Could DeValera have declared war on Germany
- Thread starter Derek Jackson
- Start date
He could have got away with an ultimatum. The problem would arise if Germany carried out any further raids or bombed Eire in error and he had to carry it out.
De Valera's main reason for joining in would have been American pressure. However Eire's entry would have meant diverting fighters from England. Irish neutrality was supported by the three major parties and opposing views were censored so De Valera would need a good reason for joining the allies
De Valera's main reason for joining in would have been American pressure. However Eire's entry would have meant diverting fighters from England. Irish neutrality was supported by the three major parties and opposing views were censored so De Valera would need a good reason for joining the allies
BTW, yesterday, I followed Garrison's link, and did some more research on Google and YouTube. I could vomit, the way those poor bastards and their families were treated.
I suppose there are many reasons, first that by then it was clear that the allies were going to win so there was no threat to Ireland.
Also I think Dev didn't want to be seen as selling out on his policy of neutrality and the fact that internal Irish politics would still have made it almost impossible.
And never forget the fact that Dev and Churchill hated each other and that the US wasn't exactly thrilled with Ireland either.
There was pressure for Ireland to declare war after the US did, but DeValera refused.
A token declaration of war could have sufficed (similar to what many Latin American nations did, or what Turkey did in 1945). Dev could have agreed that US planes be based in Ireland for ASW patrols, but asked for the British to not do it. He could also make it known that those Irish who wanted to, could enlist in the US or UK armies and fight the Germans. But he could have also made a distinction like the Australians did between a volunteer expeditionary force that could fight overseas (which would be the enlist in the other power's military option), and a home force which would only fight if Ireland was invaded (the regular Irish army). That could have kept the Irish army at home and not engaged in any overseas fighting.
That would have been the least costly option politically, and it would have paid off big postwar (US economic aid plus return of the Six Counties to the Free State). The only cost to Ireland would have been slightly higher casualties if Irish ships close to home were sunk by U-Boats, and perhaps a great percentage of Irish serving in overseas armies and thus higher casualties. The first could be mitigated by a prudent countdown to becoming a belligerent (such as warn all Irish in Europe that they should return home some weeks before DoW, suspend boats leaving harbor 24-48 hours before DoW), and the second would be outside his control anyway.
In hindsight, this probably would have been the best option.
I accept the Devalera of OTL would not have wanted to.
However had he been persuaded it was right (and he did change his mind on some issues in OTL) would he have carried it in April May 1941.
I chose that time because actually it was obvious that the UK was not going to lose and also it would have been politically harder after Barborossa.
However had he been persuaded it was right (and he did change his mind on some issues in OTL) would he have carried it in April May 1941.
I chose that time because actually it was obvious that the UK was not going to lose and also it would have been politically harder after Barborossa.
And all of the costs for having to suppress 'Orange' terrorist groups -- maybe even a guerilla army -- in the north...
Not to mention having to trust that Churchill and successive PM's would uphold the deal to transfer the North. Given the strategic worth of the North I can't see the UK doing it during the War and afterwards they would face the usual heavy resistance to the idea. To be honest I think Dev was right in not trusting Churchill's offer on the North
Pangur
Donor
Whats been outlined is about your best option. I wonder if there is room here for having Joseph Kennedy as the instigator of this happening?