# Vicious Canadians **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887 "2023-01-08T19:19:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/1 "2023-01-08T19:19:31Z")
I came across [this article](https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/the-forgotten-ferocity-of-canadas-soldiers-in-the-great-war), about the ruthlessness of Canadians toward the Germans in the First World War. > In one particularly cruel episode, Canadians even exploited the trust of Germans who had apparently become accustomed to fraternizing with allied units. Lieutenant Louis Keene described the practice of lobbing tins of corned beef into a neighbouring German trench. When the Canadians started hearing happy shouts of “More! Give us more!” they then let loose with an armload of grenades. > Others were cold-blooded executions. In one case, a Canadian surreptitiously slipped a live grenade into the greatcoat pockets of a German prisoner. > By war’s end, the Canadian Corps’ reputation as an army of “no mercy” was known all across Northern France and was helped along by Canadian bar boasts to that effect. “You will very seldom now hear of the Canadians taking prisoners, they take them to some quiet spot and then it is a case of the dead may march,” officer C.V. Williams wrote in a letter to his father. I’ve always thought Canadians were so _nice!_ [NB: The National Post is known for its conservative editorials, though the owners support the Liberal Party.] ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/2 "2023-01-08T19:22:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The National Review is known for its conservative editorials National Post is the conservative Canadian newspaper. National Review is the conservative U.S. magazine. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/3 "2023-01-08T19:31:46Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > National Post is the conservative Canadian newspaper. National Review is the conservative U.S. magazine. Thank you. I wrote without proofreading. I’ve asked a moderator to correct it. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/4 "2023-01-08T19:36:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ve always thought Canadians were so _nice!_ A German probably suggested that fake maple syrup tastes exactly the same as genuine maple syrup. You can push anyone too far. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/5 "2023-01-08T19:37:20Z")
I lived in Montreal for five years. I can assure you from personal experience, some Canadians are not nice. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/6 "2023-01-08T19:44:10Z")
I will agree with this, as someone who grew up near Old Orchard Beach, Maine, which is a big summer vacation spot for Canadiens. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/7 "2023-01-08T19:44:11Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > I’ve always thought Canadians were so _nice!_ > > A German probably suggested that fake maple syrup tastes exactly the same as genuine maple syrup. You can push anyone too far. - I heard someone disparaged poutine. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/8 "2023-01-08T19:47:37Z")
I heard they disparaged it _once_. Drowning in a vat of curds and gravy is not a pleasant way to go. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/9 "2023-01-08T19:54:22Z")
Like anything, most Canadians are self-effacing, polite, and willing to help. Canadian soldiers are a different thing in some ways. Typically, Canada has had to make up for numbers with quality, some of that is viciousness and competence. Look up the Devils’ Brigade in WW2, Pyongyang (where the PPCLI got a Presidential citation of their actions in Korea), and the actions of Canadian snipers in Afghanistan. When we set our mind to it, we are very very good at whatever is in front of us. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/10 "2023-01-08T20:07:38Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ve asked a moderator to correct it. Fixed. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/11 "2023-01-08T20:08:11Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/12 "2023-01-08T21:45:58Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@Riemann](#): > > > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > > > I’ve always thought Canadians were so _nice!_ > > > > A German probably suggested that fake maple syrup tastes exactly the same as genuine maple syrup. You can push anyone too far. - > > I heard someone disparaged poutine Which the Canadian would have let pass, until the German said that Americans play hockey better. After that, death was the only option. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/13 "2023-01-08T23:13:02Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ve always thought Canadians were so _nice!_ > > [NB: The National Post is known for its conservative editorials, though the owners support the Liberal Party.] Canadians are not particularly nice to enemies during wartime, this is true. (Incidentally, the National Post (Canwest) was sold by the Asper family (Liberal Party supporters) in 2010 to Postmedia. Postmedia is 66 per cent American owned by New Jersey based Chatham Asset Management. The National Post endorses the Conservative Party every election, and consistently runs articles about how they hate Trudeau, and so should we. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/14 "2023-01-09T03:23:02Z")
WWII joke; sentry on duty in the nighttime at a Commonwealth base: Sentry: “Who goes there?” Shadowy figure in the dark: “Good show, lad!” Sentry: “Pass, Britain.” Sentry: “Who goes there?” Shadowy figure 2: “G’nite, mate.” Sentry: “Pass, Australia.” Sentry: “Who goes there?” Shadowy figure 3: “Fuck off!” Sentry: “Pass, Canada.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/15 "2023-01-09T03:25:25Z")
What’s a war crime now and then, eh? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/16 "2023-01-09T03:34:52Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ve always thought Canadians were so _nice!_ I’m sure they said ‘sow-rey’ whenever they cold-bloodedly executed anybody. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/17 "2023-01-09T03:37:35Z")
I misread the title as “viscous” and expected a thread about some sort of incident involving maple syrup. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/18 "2023-01-09T03:45:01Z")
I don’t think we’ve had liverwurst since Tonka died. He liked liverwurst. 😿 ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/19 "2023-01-09T03:51:26Z")
There’s an old adage, “Beware the anger of a quiet man.” Canada, as far as I know, has never actually _started_ a war. But every now and then, some dickbag overseas starts a war, and we then have to drag our asses half way around the world to sort their shit out. So when we get there, we _sort their shit out_. Don’t like it? Stop starting all these wars, dickbags. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887/20 "2023-01-09T08:13:34Z")
There were also plenty of stories/rumours circulating about German army atrocities, from pretty well the beginning of WW1 onwards. In particular, this one will have resonated with Canadians: > **[The Crucified Soldier](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crucified_Soldier)** > > The Crucified Soldier refers to the widespread story of an Allied soldier serving in the Canadian Corps who may have been crucified with bayonets on a barn door or a tree, while fighting on the Western Front during World War I. Three witnesses said they saw an unidentified crucified Canadian soldier near the battlefield of Ypres, Belgium, on or around 24 April 1915, but eyewitness accounts were somewhat contradictory, no crucified body was recovered and the identity of the crucified soldier was n... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-canadians/977887.md?page=2)