Ireland During the Second World War

Ireland's role during this time remains a controversial and bitter matter even today. This is because the self-governing state of Eire, still a Commonwealth member, opted for neutrality. How far this policy was benign to the Allied cause, along with the historical and political reasons for it, is explored in this book through informative text, by noted authority on Irish history, Ian S Wood. This is accompanied by vivid photographs and illustrations, some of which are published for the first time. The very different experience of Northern Ireland in the war years is also examined. There, a Unionist government's support for the war did little to reduce deep internal divisions. These were heightened by IRA action on both sides of the border and in Britain itself and this was a potential threat to the Allies.