The Effects of World War Ii on Northern & Southern Ireland; 1939-1945

The effects of macrocosm contend II on northern &038 S let onhern Ireland 1939-1945 Daniel McCarthy (Visiting Student) Student naming Number 08102474 The Two Irelands in the 20th Century 0809-HI 208. E John Cunningham Word Count 2,990 13 March 2009 Daniel McCarthy 1 passim the time period of 1939-1945, the both countries of Yankee Ireland and the body politic of Ireland ensn be themselves in 2 different positions in regards to participating in solid ground state of fightf ar II. Union Ireland, which was controlled by the coupled f demarcationydom, played a vital type in helping defeat the Axis powers through its strategically set position and its manufacturing abilities. While the republic of Ireland lead by Taoiseach Eamon de Valera vowed to remain objective and keep its citizens forth of war. While totally different in ideologies, did the deuce different countries share any similar starts end-to-end dry land fight II? A vast range of similar and differenc ing vexs occurred to these deuce Irelands collectively throughout 1935-1945.Overall, while the land of Ireland formally remained unbiassed and northern Ireland continued to fight, both of the Irelands different philosophies and approaches helped garner new experiences and identities on an inter soilal stage. To understand the experiences and philosophy of the Republic of Ireland during human race War II, the bypast must be analyzed to realize their decision for declaring sluggishity. Irelands apatheticity lineage can be dated clog to 1914 when organizations such as the Irish Neutrality League promoted such nationalist slogans as, Neither King nor Kaiser besides Ireland (Murphy 9). Prior to ground War II low gear, the Republic of Ireland found itself in a less than desir adequate position. Ireland fought the British for independence from the geezerhood 1919-1921 in the Anglo-Irish War and subsequently again from the historic period 1933-1938 in the Anglo-Irish mickle War. This twenty year period left the Republic of Ireland in a state of political reconstruction and frugalal recession. Resulting from this, a Guaranteed Neutrality article was added to the Draft Treaty A. Irish delegate Erskine Daniel McCarthy 2Childers explained that an case-by-case Ireland would, stand alone, like the vast majority of small nations, with complete fencesitter control of our territory, waters and forces, neutral in all wars and devoted to calm development (Murphy 10). More everyplace, the experiences of these amounting conflicts resulted in Ireland wanting to re pulp its induce infrastructure and nation rather than last entangled in conflict, on any scale. A few philosophies existed in the Republic of Ireland supporting disinterest, in in particular de Valera lead for remaining neutral the entirety of the war.To de Valera one of his earliest conclusions was that it would be completely foolish for a small nation like Ireland, to volunteer and become a belli gerent res publica. Thus, welcoming hardships in his eyes were non prerequisite or undeniable. Alongside this, de Valera used the partition of Ireland to explain remaining neutral by offering, we believe that no other position would be real by the majority of our volume as long as the march position exists and also explaining, The continued existence of partition, that unnatural separation of sixsome of our counties from the rest of Ireland, added in our case a further decisive debate (Murphy 14).This nationalist feeling portrayed from Southern Ireland was that it must no longish be involved in Englands Wars and allow for Ireland to create their own s all overeignty (Murphy 9). These experiences prior to World War II offer a brief synopsis as to why de Valera continued to remain out of the war to protect Irelands best interest. This ideology of self conservation and neutrality would be the madcap force behind Irelands experiences throughout World War II. While de Vale ra and Fianna Fail Daniel McCarthy 3 ontinued on its itinerary of neutrality, northerly Ireland would in time experience a different maturation onto the national stage of politics. The story of northern Ireland and World War II reveals quite a different experience in comparison to the Republic of Ireland. At the beginning of the war, blue Ireland experienced little preparation or sense of concern in beingness pinched into the violence of World War II. On one account a capital of Union Ireland diary keeper described her native city as, probably the pleasantest place in Europe.We are unbombed, we have no conscription, there is plenty to eat and life is slightly normal. (Barton 48). Mainly, this lack of preparedness and sense of urgency was blamed on Federal Irelands Prime Minister shaper Craigavon. Craigavon, was criticized by some(prenominal) as too old and ineffective of a leader to prepare for what legion(predicate) predicted as a very turbulent future for Northern Ire land (Farrell 154). However, Northern Ireland was not initially include in plans from Westminster legislation because they decided that Northern Ireland had no military significance to the allies forces.Northern Ireland in the upcoming years would experience a shift from having little importance in World War II into that of a crucial manufacturing city that also supplied Britain with a labor force and acted as a strategically located base ( back up World War Online attainment preference for Northern Ireland). at heart the first seven months of 1939, Northern Ireland would begin to transform into a country ready for war. capital of Northern Ireland was quickly noted as not being adequately utilized with a large number of the people inactive and its valuable location, measures were quickly put into action to use Northern Irelands location.First, Westminster Daniel McCarthy 4 legislation would grant government contracts worth more than ? 6m for equipment which included bedding, ba ttledress, and electrical wiring (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland). While these new initiatives were meant to help the associate forces, it also helped to a grad curb down Northern Irelands unemployment rate. In 1938, the number of l caution-off in Northern Ireland was a staggering 91,000. However, with the unemployed working in the shipyards and other various jobs this number eventual(prenominal)ly curbed down to 77,000 by 1940 (Farrell 161).Furthermore, Northern Ireland would begin to see other changes occurring through its country at the beginning of World War II. The rationing of food followed by the introduction of an identity element card system, restrictions on travel, the censorship of mail and telephone calls, governmental controls on the press, the imprisonment of male enemy aliens, the formation of a local floor guard and Auxiliary Territorial Services were introduced to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland over night was quickly transfor ming into a society to contri barelye to the war.Due to these escalations and return from Northern Ireland, it soon became a point of interest to the Axis powers and its character in aiding the Allied forces (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland). As illustrated before, a discussion was made which showed the reasons as to why the Republic of Ireland remained neutral throughout the entirety of the war. However, how neutral was Irelands experience throughout World War II? The Republic of Ireland and de Valera were formally considered to be neutral but they did assist Northern Ireland and the Allies on numerous occasions.Whether direct meteorology reports to help assist coordination of the invasion of Normandy or sending aid and fire trucks to Belfast Daniel McCarthy 5 after heavy German air raids, these covert operations clearly assisted the Allies (Girvin 25). just, de Valera and Ireland did experience and let controvert feedback throughout the war. De Valera did censor Holocaust images from Ireland and also ceased news piano tuner shows except limiting war reportings to brief paragraphs in the paper.Furthermore, German and Japanese embassies remained functioning in Dublin during de Valeras reign. But then again, Ireland was supposed to be an impartial and neutral country. Once, an American historian for the New York Times stated that de Valeras nation had, missed out somehow on the greatest moral issue of modern score (Murphy 13). How can the Republic of Irelands experience in remaining neutral be summarized throughout World War II? Fianna Fail and de Valera believed that by staying neutral it would preserve Irish sovereignty and indeed save Irish lives.Winston Churchill even made vague promises of reuniting Northern and Southern Ireland at the joined nations approximately vulnerable time to de Valera if Ireland joined the Allied forces effort. In a telegram Churchill stated, Now is your chance. Now or Never, a Nation once a gain. Am ready to meet you at any time. (Farrell 172). De Valera declined Churchills offer, knowing that in desperate times promises arent necessarily kept. But how did all of this attain the Republic of Ireland?Irelands experience throughout World War II was neutral but they did indirectly aid the allies troops through employment, covert operations, and thousands of Irish volunteering as Allied soldiers. Perhaps, through this experience, de Valera and Ireland contributed more to World War II and the join body politic through formal neutrality and covert operations as opposed to having the Daniel McCarthy 6 majority of Ireland, who disapproved of entering the war, being a negative belligerent figurehead (Murphy 15).While Ireland remained neutral Northern Ireland continued to build its military presence and differed in many experiences that Ireland didnt endure. After Germany took over France in June 1940, Northern Ireland became the most Copernican bridgehead for protecting At lantic shipping lanes (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland). Northern Ireland became increasingly paranoid that Germany was planning for an invasion. Similarly, de Valera was worried at the beginning of the war of a United Kingdom invasion or even a German one or most importantly being drawn into the war by the United Kingdom.But his idolatrys of being drawn into war were subsided when in 1938 the British government returned key ports to Ireland in part of the Anglo-Irish Agreements. But, in Northern Ireland these fears would act as a catalyst for the nation which instructed/designed evacuation routes, ordering blackouts, and the creation of bomb-shelters. By the early 1940s Belfast in Northern Ireland was considered a large military stronghold with over 100,000 British troops by April 1940s (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland). This affected not only the rescue but the demeanor of Northern Ireland.People of Northern Ireland f eared and opposed conscription but the Westminster government understood that already strong resentment from Catholics and even Protestants was not worth the conscription trouble. Additionally, Catholics and Protestant hostility ease existed and IRA members still sporadically bombed London but sectarianism did decrease (not by frequently) among these deuce Northern Ireland groups (Barton 52). Daniel McCarthy 7 When comparing the two Irelands and their experiences throughout World War II, there is a stark difference amid the two and the physical damages incurred.Throughout April and may of 1941, Germany began air raids specifically targeting Belfast docks and factories. The casualties and expenses were immensely damaging to Northern Ireland. From these raids an estimated 900-1,100 died, 56,000 houses were badly damaged, 3,200 totally destroyed, and roughly 100,000 people were left homeless (Barton 50). In comparison to the Republic of Ireland, which mistakenly was bombed May 30, 1941 on Dublins north side by Germans only endured 41 causalities and seventy houses were damaged (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland).Here, we can see a clear difference betwixt Northern and Southern Ireland. Northern Ireland quickly rose as an important military base while Southern Ireland remained neutral and relatively untouched. How would these events affect the two countries in the long term? One of largest shared experiences between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland throughout World War II would be the matter of emigration and contributing to Britains war-time effort. The Republic of Ireland, as much as they wouldnt like to admit it, relied heavily upon the United Kingdoms economy.This was clearly illustrated through the Anglo-Irish Trade Wars, which crippled the Irish economy when the Irish decided to ban British imports and in turn the British retaliated by heavily taxing all Irish imports. 90% of Irelands exports were to Britain and British consumers ceased purchasing these goods which devastated Irelands economy (Connolly 119). It can not be denied that the success of the Republic of Irelands economy was linked to the Daniel McCarthy 8 chroma of the United Kingdom economy.By 1939, thousands of Irish migrated back to Ireland in fear of being drafted into the British army through conscription acts. However, in 1940 Lord Beveridge from the British Manpower Commissioner realized that over 8. 5 million peoples were needed to work in the munitions factories (Connolly 123). Britain realized the need for Irish labor and the Irish understood that their economy was only as strong as the United Kingdoms. Westminster permitted the temporary citizenship, labeled, conditionally landed which exempted Irish from conscription for two years while working overseas (Connolly 125).The Republic of Ireland mainly helped facilitate and encourage the emigration of Irish to Britain while the United Kingdom labored an economical cons cription upon Northern Ireland. Official statements revealed from the Republic of Ireland, It seems a middling view that if they cannot secure normal employment here during the present hand brake conditions, which will probably grow worse, the Department should not refuse them the facilities and economic aid when they seek to earn their livelihood elsewhere. Girvin 26) Here, the Republic of Ireland realized that during these economically knotty times that both Irelands were facing it was better to have Irish work in Britain rather than be unemployed in Ireland. Britain mandated this economic conscription which gave little options for many Northern Ireland citizens. However, the main consequence was that by 1945 the number of unemployed dropped to 16,000 (Farrell 160). more reasoned that economic conscription was a better means to an end in comparison to being drafted to fight. Daniel McCarthy 9Mainly, both the North and South experienced a large migration of its population over to Great Britain. Between the years 1939-1946, net emigration was estimated to be around 189,942 which was a 13. 9% increase of emigration from Ireland from the prior decade. Many feared that this massive migration to Britain would lead to Irishmen and women to adopting British socialist values and abandoning Christianity. Between the years 1941-1945, wages in Britain increased 20% which was a main driving force behind these massive numbers of immigration (Connolly 126). But what did these two Irelands experience?They witnessed a higher income for citizens as allotments were sent back to Ireland to rejuvenate the economy and bring down the unemployment rates. Overall, the economy became stronger and Ireland contributed (indirectly) to the Allied forces eventual victory. Overall, what can be said about the two Irelands experience throughout World War II? First, let us learn and summarize the Republic of Ireland. Right from the beginning, de Valera and his people opposed war for man y reasons. Decades of fighting with the British along with a reconstructing economy coupled as major deterrents for joining the war.The Republic of Ireland would be one of twenty nations that declare neutrality at the beginning of the war and be one of the phoebe bird that remained true to their declaration. But what were the benefits and disadvantages that came along with neutrality? For one, Ireland didnt sustain a large population loss after World War II ceased. Unlike other countries that lost thousands or millions of troops, Irelands causalities were nominal in comparison. Furthermore, Ireland experienced a feeling of relative safety from stronger powers amongst the world.But what are some of the Daniel McCarthy 10 disadvantages that the Republic of Ireland experienced? Along with de Valera and his orders of censorship, many Irish were left clueless as to the Holocaust happenings and the surroundings around them. Furthermore, the Republic of Ireland faced constant suspicion a nd hostility from Allied nations, in particularly the United Kingdom. Churchill once announced shortly after Allied victory, if it had not been for the loyalty and friendship of Northern Ireland, we should have been forced to come to nigh quarters with Mr. e Valera, or perish from the Earth (Ireland during the Second World War). However, these types of verbal assaults were expected and de Valera did rebuttal. As for the Northern Ireland experience from World War II a much different picture can be painted. Northern Ireland seemed to have gotten swept up into the madness of the war. Belfast, one of the most important bases for the Allied forces took on responsibilities that it never had before. For the main part, many Irish resented Northern Irelands participation in the war, particularly Catholics.But, a fast decline in unemployment helped Northern Ireland experience better economical times. In comparison to the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland experienced more as an answer o f the war. It was actively participating in the war and even helped guide Northern Ireland into its most prosperous times with relations to the United Kingdom during the 1950s and 1960s (Farrell 152). All in all, Northern Ireland proved adapted and useful to the victory of the Allied forces in World War II. In conclusion, who faired better with their approach to World War II.The Republic of Ireland, while neutral, was able to maintain a stable government and did witness improvements in their economy. On top of this, it sustained minimal causalities Daniel McCarthy 11 and also was able to get many of the benefits that came along with the Allied victories. Had the Republic of Ireland been included into the war than it is for certain that German invasion would of occurred due to a weak military presence and lack of organization. Northern Ireland, while its experiences were vastly different to that of the Souths it had to rebuild and continue serving under the United Kingdom.Overall, both Irelands witnessed and endured hardness but ultimately the Republic of Ireland and their stance on neutrality won in the long run when comparing the two Irelands. Daniel McCarthy 12 Works Cited Farrell, Michael. Northern Ireland the Orange State. Pluto P, 1973. Ireland During the Second World War. 10 Mar. 2009 . Murphy, John A. , Brian Girvin, Brian Barton, and Tracey Connolly. Ireland &038 The Second World War Politics, Society, and Remembrance. Ed. Brian Girvin and Geoffrey Roberts. Dublin Four Courts, 2000. Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland. Ed. NIMC Second World War. 11 Mar. 2009 .