Rep of Ireland was officially neutral during WW2, one reason being that the USA refused to sell Rep of Eire any weapons.
Northern Ireland being part of Britain was not and took part in WW2.
Yes Eire was officially neutral but certainly had sympathies with the axis, this may have even gone as far as physical support, ie docking facilities. re-fueling etc.
Rep of Eire had no sympathies for the Axis and did not provide docking or refuelling for Axis. The Rep of Eire president of the time Eamon deValera like Hitler himself rounded up 500 German spies and IRA German sympathisers imprisoned them .The prisoners went on hunger strike but deValera let them die.
Rep of Eire in contrast sympathised with the allies, provided there airspace for allied planes (mostly coming across Atlantic) in fact there’s a B17 that ditched in the sea a few miles from my home, the crew was saved and returned to there squad.
Any luftwaffe plane entering airspace was presumed hostile and engaged, Closter glads chased ju88s on occasion but ju88 outran them easily. Escaped German recon balloons where shot down in the hundreds by Irish air force hurri’s. German planes bombed Rep Of Eire on several occasions as well.
It’s estimated that 50.000 Irish men volunteered and fought in the British army during WW2.There was unofficial Irish regiments in the British army (Ulster /Munster/leinster/connuaght rifles & Dub something’s) The second highest scoring RAF fighter ace was a Brendon. e. Finucne (
Irish) 32 kills
It must also be noted that the Original IRA that was founded to fight for the independence of Ireland and freedom of Ireland where good men and these men are heroes to me, however when Ireland won its independence in 1922 the IRA turned into a sectarian revenge gang, that’s aim was to hurt innocent people, we do not condone this.
The main point I wanted to get across was that we are allied freedom loving people, not Nazi, IRA sympathiser.
On a lighter note lets sit back relax and enjoy the fruits of victory.
Poet W, B Yeats
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above:
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love:
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.
this is not me by the way
