1. Northern Ireland and World War II

2. With the onset of war in 1939, Northern Ireland assumed a strategic importance for the British gov..

3. made more so by deValera’s declaration of neutrality (
..made more so by deValera’s declaration of neutrality (*and the loss of the Treaty Ports).

4. **The North’s involvement in WWII would strengthen its links with Britain..

5. ..and separate it even further from the South.

6. Wartime Economy

7. The outbreak of war transformed the North’s economy..

8. Under gov. supervision, both agriculture and industry were mobilised to meet the war effort.

10. **The depression of the 1930s was replaced by growth and expansion.

11. As rationing and food shortages hit Britain
As rationing and food shortages hit Britain..the North became an important source of food.

12. To exploit this even further. the Unionist gov
To exploit this even further..the Unionist gov. imposed compulsory tillage..

13. The acreage under crops increased dramatically..

14. The British gov. guaranteed good prices for Northern produce..
..Northern Irish farmers prospered.

15. Industry

16. Even before 1939, Northern industry benefited from British rearmament..

17. The Harland & Wolff shipyard received lucrative orders from the British navy..

18. Aircraft factories such as that of Short Bros
Aircraft factories such as that of Short Bros. & Harland expanded to meet the increased demand..

19. Textile factories were commissioned to provide uniforms, parachutes, tents..

21. **The war brought prosperity to the North.

22. Unemployment fell sharply. from a high of 25% during the 1930s
Unemployment fell sharply..from a high of 25% during the 1930s..to 5% by the end of the war..

24. Contributing factors The expansion of industry..
..enlistment in the armed forces..
..and migration of workers to British factories.

25.
Belfast shipyards produced 140 warships and 123 merchant ships..

27. Employment in shipbuilding increased from 7,200 in 1938..
..to 20,600 by 1945.

28. During the war those employed in engineering doubled to reach 28,000..

29. Aircraft industry employees rose from 6,000 to 23,000.

30. Social Impact
Wages rose - to 75% of the average industrial wage in Britain (from 60%)..

31. ..*this meant a real and significant rise in most people’s standard of living.

33. *Overall Northern Ireland benefited greatly from World War II.

34. Case Study:
Belfast during the Second World War

35. Context
In 1939 Lord Craigavon (James Craig) declared Ulster ready to play its part..

36. Lord Craigavon

37. The loss of port facilities in the South increased the North’s strategic importance..

38. Northern ports housed ships to protect Allied convoys..

39. The RAF set up important bases to oversee North Atlantic approaches..

41. A Local Defence Volunteer Force (LDV) was set up..
..made up of “B-Specials”.

42. A Special Constabulary to assist the police set up in 1920..
the armed “B-Specials” were Protestant Unionist members of the UVF and Orange Order.

44. ..so practically no Catholic participation.

45. Unionist Ministers - including Craigavon - failed to take the situation seriously enough..

46. *the North was nowhere near ready for war..

47. ..the people of Belfast would pay dearly for this lack of defence and preparation in 1941.

48. On the outbreak of war the Unionist gov
On the outbreak of war the Unionist gov. issued public notices on procedures for:

49. - bomb shelters
- the use of gas masks (in very short supply)
- the evacuation of children.

50. John MacDermott was appointed Min. for Public Safety..
..responsible for civil defence.

51. He gave Belfast Corporation approval to recruit more firemen..
..and to buy more fire engines and pumps (also in short supply/high demand across Britain).

53. The Fall of France, June 1940

54. *Luftwaffe bombers based on France’s Atlantic coast were now within range of the North..

55. ..flying over the Irish Sea, they would be able to avoid Britain’s air defences altogether.

57. The gov. did respond:
Extra anti-aircraft guns were placed along the Antrim and Derry coasts.

58. ..this wasn’t enough.

59. 1. The Dockside Raid 7-8 April 1941

60. Midnight 7 April:
6 German bombers dropped their deadly cargo on an unsuspecting Belfast public.

62. The air raid sirens never sounded.

63. 13 dead.
81 injured.
Target: the shipyards.

64. Gov spin afterwards: that all had gone to plan..
..the damage and deaths were talked down
..people didn’t feel the need to evacuate their children
..*this created a false sense of security

65. Others knew better:
“I suppose it is better for the public not to know about men with backs broken, half their faces gone or worse..”
-diary entry, local resident

66. 2. Easter Tuesday Raid 15 April

67. 10.40 pm..air raid sirens rang out.

69. The Home Guard (formerly LDV) manned the anti-aircraft guns..

71. The Luftwaffe wreaked havoc.
RAF estimates: 90 German bombers.
German Air Ministry: 327 aircraft dispatched..180 active over N.Ireland

72. Over 200 tonnes of high explosives were dropped..
..mainly on terraced housing.

74. 76 landmines smashed through metal and concrete shelters..

75. At least 900 died.
600 more were injured.

76. Belfast’s industrial output dropped by 75%..
..as roads, rail tracks, power stations and cables were destroyed.

77. The Unionist gov had estimated that 10,000 people could be made homeless..

78. In fact 100,000 were..
..fear of future attacks led to a mass exodus from the city.