Northern Ireland during World War II and the Creation of the Welfare State
In this chapter you will learn about: • The impact World War II had on Northern Ireland • The preparations made to defend Belfast city and its citizens • How Northern Ireland’s economy and society were affected by World War II • The establishment of the Welfare State in the post-war years
By the end of this chapter you will be able to: • Assess the preparations for war and the impact of the bombing of Belfast • Discuss the economic and social consequences of Northern Ireland’s involvement in World War II
• Understand the divisions that the war and the establishment of the Welfare State caused between Northern and Southern Ireland
Belfast during World War II
The Build-Up to War
In the years before the outbreak of World War II, the British government followed a policy of appeasement whereby Hitler was allowed to break a number of the terms of the Versailles Treaty in the hope that this would prevent him starting a European conflict. However, by 1936 the British did begin to prepare for a potential war by rearming its fighting forces.
The rearmament of Britain meant that many of the North’s old industries reopened. The demand for ships filled the order books of Harland and Wolff and other companies. The linen mills were revived as the demand for textiles increased. The Air Ministry established a new aircraft factory, Short and Harland, in 1936. Employment in Northern Ireland, particularly in the industrial heartland of Belfast, grew steadily as war approached.
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