1. ‘The Emergency’: Ireland and WW2
In September 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Eamann de Valera came under pressure from Britain and France to join the war but he refused.
Ireland would remain neutral in the war to show independence from Britain and the people supported this. To ensure this neutrality, a state of emergency was called and the government would be given special powers. This would last for as long as the war continued which is why WW2 was known in Ireland as ‘The Emergency’.

2. Why were we neutral?
Ireland was democratic and there could not support the Fascist Nazis who opposed freedom of speech.
Memories of the Black and Tans and the war with Britain were still fresh.
Ireland had 7000 badly equipped soldiers and no air force. Though tens of thousands more people joined the army during the war, they were not equipped to do anything.
On many occasions, Winston Churchill demanded to use Irish ports. De Valera feared that Germany would attack he we did so he refused.

3. Problems with Neutrality
The IRA were the main threat. In 1939 they set off bombs in Britain. De Valera feared that the British would use this as an excuse to invade Ireland. 500 IRA members were imprisoned as a result.
Supplies became scarce (short). Both food and fuel were imported before the war however German submarines attacked ships at sea now. Countries all over Europe had people starving and dying.
De Valera ordered Sean Lemass, as Minister for Supplies to come up with solutions. These included using Irish Turf for fuel, using Whole Wheat to make brown bread and strict rules about power. As a result, we faired much better then other countries in Europe.

4. Friendly Neutrality
Ireland was not really neutral, as it showed clear bias for the British.
Ireland sold food to Britain.
British and American soldiers to cross the boarder to Northern Ireland but German soldiers were imprisoned without trial.
Some 50, 000 Irish people left to join the British Army and 100,000 left to help in factories.
We also helped Northern Ireland when a port was bombed. Irish fire brigades crossed the boarder (Germany bombed Dublin as a result.)
Important note: This chapter is important as people felt for the first time in a while to be truly independent and to have choices.

5. Person in History
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