Hello Indy, Sparty, Iryna and everyone,
My question is…
To what extent did Irish neutrality benefit the Allies during WWII?
Go raibh maith agat.
Johnny.
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Irish Neutrality was the best outcome that could have bern hoped for. Churchill wanted Ireland to fight and repeatedly pressed DeValera on this point, but Ireland was too poor and underdeveloped to provide meaningful war material. It would have to be armed at British and American expense and didn’t gave a high enough population to provide a game-changing number of men under arms.
The ports made no difference in the end anyway.
Irish Neutrality did allow Irish ships to rescue Allied seamen, which they often did as they could stop at sea and rely on their flag for protection while convoys could not. Irish ships travelled with lights on and had their flag and EIRE painted on their hulls.
Britain could and did trade with Ireland anyway.
Given the recent Civil War in Ireland, Irish enthusiasm for fighting alongside Britain was doubtful at best.
So it was the best outcome for all sides. Germany had Switzerland, Britain had Ireland.
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That Neutral Island That Neutral Island - Google Search
I mentioned this in another thread, well worth a read.
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