world war 2 in ireland

• the free states neutrality made northern ireland vitally important to the allies war-effort
• derry became the most important atlantic port for the protection of shipping and supplies between america and britain
• northern ireland became a base for american troops after 1941
• northern ireland became especially important during the build up to D Day (1944)
• northern irelands indusrty provided ships, planes, parachutes and shell for the allies
• Belfast was bombed by luftwaffe in 1944
• the war brought northern ireland into a much closer relationship with britain
• the divide between northern ireland and the free states became greater
• the north now saw the south as being sympathetic with the nazis
• on the death of adolf hitler (april 1945) Eammon De Valera signed the book of condolence at the germany embassy in dublin
• after the war even american who had always been sympathetic for irelands struggle for freedom, were annoyed that ireland had remained neutral
• this led to the northern irish state being more accepted on the world stage
• reason for neutrality-

  • demonstrated independence from britian
  • protest against partition
  • ireland not strong enough to fight in a global conflict
• emergency powers act: a law giving the government wide-ranging power to maintain public order and to enforce neutrality
• censorship: the governments ability to decide what the public sees, hears or reads about: newsreels shown in ireland were heavily censored
• internment( arrest and imprisonment without trial): used against members of the proNazi IRA
• operation green: the germans plan to invade ireland
• north strand dublin 1941: bombed by luftwaffe
• rationing: the government limits the quantity of essential supplies allowed to each citizen
• glimmer men: inspectors who checked the people who weren't using gas outside of the allowed times
• effects of ww2 in ireland

  1. southern ireland became even more isolated in international affairs
  2. partition became much more entrenched/permanent
  3. while northern ireland benefited from inward investment southern ireland's economy continued to struggle
  4. 6 years of censorship and isolation left ireland culturally stagnant
  5. unemployement continued to grow and emigration continued to increase