin, and Holtmann families demonstrate that internment extended well beyond the confinement of the husband to shape the lives of the entire family. The primary aim of this research is to identify and interpret the narratives of the wives and children of German-Canadian internees, whose experiences have thus far been neglected in the historiography. The central question that guided this research was: What were the experiences of German-Canadian wives and children while their husbands were confined to remote internment camps? Drawing on previously unexamined letter collections and the business correspondence from the Office of the Custodian of Enemy Alien Property, this study offers a more nuanced understanding of how internment policies shaped the lives of internee family members beyond the physical confines of the camps. It also provides a clear account of how these policies were developed and introduces the government offices responsible for their implementation. At its core, this thesis defines the experiences of individuals who were not confined within physical camps, but whose lives were nevertheless profoundly shaped by the same policies, a condition conceptualized here as domestic internment. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that internment policies directed at able-bodied men had significant consequences for their families, particularly for wives. Overall, it contributes a more comprehensive account of the experiences of German-Canadian families during the Second World War.

Although my thesis only scratches the surface of German-Canadians narratives during the Second World War, it presents several overlooked and crucial perspectives. Many more German-Canadian stories remain dormant in archival collections, particularly in provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. It is my hope that continued research in the records of the Office of the Custodian of Enemy Alien Property will recover additional experiences of German Canadians and others who were affected by the internment policies of Canada’s wartime government.

Zac Code is a recent graduate of the Joint Master’s Program at the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg. His master’s thesis, “Left behind and forgotten: the history of German-Canadian families and internment during the Second World War,” has been graciously awarded the W. L. Morton Gold Medal and Prize in History, which honours outstanding achievement in historical research and thesis distinction. He will be pursuing a PhD that explores Canada’s wartime economic policies and continued work on the Office of the Custodian of Enemy Alien Property. Previous work includes his honours thesis that examined the historiography of Heinrich Himmler and “Interned ‘in the Interest of Public Safety.’” Zac’s research interests lie within a variety of time periods, but his primarily focus is on Canada and Germany during 20th century. Feel free to contact him with inquiries related to the Second World War and Internment in Canada: codez@myumanitoba.ca

---

1. Thilde Schneider to Fritz Schneider, 12 September 1939, File 13, Box 1, CA UWA 23.20, Schneider/Snyder Family Sous-Fonds. Little Britain Collection, University of Winnipeg Archives, Winnipeg, Manitoba. ↩︎
2. Angelika Sauer, ed., “Research Projects,” German-Canadian Studies Newsletter 1, No.2, (September 1996), 6. https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/german-canadian/docs/newsletters/newsletter-1.2.pdf ↩︎
3. Lothar Zimmermann, ed., German-Canadian studies in the nineties, results & projects: Symposium 1992: Achtes Symposium Deutschkanadische Studien…, 28. May, 1992, Vol. 8, (Toronto: German-Canadian Historical Association, 1993), 27. ↩︎
4. [1] Zachariah Code, “Left Behind and Forgotten: The History of German-Canadian Families and Internment During the Second World War,” Master’s thesis, The University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, 2026. https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/items/6abdbec7-1d48-4129-8397-0a86e126f0ed ↩︎

The Arthur and Dan Propp Fonds is Now Open to the Public

German-Canadian Studies is excited to announce that the Arthur and Dan Propp Fonds (26.05) has been fully organized, described, and made accessible to the public! This collection was donated to the German-Canadian Archives at the University of Winnipeg Archives by Dan Propp in April 2026. We are deeply grateful for his generous donation.

The fonds documents the history of a German-Jewish family originally from East Prussia who immigrated to Canada. It’s a rich and personal record that adds an important thread to our understanding of immigration journeys, family stories, and Jewish identity. Turning a fonds from “boxes of papers” into a collection ready for researchers takes significant work: arranging materials, writing descriptions, and creating a finding aid that helps researchers navigate the collection.

From left to right: Arthur, Elle, and Henry in the garden in Gibsons, B.C., Canada.
Photograph by Dan Propp 1960’s

Arthur Propp and Dan Propp were father and son. Arthur was born in 1890 in Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia), the principal city of East Prussia. After completing his schooling, he apprenticed at a woodworking mill and later became a lumber merchant. He was arrested by the Nazis after Kristallnacht. Following his imprisonment, he managed to escape from Berlin by air in 1939 and sailed to Bermuda in 1940, eventually settling in Bolivia. His first wife, Else Laaser, was murdered in Auschwitz in 1943. In a new country, Arthur rebuilt his life and married Elsa Kopetski. Their son, Dan Propp, was born in 1944. After six years, the Propp family immigrated to Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada. Arthur passed away on December 31, 1965, at St. Mary’s Hospital in B.C. after battling skin cancer. Later in life, he wrote numerous manuscripts in German describing his experiences and the history he witnessed.

Postcard photograph by Dan Propp, likely taken in Grade 11.

In 1950, Dan Propp come to Canada with his parents. He attended photography school in Los Angeles during the 1960s and worked as a photographer in Canada. He later dedicated 23 years to teaching in the Surrey school system. In 1972, he married Rita Barrel, a native of Pennsylvania. They had two children, Adam and Jennifer.

Correspondence written in 1954 by Arthur Propp

The Arthur and Dan Propp Fonds contains a variety of materials, including correspondence, eight photographs, three musical CDs, financial records, manuscripts, and official certificates. In addition to four self-published books, Dan preserved his father’s legacy by sharing his German-language memoirs in Von Königsberg nach Kanada (2017), followed by its English translation, Where the Straight Path Leads. The financial papers consist of letters, financial records, and restitution documents concerning Propp’s property compensation proceedings following persecution under the Nazi regime.

Whether you are tracing Jewish family history, studying German-Canadian heritage, or simply curious about the stories East Prussian immigrants carried with them to Canada, the Propp Fonds has much to offer. Visit the MAIN website to explore the finding aid, or contact GCS Project Assistant Juan Li at ju.li@uwinnipeg.ca to arrange a visit and view the physical materials in person!

-Juan Li, The University of Winnipeg

New Publication on History of German Sabotage in Canada

Dr. Grant W. Grams, Historian at Athabasca University. (Photo provided by G. Grams)

Dr. Grant W. Grams is a historian and educator specializing in German history, European migration, and Canadian social history, with particular emphasis on developments in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Dr. Grams joined Athabasca University in 2009, where he continues to serve as a historian and academic expert within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

While researching German sabotage in Canada during the First World War (WWI), I encountered material that pointed toward similar activity during the Second World War (WWII), with the name Wolfgang Alexander Hauffe appearing repeatedly. After completing the WWI article in 2005, I published a second article in 2012 examining German sabotage activity in Canada during WW II. The 2026 article is a direct follow‑up to that 2012 study, which appeared in the Journal of Military and Strategic Studies.

Seabiscuit, a truck converted into an armoured car by C.M. & S. during WW II (Image: Cat. No. 0335. Photo courtesy of the Trail Historical Society)

The 2012 article examined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) internal evaluations, intelligence summaries, and threat assessments. These confidential reports circulated within government and informed decisions regarding surveillance, arrests, internment, and counter‑sabotage measures. Although the RCMP publicly denied that sabotage had occurred, other publications indicate several subversive actions had occurred. The 2012 article argued that internal enemies did exist—the threat was real, though limited. One notable example was the 1939 plot in Trail, British Columbia, which received brief national press attention but was largely forgotten because the attempt ultimately failed. Despite scholarly interest in the RCMP’s wartime role, subversive activities and national security threats including attempted sabotage have largely disappeared from Canadian historical memory.

Trail, Cominco. Electrical Transport System. 1946 (Image Item I-28337 courtesy of the BC Archives)

The 2026 article examines the case of Wolfgang Alexander Hauffe and three accomplices, who intended to damage facilities belonging to the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company (CMSC) in December 1939. At the time, CMSC was producing metals essential to the Allied war effort and later became involved in the production of heavy water for the Manhattan Project. Additional material related to this incident is held in the British Columbia Archives in Victoria, which may shed further light on the plot and its broader implications. I encourage other scholars to continue this line of investigation, particularly through the archival materials in Victoria, which may yield further insight.

-Grant W. Grams, Athabasca University

Roots to Paper: My thesis on German-Canadian newcomers to Ontario

Some say a measure of success is creating something no one else did. History allows us to do this beautifully. It allowed me to create a thesis that stemmed from my Canadian roots and included my German branches. After five years of hard work, moments where I thought I couldn’t do it, and monumental successes, my comparative thesis on German-Canadian newcomers to northern and southern Ontario after the Second World War is now complete.

Antje and her roommate Doris Ojeebah on the balcony at Queen Mary Hospital for Children (Photo courtesy of Doris Ojeebah and Antje, provided by C. Clingen)

After such a feat – the research, the interviews, the writing, and the editing – it all comes to a sudden halt when it’s over. It’s like coping from a breakup from a healthy relationship, but it’s just time to move on and grow. It’s expected yet shocking at the same time, but you are eager for the next journey.

As I reminisce, I realize I learned more than just the history of German immigrants to Ontario postwar. Interviewing Germans who had recreated their ethnic identities in Canada was also a source of inspiration for my own life and search for purpose. German-Canadians to northern and southern Ontario did what felt right for them as individuals in terms of integrating.

Horst, Erika, and Rudiger Malig at Gros Cap, 1959. (Photo courtesy of Chris Malig, provided by C. Clingen)

They retained important traditions from their German culture while adding aspects of Canadian culture. Often, traditional German Christmases and German clubs were most prevalent for interviewees. Most celebrated on 24 December and attended dances and parties at their local club. While the interviewees settled into Canadian society, they were also able to keep aspects of their identities, which ultimately aided in their acculturation.

I think we can all learn something from these German immigrants. While some of us may linger in unhappiness and search for identity, German-Canadians teach us that identities come in many combinations and can all see success. German-Canadians went with the flow in terms of their new ethnic identities, and in doing so, they remind us to do what feels right and celebrate your culture, as it is deeply rooted in your identity and always will be.

Chelsea Clingen, recent PhD graduate, Laurentian University (Photo courtesy of C. Clingen)

Chelsea Clingen is a recent PhD graduate from Laurentian University. During the completion of her degree in Human Studies & Interdisciplinarity, her focus was combining methodologies from history, sociology, and acculturation psychology to document and analyze the experiences of German-Canadian immigrants to northern and southern Ontario after the Second World War. Now, she is a STEM Presenter with Science North and continues her research on German-Canadian experiences in Canada. Chelsea is also an avid ringette coach and player, and has her own small business creating custom woodburned art (Crafts By ChelsC). 

The Saskatchewan German Council (SGC) – Keeping German Culture Alive in Saskatchewan

From language and food to music, art, and community traditions, German culture remains an important part of Saskatchewan’s identity. With roughly one in three Saskatchewan residents tracing at least part of their ancestry to German roots, German heritage continues to influence communities across the province. The Saskatchewan German Council (SGC) helps keep these traditions alive by creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to learn about, experience, and celebrate German culture.

Historian Dr. Bill Waiser at the Park Prisoners Book Reading & Talk in Saskatoon.
Photograph by Thomas Kolbach 2025.

Founded in 1984, the SGC is a registered, volunteer-based, non-profit umbrella organization representing nearly 30 member groups across the province. Its mission is to promote German language, customs, traditions, culture, and interests while creating connections within the German-Canadian community and beyond.

The SGC recognizes that cultural heritage is about more than preserving traditions – it is about building bridges between generations and communities. Saskatchewan’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and German culture contributes an important chapter to that shared story. Through language, music, dance, food, history, and community engagement, the SGC helps ensure that German heritage remains relevant and accessible in modern Saskatchewan.

Rather than operating as a single cultural organization, the SGC serves as a connector and supporter of a diverse network of member groups. These include cultural associations, German and Austrian dance groups, music ensembles, language schools, historical societies, and culinary groups active in communities throughout Saskatchewan. By providing funding opportunities, networking, promotional support, and educational resources, the Council helps strengthen the capacity of these organizations and expand their reach.

Celebrating Canadian Multiculturalism Day 2025 with a Family Fun Day in Saskatoon.  Left to right: Neil Stubbs, Kandis Capulet, and Elmer Tootoosis.
Photograph by Gabriele Waidelich-Harrison 2025.

One of the SGC’s most important roles is bringing people together. Through initiatives such as the annual Treffpunkt and Round Table gatherings, member organizations can share ideas, learn from one another, and build lasting relationships. The Council also recognizes the many volunteers who make cultural programming possible through its annual Special Volunteer Award Ceremony, celebrating the dedication and commitment of individuals who help German culture flourish in Saskatchewan.

Culture in the Kitchen event “Apple Strudel & Author Spotlight” in Saskatoon.
Photograph by Gabriele Waidelich-Harrison 2025.

Beyond supporting member organizations, the SGC offers a wide variety of programs and events open to everyone. Public lecture talks, German-English author readings, art tours and art-making activities, and the popular Culture in the Kitchen multicultural cooking series provide opportunities for people of all backgrounds to explore German culture. Families can enjoy events such as Family Fun Day, while online initiatives, including the Advent Calendar, Immigration Story Collection, and the German Culture Alive podcast series, make cultural experiences accessible across the province.

Collaboration is also central to the SGC’s work. By partnering with other cultural and community organizations, the Council helps promote inclusion, foster intercultural understanding, and contribute to Saskatchewan’s vibrant multicultural society.

The SGC looks to the future with a clear vision: a Saskatchewan where German culture is vibrant, visible, and thriving for generations to come. Whether you have German roots or are simply curious to learn more, the SGC welcomes you to explore, participate, and celebrate.

Ready to experience German culture for yourself? Visit the Saskatchewan German Council online, follow its social media channels, and join an upcoming event to see how German heritage continues to thrive on the Prairies.

Gabriele Waidelich-Harrison (Executive Director)–Saskatchewan German Council Inc.