Condition of Ireland not supporting either side during WWII
Markings to alert aircraft to neutral Ireland ("Éire" English: "Ireland") during WWII on Glengad Head, County Donegal
The policy of neutrality was adopted by Ireland's Oireachtas at the instigation of the Taoiseach Éamon de Valera upon the outbreak of World War II in Europe. It was maintained throughout the conflict, in spite of several German air raids by aircraft that missed their intended British targets, and attacks on Ireland's shipping fleet by Allies and Axis alike. Possibilities of both German and British invasions were discussed in the Dáil. Both eventualities were prepared for, although most detailed preparations were done with the Allies under Plan W. De Valera's ruling party, Fianna Fáil, supported his neutral policy for the duration of the war.
This period is known to the Republic of Ireland as The Emergency, owing the title to the wording of the constitutional article employed to suspend normal government of the country.
Pursuing a policy of neutrality required maintaining a balance between the strict observance of non-alignment and the taking of practical steps to repel or discourage an invasion from either of the two warring parties.
Despite the official position of neutrality, there were many unpublicised contraventions of this, such as permitting the use of the Donegal Corridor by Allied military aircraft, and extensive co-operation between Allied and Irish intelligence. The Irish supplied the Allies with detailed weather reports for the Atlantic Ocean, including a report from Blacksod Bay, County Mayo, which prompted the decision to go ahead with the Normandy landings.[1]
^Duggan, John P. (2003). Herr Hempel at the German legation in Dublin, 1937-1945. Dublin: Irish Academic Press. p. 180. ISBN 0-7165-2746-4. OCLC 48570436.
and 28 Related for: Irish neutrality during World War II information
policy of neutrality was adopted by Ireland's Oireachtas at the instigation of the Taoiseach Éamon de Valera upon the outbreak of WorldWarII in Europe...
Sweden maintained its policy of neutralityduringWorldWarII. When the war began on 1 September 1939, the fate of Sweden was unclear. But by a combination...
Allied forces from May 1940. Ireland – The policy of IrishneutralityduringWorldWarII was adopted by the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) at the instigation...
strong opponent of Joseph Stalin's regime. However, Mexico's neutrality in WorldWarII had to change and decide its position due to geographical, political...
This is a list of war crimes committed duringWorldWarII. The Axis powers (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan) were some of the most systematic...
timeline of declarations of warduringWorldWarII. A declaration of war is a formal act by which one nation goes to war against another. The declaration...
war. WorldWarII was a total war; homeland military production became vital to both the Allied and Axis powers. Life on the home front duringWorld War...
on 1 September 1939, starting WorldWarII. The Soviets invaded eastern Poland on 17 September. Following the Winter War with Finland, the Soviets were...
DuringWorldWarII, the Allies committed legally proven war crimes and violations of the laws of war against either civilians or military personnel of...
Vatican City pursued a policy of neutralityduringWorldWarII, under the leadership of Pope Pius XII. Although the city of Rome was occupied by Germany...
During American involvement in WorldWarII (1941–45), propaganda was used to increase support for the war and commitment to an Allied victory. Using a...
In WorldWarII, many governments, organizations and individuals collaborated with the Axis powers, "out of conviction, desperation, or under coercion...
Thailand officially adopted a neutral position duringWorldWarII until the five hour-long Japanese invasion of Thailand on 8 December 1941, which led...
When war began, Denmark and Iceland declared neutrality and limited visits to the island by military vessels and aircraft of the belligerents. During the...
The Irish Mercantile Marine duringWorldWarII continued essential overseas trade in the conflict, a period referred to as The Long Watch by Irish mariners...
Cross Ireland rugby internationals killed in action in WWI Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme IrishneutralityduringWorldWarII Pennell...
of staying neutral in the case of war. Immediately before WorldWarII, the Nordic countries stated their neutrality, but Sweden changed its position to...
referred to as the "war years", "occupation period" or simply "the war". Having maintained its neutralityduring the First WorldWar (1914–1918), Norwegian...
Despite being neutral at the start of WorldWarII, Belgium and its colonial possessions found themselves at war after the country was invaded by German...
Villamor José P. Laurel Manuel L. Quezon Military history of Japan duringWorldWarII Military history of the Philippines Military history of the United...
Germany's war against Russia, American public opinion had generally reflected a desire to stay out of the war. The sentiment for neutrality was particularly...
Global Information