Impact of WW2 on the South (Leaving Cert History): Model Answers

Impact of WW2 on Ireland north and south 1939-45

Essay Plan

INTRO:

• Anglo-Irish Agreement 1938 set the stage.
• British request for Irish involvement in WWII.
• Ireland's neutrality policy and Northern Ireland's allegiance to Britain.
• Social, economic, and political impacts on both North and South.

BODY PARAGRAPHS:

1. Ireland's Declaration of Neutrality.
2. Dáil bills supporting neutrality.
3. Measures to defend the nation.
4. IRA's threat to neutrality.
5. Relations with Britain during the war.
6. Relations with Germany.
7. Relations with the USA.
8. Political developments in Ireland.
9. Further political developments.
10. Presence of US troops in Northern Ireland.

CONCLUSION:

• North and South took different approaches to WWII.
• Neutrality led to tensions between de Valera and Churchill.
• South's independence grew (e.g., UN veto), while the North's status within the UK increased.
• WWII brought social, economic, and political challenges for the future.

Sample Essay

WWII substantially affected both Southern and Northern Ireland from 1939-45. Due to a clause in the 1938 Anglo-Irish Agreement, the control of treaty ports like Loughswilly was returned to the Irish. When the war broke out, the British hoped for Irish support, but due to the 1936 External Relations Act, Ireland could act independently during a war. The Irish free state adopted a policy of Neutrality, while the North expressed their desire to assist the Allies. WWII affected all aspects of Irish life, particularly politics and internal affairs in both the North and the South.

In the South, when WWII (the Emergency) broke out in September 1939, the Dail voted in favour of Neutrality. They did not want another war following the internal violence in the country, and Neutrality was an assertion of Ireland's independence. Other countries were informed of Ireland's Neutrality, and the Department of Foreign Affairs observed other neutral nations like Switzerland. Ultimately, Ireland expressed favour to the Allies, and their Neutrality was called "unneutral neutral", which had a political effect on Ireland.

Due to the Emergency, an amendment was made to the Constitutional Bill, which stated that the government could act outside the constitution if national security was threatened. Another bill passed was the Emergency Powers bill, which dealt with wartime issues like censorship. The Department of Supplies introduced rationing under the oversight of Minister Sean Lemass. De Valera acted single-handedly in Ireland's neutrality policy, and the Dail was barely consulted. One of the only people who openly criticised this was Fine Gael's James Dillon. The bills passed, and actions taken by the Dail during wartime would have a political effect on Ireland in the future.

Despite Neutrality, Ireland had to be able to defend itself against attack. Due to earlier military spending cuts, there were less than 20,000 soldiers. Only about half of them were full-time. The Army was under-equipped, and there were no means to defend 3000 miles of coastline. This was worrying as the chance of German invasion increased due to the fall of France in 1940. To increase army size, membership in the local defence forces rose. Due to the small military spending, Ireland avoided large war debts. This factor of Ireland's Neutrality affected the country throughout WWII.

England's difficulty was Ireland's opportunity was a republican belief the IRA followed. They gained contact with Nazis, as they believed Germany could provide unity to Ireland. This threatened Ireland's Neutrality, and Irish intelligence, G2, suspected the IRA and introduced strict measures like the death penalty in order to deal with the threat. Due to these measures implemented by the Offences Against the State Act 1939, the IRA became almost non-existent after 1943. Though the IRA were a considerable threat to the South, they had little effect on the North.

Relations with Britain and the Free State throughout WWII remained contentious (due to Neutrality). In 1939, the British requested the use of the treaty ports, which de Valera denied. He also denied the British Health Minister's plea to join the war in exchange for Irish unity. He rejected it because of Ireland's history with Home Rule (as promised during WWI but to no avail). Nothing came from their negotiations, and the relations between de Valera and Churchill remain strained. Strained political relations were a significant effect of WWII on Ireland.

The Free State's relations with Germany were mostly good throughout the war. In 1937, Dr. Edward Hempel was made German Ambassador to Ireland. Throughout the Emergency, he maintained good relations with de Valera and informed him of Nazi / IRA contact. In May 1941, Nazis "accidentally" bombed North Strand in Dublin, leaving 27 dead and many more wounded. As a result, de Valera was called on to remove German and Japanese ambassadors, but he refused. He made the diplomatic mistake of sending condolences after Hitler's death, which only increased international tensions/suspicions surrounding Ireland's Neutrality.

Though the USA were a long-time friend of Ireland, they were their most outspoken critics. During the war, Roosevelt had a warped idea of Ireland's reasons for Neutrality because of the British PM. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbour, the US joined the Allies and set up a base in Northern Ireland. The US ambassador demanded the Irish terminate diplomatic relations with the Axis powers. However, de Valera refused, stating their policy was "friendly neutrality". G2 had meetings with Allied intelligence concerning weather reports. Ireland's WWII policy of 'friendly neutrality" wasn't generally liked but benefitted the Allies.

Northern Ireland pledged allegiance to Britain and hoped for participation in the war effort. There was a general lack of preparedness when attacks began, and as a result, the LDV war set-up comprised mostly of B-specials. Only around 40,000 Northern Irish men fought in WWII. The Northern Irish Government did little to participate in the war, except for Sir Basil Brooke, who suggested Northern Ireland become the food supplier for the war. After James Craig died, he was replaced by J.M. Andrews, who did nothing to involve Ireland more in the war, affecting the future political relations of the state.

The lack of defence and preparation cost the people of Belfast when the bombing began in 1941. Andrews resigned, and Sir Basil Brooke took over, clearing the entire old cabinet. This caused a rift among the Ulster Unionists. Leadership in Northern Ireland remained unstable due to sectarian tensions since Brooke was Anti-Catholic, encouraging plans not to employ Catholics about a decade earlier. As a result, the Catholic minority had very little faith in him and the new government. WWII led to increased sectarian tensions in North Ireland, which would only grow with time.

In January 1942, US troops landed in Derry, and throughout the war, more and more resided there. Before the D-Day Landings in 1948, there were 120,000 troops in the province. A massive bunker was built for the military headquarters, and a radio station was set up to coordinate with European operations. The US troops stationed in Northern Ireland ultimately benefited everyone involved, as Northern Ireland finally had a substantial role in WWII. Both sides were happy when the war was over.

Ultimately, the governments of the Free State and Northern Ireland had different responses to WWII. The South remained neutral as an assertion of independence, which led to the Soviets vetoing Ireland's UN membership. Many other powerful nations, such as the USA and Britain, did not like Ireland's Neutrality. The North, in turn, rallied to the British cause, strengthening their position in the UK. Eventually, the two governments faced different social, economic, and political challenges, which were effects of WWII. These issues shaped the internal and external affairs of the modern sovereign Irish state.