Ireland had a fighting force of fewer than 20,000 men at the outbreak of the war. This was soon increased with a large recruitment drive. In 1941 the Irish Army had grown to over 40,000, and these troops were supplemented by the Local Defence Force (LDF), a newly established army reserve. Numbers in the LDF reached just over 100,000 in 1943. In reality, the army and the LDF remained poorly equipped throughout the Emergency. There was a shortage of heavy weapons, and there was no proper naval service to protect the coastline. Plans were put in place between the British and Irish governments in the event that Germany invaded Ireland. Known as Plan W, it set out how the British Army would aid Ireland if the Nazis invaded the country.
Local Defence Force on manoeuvres. The Bombing of Dublin
Despite Ireland’s neutrality, the Germans did drop a number of bombs on Dublin and other areas, believing that they were over Belfast (SEE CHAPTER 8). During the night of 30–31 May 1941, the German Luftwaffe (airforce) dropped a number of bombs on Dublin’s North Strand and surrounding areas. Thirty-four people were killed and a further 90 were wounded. De Valera protested to the German Ambassador, Eduard Hempel, who responded by saying that the attack was an accident or the result of British radio interference with their planes’ guidance systems. Germany later offered to pay compensation for the damage caused.
Destruction after German planes drop bombs on Dublin.
