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