--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One by one western democracies were…" description: "\"“One by one western democracies were rolled up on German terms; Denmark and Norway in April and the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France in May ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/matthew-a-rozell-27012_immigration_one-by-one-western-democracies-were-roll_1578424.jpg" --- # One by one western democracies were rolled up on German… ![“One by one western democracies were rolled up on German terms; Denmark and Norway in April and the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France in May and June of 1940. The United States, Canada, and Australia had formidable immigration barriers in place,” quote by Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/matthew-a-rozell-27012_immigration_one-by-one-western-democracies-were-roll_1578424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/matthew-a-rozell-27012_immigration_one-by-one-western-democracies-were-roll_1578424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/matthew-a-rozell-27012_immigration_one-by-one-western-democracies-were-roll_1578424.jpg) > ““One by one western democracies were rolled up on German terms; Denmark and Norway in April and the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France in May and June of 1940. The United States, Canada, and Australia had formidable immigration barriers in place,”” [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Allied democracies had strict immigration controls during WWII, limiting refugee intake despite being targets of aggression. **In simple terms:** Even democratic nations can restrict entry during crises. Key Takeaway Reevaluate immigration policies for humanitarian crises. Themes immigration war policy humanitarian refugees democracy Mood cautious thoughtful Type historical policy When to use this quote - policy analysis - historical study - advocacy work Key Concepts border control human rights wartime governance Questions to Reflect On - Should modern democracies maintain strict borders in crises? - What lessons apply to today's refugee policies? A Different Perspective Historical context may not reflect current values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracies/) [Denmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denmark/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) ## Related quotes > [Many of the Western democracies - including the U.S. - have a problem that voters want benefits they don't want to pay for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/many-of-the-western-democracies-including-the-u-s-have-a-problem-that/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [“Western democracies did not create the virtue of citizenship; on the contrary, they grew from it. Nothing is more evident in The Federalist than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/western-democracies-did-not-create-the-virtue-of-citizenship-on-the/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [Iraq is just a symbol of the attitude of western democracies to the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/iraq-is-just-a-symbol-of-the-attitude-of-western-democracies-to-the/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [The major western democracies are moving towards corporatism. Democracy has become a business plan, with a bottom line for every human activity, every dream,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/the-major-western-democracies-are-moving-towards-corporatism/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The principles governing Western democracies, of which Israel rightly considers itself a part, are based on the assurance that everyone has a vote, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-bronfman-sr/the-principles-governing-western-democracies-of-which-israel-rightly/) [Edgar Bronfman, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-bronfman-sr/) > [The events of January 6 fit into a broader authoritarian movement across the world, which is attempting to undermine and weaken western democracies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-allred/the-events-of-january-6-fit-into-a-broader-authoritarian-movement/) [Colin Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-allred/) > [Political stability was at most a factor in assessing developing countries or Russia. It is now also an issue in Western democracies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-bloom/political-stability-was-at-most-a-factor-in-assessing-developing/) [Nicholas Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-bloom/) > [Jews have not only become equal citizens in Western democracies, they have become leading citizens. And, of course, the reestablishment of the State of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-novak/jews-have-not-only-become-equal-citizens-in-western-democracies-they/) [David Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-novak/) > [The plain Canadian fact is that relative to other Western democracies, the U.S. in particular, there isn't much difference between our two main political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/the-plain-canadian-fact-is-that-relative-to-other-western-democracies/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [there is that wish, in the name of democracy, to level down, because high cultural standards are despised and rejected, and even feared, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-bridge/there-is-that-wish-in-the-name-of-democracy-to-level-down-because/) [Ann Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-bridge/) > [The difficulty in a number of Western democracies is that the playing field is being tilted. For many in the middle class, prosperity seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghuram-rajan/the-difficulty-in-a-number-of-western-democracies-is-that-the-playing/) [Raghuram Rajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghuram-rajan/) > [The economic reality is that, thanks to smart machines and global trade, the well-paying, middle-class jobs that were the backbone of Western democracies are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/the-economic-reality-is-that-thanks-to-smart-machines-and-global/) [Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/) > [In most Western democracies, you do have the freedom of speech. But freedom of speech is not an entitlement to reach. You are free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wylie/in-most-western-democracies-you-do-have-the-freedom-of-speech-but/) [Christopher Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-wylie/) > [In the absolute majority of western democracies - elected officials are the ones who appoint the highest bench in the judicial system. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/in-the-absolute-majority-of-western-democracies-elected-officials-are/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [One knows, of course, that Donald Trump behaves differently from the leaders of other countries, especially the leaders of other Western democracies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/one-knows-of-course-that-donald-trump-behaves-differently-from-the/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) ## More by Matthew A. Rozell > [“Before World War II, Warsaw was the epicenter of Jewish life and culture in Poland; 350,000 Jews made up its prewar population. This vibrant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/before-world-war-ii-warsaw-was-the-epicenter-of-jewish-life-and/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“Finally we reach the end of the camp where the kitchens stood. A round concrete ring rises out of the earth, maybe 6 feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/finally-we-reach-the-end-of-the-camp-where-the-kitchens-stood-a-round/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“We move on to the site of the gas chambers. Even the ‘bath house’ has a Star of David, a Hebrew inscription that reads,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/we-move-on-to-the-site-of-the-gas-chambers-even-the-bath-house-has-a/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“later we heard that the nuns from this convent took those Jewish children and gave them to the Germans, and no one survived. \[But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/later-we-heard-that-the-nuns-from-this-convent-took-those-jewish/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“A few of them hid Jews for large sums of money; these were mostly people connected to socialist activities and the left wing parties.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/a-few-of-them-hid-jews-for-large-sums-of-money-these-were-mostly/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“Evil Happens When Good Men Do Nothing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/evil-happens-when-good-men-do-nothing/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“The United States, Canada, and Australia had formidable immigration barriers in place, and while the British had admitted 80,000 Jewish refugees, all of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/the-united-states-canada-and-australia-had-formidable-immigration/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“In the beginning, stores sold food smuggled into the ghetto, where one could buy anything—even eggs and milk. And outside lurk the snatchers, girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/in-the-beginning-stores-sold-food-smuggled-into-the-ghetto-where-one/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“She had already rehearsed me several times on what I should do and say in case I survived and she did not. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/she-had-already-rehearsed-me-several-times-on-what-i-should-do-and/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“Ravensbrück was built for 3000 prisoners. At its height it held 35,000, 30,000 of whom were killed here. From the beginning, the SS did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/ravensbr-ck-was-built-for-3000-prisoners-at-its-height-it-held-35-000/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“In studying the Holocaust together, we have plumbed the depths of the abyss that humanity is capable of, but not because of a fascination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/in-studying-the-holocaust-together-we-have-plumbed-the-depths-of-the/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“In October, 1942, the order was given to exhume the bodies and incinerate them on mass pyres using railroad rails as makeshift grills. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/in-october-1942-the-order-was-given-to-exhume-the-bodies-and/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“Did anyone speak out? After a sermon denouncing the T–4 program by Catholic Archbishop Clemens Von Galen in August 1941 was publicized, Hitler quietly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/did-anyone-speak-out-after-a-sermon-denouncing-the-t-4-program-by/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [ “Legislation unfolds incrementally at first. A one-day boycott of Jewish business is proclaimed. Non-Aryan\[\*\] civil servants are forcibly retired. Kosher butchering is forbidden by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/legislation-unfolds-incrementally-at-first-a-one-day-boycott-of/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) > [“The United States proclaimed its neutrality, but the president authorized moderate increases in the American armed forces; frighteningly, it had recently lagged behind Bulgaria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-a-rozell/the-united-states-proclaimed-its-neutrality-but-the-president/) [Matthew A. Rozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) [Explore all 21 Matthew A. Rozell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-a-rozell/) ## More Democracies quotes > [“the democracies that arose after the First World War (and the Second) often collapsed when a single party seized power in some combination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/the-democracies-that-arose-after-the-first-world-war-and-the-second/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [The idea that democracies could be vulnerable to demagogues is not a new notion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kristol/the-idea-that-democracies-could-be-vulnerable-to-demagogues-is-not-a/) [Bill Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kristol/) > [There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/there-is-one-safeguard-known-generally-to-the-wise-which-is-an/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) > [All democracies turn into dictatorships - but not by coup. The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/all-democracies-turn-into-dictatorships-but-not-by-coup-the-people/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Our Declaration of Independence declares that democracies derive their power from the 'consent of the governed.' But this democracy will fail if only some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/our-declaration-of-independence-declares-that-democracies-derive/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Developing and newer democracies are much more susceptible to the tactics of populists and demagogues - they often do not have strong institutions, free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/developing-and-newer-democracies-are-much-more-susceptible-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [It is a law of governance that democracies have to spend themselves dizzy. Citizens of democracies can, after all, tell their government to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-is-a-law-of-governance-that-democracies-have-to-spend-themselves/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Israel is one of the greatest and most modern democracies on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/israel-is-one-of-the-greatest-and-most-modern-democracies-on-the/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [What other, newer democracies find relatively easy - conducting an election, the counting of votes, the peaceful transition of power - seems to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/what-other-newer-democracies-find-relatively-easy-conducting-an/) [Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/) > [Democracies don't go to war against each other, and by and large they don't sponsor terrorism. They're more likely to respect the environment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/democracies-don-t-go-to-war-against-each-other-and-by-and-large-they/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I think we need to be a superpower of human rights, of support for true grassroots democracy, not corporatist economic development, which suits our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-think-we-need-to-be-a-superpower-of-human-rights-of-support-for/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [The all but unanimous judgment seems to be that we, the democracies, are just as responsible for the rise of the dictators as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-all-but-unanimous-judgment-seems-to-be-that-we-the-democracies/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [“Whatever modern democracies may tell themselves about their commitment to free speech and to diversity of opinion, the values of a given society will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/whatever-modern-democracies-may-tell-themselves-about-their/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Western democracies did not create the virtue of citizenship; on the contrary, they grew from it. Nothing is more evident in The Federalist than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/western-democracies-did-not-create-the-virtue-of-citizenship-on-the/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) [Browse all 231 Democracies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One by one western democracies were rolled up on German terms; Denmark and Norway in April and the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France in May and June of 1940. The United States, Canada, and Australia had formidable immigration barriers in place,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew A. 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