The Emergency: Ireland During World War 2
Neutrality
World War 2 began pressure on Ireland to join, refused
after refusal Dáil declared state of Emergency, government special powers, known as Emergency
Why Choose Neutrality
Ireland weren't going to side with fascist Germany, Ireland was democratic and couldn't support Hitler and Nazis
small country, contained 7000 badly equipped and no air force, very little contribution
War of Independence ended 18 years prior, Black and Tans of Britain, weren't happy
neutrality was seen as proof of that independence, Portugal stayed neutral as well
British Reaction to Neutrality
Neville Chamberlain criticized for Anglo-Irish agreement, Winston Churchill became PM 1940,
PM said British ships, tough journey to States, Ireland would make it safer, refused, safer for Ireland
Churchill remained angry, offered to end partition, De Valera refused because Unionists wouldn't agree
Friendly Neutrality
maintain neutrality, actions showed Irish bias to Allies
Emergency Power Act
sold food to Britain, Allied soldiers allowed into Ireland, Germans arrested
arrested IRA, remembering belief of Britain's difficulty is Ireland's opportunity, wanted to attack, end partition
50,000 Irish left to fight in Britain, 100,000 went to work in factories
Belfast was bombed by Luftwaffe, Irish Fire Brigade helped, North Strand later bombed for helping,
The end of the War
ended May 1945, Roosevelt death 12 April 1945, American embassy and expressed sympathy
Hitler committed suicide, same action, angered Churchill
Churchill claimed Ireland caused death due to neutrality
De Valera asked if Churchill did not recognise the strength of Irish after 800 years of aggression, Ireland never accepted defeat, like Churchill said Britain wouldn't
popular as it summed up the Irish's belief of staying neutral
Person In History
rationing
Seán Lemass Minister for Supplies
made sure Ireland survived war, ration books
books taken to shops, rationed tea, sugar, bread gas rationed
Glimmer Man
checked amount gas usage, petrol especially scarce
no cars, Lemass cycled
use of propaganda, Lemass used a car
Local Defence Forces (LDF)
means of training Irish from attacks
went into country to train, used wooden sticks no rifles
Irish Shipping Company
Lemass set this up
means of Irish receiving goods through boats
stopped U-boat attacks on British ships / goods
Coal
Ireland received coal from Britain, couldn't due to British annoyance
no coal, Ireland used turf (peat)
wasn't as good as a heat source
Censorship
Irish censored multiple sources of information
controlled information coming through such as films
they did this to protect neutrality