World War Two began on 1 September 1939, when Germany invaded Poland.

Over the next 6 years, the war was fought between the Allies (Britain, France, America and Russia) and the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy and Japan).

Eamon De Valera was the Taoiseach of Ireland at the time, and he called this period ‘The Emergency.’

Ireland declared itself to be ‘neutral’ in the war. Sweden and Switzerland also remained neutral during World War Two.

Advantages of Neutrality Disadvantages of Neutrality

Why do you think Ireland remained neutral?

Do you think this was the best decision for Ireland at the time? Why?

America and Britain put pressure on Ireland to enter the war? Why?

How, do you think, would life in Ireland have changed if Ireland had entered the war?

Denmark, Norway, Holland and Belgium were neutral at the beginning of the war. However, they were invaded by the German army.

Many Irish people were fearful of an invasionby the Germans or British.

Even though Ireland was neutral, it was still

affected by the war.

How do you think this was so?

Even though Ireland was neutral, it was still affected by the war.

Censorship was introduced from the start of the Emergency. This meant that people could not comment about the war or take sides in newspapers, books or films.

As a result, Irish people were often unawareof what was going on in Europe.

Gas masks were distributed to the people to protect them from poisonous gases.

Gas masks work by allowing clean air to be taken in. They also filtered out the poisoned air.

Many English children were evacuated to Ireland to keep them safe during the war.

Before the war, most of the food and raw materials for industry imported into Ireland were brought in British ships. When war broke out this was no longer possible.

Why do you think this was the case?

For this reason, the government set up its own shipping company called Irish Shipping. Each time sailors went to sea they knew their lives were in danger. Two ships were sunk during the war by German U-Boats.

The Irish Pine was torpedoed on 15 November 1942. 33 sailors died

Food had to be rationed during the war. There were shortages of imported foods such as sugar, tea and flour. Fruit such as bananas and oranges were not available. Meat, clothes and chocolate were rationed. In 1942, bread was also rationed.

People were given ration books and only allowed a certain amount of these items each month. Ration books were small booklets with coupons for different foods. People found it hard to live on these rations because the amounts were so small.

The Department of Agriculture encouraged people to grow vegetables during ‘The Emergency’ – especially potatoes!

During the Emergency years, there were also fuel shortages.

Trains began to use timber and straw as fuel, instead of coal.

Tram services were cut back due to coal shortages.

Private cars almost disappeared off the roads as petrol was in very short supply.

Doctors were allowed petrol for emergenciesonly.

People walked, cycled or travelled in horse-drawn carriages.

Gas and electricity were also rationed during the Emergency and switched on only for a few hours each day. Therefore, people used more turf.

A ‘glimmer man’ went around to people’s houses to check that they did not use gas at certain times. If people were caught, they were fined immediately – and their gas supply was also cut off!

During the Emergency, there was a fear that the Germans or British would invade Ireland.

In 1939, there were only approximately 7,600 people in the Irish army.

A recruitment campaign began, so the army’s numbers increased over the war years.

The Irish navy and air corps patrolled the seas and air around Ireland – constantly on the look out for German activity.

Over 50,000 Irishmen served in the British army during the war.

In August 1940, a German aircraft dropped bombs on a creamery in Co. Wexford, killing 3 women workers and injuring many others.

Belfast was bombed by the Germans on 7 April 1941, killing over 700 people. It was bombed again on 4 May when 150 people were killed.

On the night of 31 May 1941, the Germans bombed the North Strand area of Dublin. The first bombs were dropped at 1.30am. 38 people were killed, 90 injured and over 70 homes destroyed.

The German government apologised for the bombing and paid compensation to Ireland after the war. It is said that the air raid had been a mistake.

1. Along with Ireland, what other countries remained neutral during WW2?

2. Who was the Taoiseach of Ireland during ‘the Emergency’?

3. Why, do you think, was censorship introduced?

4. What food was rationed during ‘the Emergency?’

5. What methods of transport did people use?

6. What did Irish people use as fuel during the Emergency?