Between 1946 and 1967, almost 300,000 immigrants arrived in Canada from Germany. For many at that time, they saw no future for themselves or their family: After World War II, Germany itself was divided, both Germanys lay in ruins, and evacuation, flight, and imprisonment scattered families everywhere.

However, emigration from Germany and Austria didn’t stop in 1967. Today, immigrants come for better job opportunities, to study, and even just for something new.

In this chapter, you’ll meet a plethora of German and Austrian immigrants, from two who were born shortly before Hitler became chancellor of Germany in 1933 to others who first set eyes on the world at the end of the 20^th century. You’ll read about how those now in their 70s and 80s experienced the war as children and how the war affected families. You’ll also learn about differences between Canadian and German culture, life in former East Germany, and the risks some took just to make it to Canada.