Ireland staying neutral in WW2 was Eamon de Valera's greatest achievement - Leo

A Little Pony · 27-10-2017 12:33PM #1

Should resign as taoiseach immediately. Praising the coward De Valera in his refusal to join the Allies in the fight for freedom against Nazi tyranny and Adolf Hitler is shocking. Shame on him.

http://irishpost.co.uk/ireland-staying-neutral-ww2-eamon-de-valeras-greatest-achievement-leo-varadkar/

27-10-2017 12:33PM

A Little Pony wrote: »

Should resign as taoiseach immediately. Praising the coward De Valera in his refusal to join the Allies in the fight for freedom against Nazi tyranny and Adolf Hitler is shocking. Shame on him.

Cool

27-10-2017 12:34PM

Éamon de Valera’s greatest achievement – Leo

what?

Wait. What on Earth is happening?

Does the title display as:

&#8240;amon de Valera&#226;&#8364;&#8482;s greatest achievement &#226;&#8364;&#8220;

for anyone else? Yet when you copy and paste it it becomes

Éamon de Valera’s greatest achievement – Leo

What?

McMurphy · 27-10-2017 12:38PM

Someone should just buy the OP a neon sign that lights up pink and flashes with the words "pay attention to me".

It would be easier and less laborious for him than repeatedly posting controversial anti Irish scutter

conditioned games · 27-10-2017 12:39PM

Not often I agree with Leo, but yes he is stating the obvious, WW2 was not our war, pity same wasn't done for WW1.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 27-10-2017 12:42PM

Deleted User wrote: »
Éamon de Valera’s greatest achievement – Leo

what?

Wait. What on Earth is happening?

Does the title display as:
&#8240;amon de Valera&#8217;s greatest achievement &#8211;
for anyone else? Yet when you copy and paste it it becomes

Éamon de Valera’s greatest achievement – Leo

What?

Same here. I got the impression the OP was trying to be smart with some keyboard smilies and it backfired.

27-10-2017 12:47PM

conditioned games wrote: »

Not often I agree with Leo, but yes he is stating the obvious, WW2 was not our war, pity same wasn't done for WW1.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Shurimgreat · 27-10-2017 12:50PM

If we hadn't stayed neutral, there is a strong chance the Germans would have bombed us to oblivion, Dublin at least, sank our ships, and possibly tried to invade us to open up a new front. To prevent this, the likelihood is Churchill would have ordered Ireland in turn to be invaded and occupied. We also didn't really have the resources to make a difference to the outcome of the war.

On balance neutrality was our best option.

donegaLroad · 27-10-2017 12:50PM

I for one, would certainly have been against sending Irish troops to serve as cannon fodder during WW2.

The timing of this comment by LV could be significant.

*Expect announcements on EU integrated military forces in the near future.

Alf Veedersane · 27-10-2017 12:52PM

Aegir wrote: »

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Then they returned you and got a refund.

conditioned games · 27-10-2017 12:52PM

Aegir wrote: »

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

They wouldn't be any worse than the previous shower here. Global elites funded the Nazis to strengthen communist control, taking part would be playing their game and risking life for nothing.

murphthesmurf · 27-10-2017 12:54PM

My Irish history is pretty poor, but for me it was a big mistake that luckily Ireland did not have to suffer for. What I mean by this is, Britain fallen the idea that the Nazis would have stopped there and not crossed the Irish sea is optimistic at best. That's why for me the best idea would have been to help prevent them ever getting that far.

27-10-2017 12:54PM

conditioned games wrote: »

They wouldn't be any worse than the previous shower here. Global elites funded the Nazis to strengthen communist control, taking part would be playing their game and risking life for nothing.

it was the lizards i tell you, the lizards :eek:

27-10-2017 12:56PM

Aegir wrote: »

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

RIP you sorry for your troubles

Collie D · 27-10-2017 12:58PM

Deleted User wrote: »
Éamon de Valera’s greatest achievement – Leo

what?

Wait. What on Earth is happening?

Does the title display as:
&#8240;amon de Valera&#8217;s greatest achievement &#8211;
for anyone else? Yet when you copy and paste it it becomes

Éamon de Valera’s greatest achievement – Leo

What?

OP had the fada function removed from his keyboard.

blanch152 · 27-10-2017 01:06PM

Shurimgreat wrote: »

If we hadn't stayed neutral, there is a strong chance the Germans would have bombed us to oblivion, Dublin at least, sank our ships, and possibly tried to invade us to open up a new front. To prevent this, the likelihood is Churchill would have ordered Ireland in turn to be invaded and occupied. We also didn't really have the resources to make a difference to the outcome of the war.

On balance neutrality was our best option.

From a pure self-interest point of view, the correct, albeit cowardly, option was to stay neutral.

From a moral point of view, the fact that Ireland stayed neutral in WW2 is to our eternal shame that we didn't join the rest of the world in standing up to the evil of fascism.

wakka12 · 27-10-2017 01:10PM

If we had joined then thousands of innocent irish civlians would have died in bombings of cities here. And thousands of irish troops would have died at war.
I dont think staying neutral in a war is something to be ashamed of
Also considering we are a small country with very small military power that would made a neglibible difference to the outcome of the war which was won anyway

gifted · 27-10-2017 01:14PM

Shurimgreat wrote: »

If we hadn't stayed neutral, there is a strong chance the Germans would have bombed us to oblivion, Dublin at least, sank our ships, and possibly tried to invade us to open up a new front. To prevent this, the likelihood is Churchill would have ordered Ireland in turn to be invaded and occupied. We also didn't really have the resources to make a difference to the outcome of the war.

On balance neutrality was our best option.

Opportunity lost there....Dublin being bombed....Yeah, Dev has a lot to answer for..lol lol

diomed · 27-10-2017 01:16PM

A Little Pony wrote: »

Should resign as taoiseach immediately. Praising the coward De Valera in his refusal to join the Allies in the fight for freedom against Nazi tyranny and Adolf Hitler is shocking. Shame on him.

After 800 years of oppression, a five year economic war with Britain from 1932 to 1938, and only 17 years after our independance, Britain declares war on the most powerful country in Europe and invites us along.

Invitation declined.

donegaLroad · 27-10-2017 01:18PM

De Valera denied Britain the use of our seaports, I think he was right to stand up to Churchill who was spitting fire regarding our neutrality.

I don't think De Valera should have signed to book of condolences when Hitler died though.

Hitman3000 · 27-10-2017 01:24PM

120,000 men from the island of Ireland fought in the British army in WW2. We detained Axis service personnel who crashed or were rescused in the Curragh whilst returning Allied personnel who crashed or were rescued. Neutral in words only.

Irish Examiner
Aug 29th 2015 was were the figure of 120,000 is from. Can't post links.

wakka12 · 27-10-2017 01:26PM

Hitman3000 wrote: »

120,000 men from the island of Ireland fought in the British army in WW2. We detained Axis service personnel who crashed or were rescused in the Curragh whilst returning Allied personnel who crashed or were rescued. Neutral in words only.

Also sent aid to northern irish cities after bombings and took refugees in

Pelvis · 27-10-2017 01:28PM

donegaLroad wrote: »

I don't think De Valera should have signed to book of condolences when Hitler died though.

Hitman3000 · 27-10-2017 01:29PM

wakka12 wrote:

Also sent aid to northern irish cities after bombings and took refugees in

True, also the southern fire service responded to fires in Belfast.

Conall Cernach · 27-10-2017 01:31PM

murphthesmurf wrote: »

My Irish history is pretty poor, but for me it was a big mistake that luckily Ireland did not have to suffer for. What I mean by this is, Britain fallen the idea that the Nazis would have stopped there and not crossed the Irish sea is optimistic at best. That's why for me the best idea would have been to help prevent them ever getting that far.

The Germans had no reason to attack Ireland if they had beaten Britain. They didn't even want to go to war with Britain in the first place. Their ideology was based on expansion to the East not the West.

donegaLroad · 27-10-2017 01:31PM

Pelvis wrote: »

here you go

diomed · 27-10-2017 01:35PM

All Britain and Germany wanted was a playing pitch for their war - Ireland.
I'm not a Shinner. When it comes to Britain having our best interests at heart I think it best to ignore their advice.

Ten of Swords · 27-10-2017 01:39PM

murphthesmurf wrote: »

My Irish history is pretty poor, but for me it was a big mistake that luckily Ireland did not have to suffer for. What I mean by this is, Britain fallen the idea that the Nazis would have stopped there and not crossed the Irish sea is optimistic at best. That's why for me the best idea would have been to help prevent them ever getting that far.

The British developed Plan W in 1940 which was the defence of Ireland in the event of a Nazi invasion, they speculated this would be by way of a landing in Cork. The planned called for the Irish Army and the British Army to work together but declassified documents after the war also make passing mentions of engaging "local security forces" if they "became hostile"

Malcolm McDonald, acting as England's negotiator in these talks, also offered to end the partition of Ireland, ie give back the six counties, if Ireland joined the allies.

diomed · 27-10-2017 01:43PM

Ten of Swords wrote: »

Malcolm McDonald, acting as England's negotiator in these talks, also offered to end the partition of Ireland, ie give back the six counties, if Ireland joined the allies.

Yeah, sure.

Infini · 27-10-2017 01:47PM

We were officially neutral for more practical reason than anything as Ireland joining would have only been to our disadvantage. We never had the resources or remote capability to defend ourselves against the Nazi's so it was best for us to stay out of it "officially".
Unofficially of course there was some help as we would make allied prisoners "disappear"..... across the border

. Axis got a nice holiday down in culchie country!

A Little Pony · 27-10-2017 01:50PM

donegaLroad wrote: »

De Valera denied Britain the use of our seaports, I think he was right to stand up to Churchill who was spitting fire regarding our neutrality.

I don't think De Valera should have signed to book of condolences when Hitler died though.

Churchill was right on this issue. Shame on De Valera and not standing up to Nazi tyranny.

Ireland staying neutral in WW2 was Eamon de Valera's greatest achievement - Leo

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