De Valera's Diplomatic Neutrality
Brian Girvin explains the tensions between the Irish government and many of the Irish people in their attitudes to the war against Nazism.
In late 1941 the Irish Taoiseach Eamon de Valera remarked, ‘I wish there was some way of knowing who will win the war. It would make decisions much easier’. Yet on May 2nd, 1945, de Valera paid a visit to Dr Eduard Hempel, the German minister in Ireland, to offer his condolences on the death of Hitler. The visit outraged opinion across the world and has puzzled historians ever since. For critics it was a snub to democratic Europe; for apologists it was an act of statesmanship, reflecting the successful defence of Ireland’s neutrality during the war.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
