History repeats itself. In 1938, Germany and Austria were cultural twins – it seemed logical, even inevitable, that they would unite. Or did it? The Anschluss looked like peaceful unification, but in reality, it was political manipulation and intimidation that erased Austrian sovereignty overnight. Today, Canada faces a parallel with the United States – through “Canschluss”, a relentless campaign of 51st-state coercion, threats of tariffs and political pressure designed to undermine autonomy.
If the world ignores these warning signs as it did then, we may be in for a hell of a ride. Canschluss is different from Anschluss in that sovereignty is rarely lost in a single moment; it erodes under pressure until resistance feels futile. Economic aggression is still aggression, and history’s lesson is clear: stop it early or face the consequences later. If Canada – the US’s closest ally and trading partner – isn’t safe from these tactics, no country is (Trudeau says Trump is serious about wanting to annex Canada, 7 February). The world must stand with Canada before it’s too late.
Erik Schomann
Tiny, Ontario, Canada
