What was the Cromwellian Conquest of Ireland (1649-1653)?

Introduction The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, or Cromwellian war in Ireland, (15 August 1649 to 27 April 1653) was the re-conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell invaded Ireland with the New Model Army on behalf of England’s Rump Parliament… Read More

What was Operation Green (Ireland)?

Introduction Operation Green (German: Unternehmen Grün) often also referred to as Case Green (Fall Grün) or Plan Green (Plan Grün), was a full-scale operations plan for a Nazi German invasion of Ireland planned by an unknown German officer known by the alias “Hadel” in support of Operation Sea Lion (Unternehmen Seelöwe), the invasion of the… Read More

What was Plan Kathleen (1940)?

Introduction Plan Kathleen, sometimes referred to as the Artus Plan, was a military plan for the invasion of Northern Ireland by Nazi Germany, sanctioned in 1940 by Stephen Hayes, Acting Irish Republican Army (IRA) Chief of Staff. Plan Kathleen is distinct from Operation Green, the German military plan to invade Ireland, also drawn up in… Read More

What was Operation Mainau (Ireland) (1940)?

Introduction Operation Mainau (German: Unternehmen „Mainau“) was a German espionage mission during the Second World War. It was sanctioned and planned by the German secret service (Abwehr) and executed successfully in May 1940. The mission plan involved inserting Abwehr agent Hermann Görtz into Ireland by parachute. Görtz successfully landed and established contact with his IRA… Read More

What was Plan W (1940)?

Introduction Plan W, during World War II, was a plan of joint military operations between the governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom devised between 1940 and 1942, to be executed in the event of an invasion of Ireland by Nazi Germany. Although Ireland was officially neutral, after the German Blitzkriegs of 1939-1940 that resulted… Read More

What was the MV Kerlogue?

Introduction The MV Kerlogue was an Irish ship attacked in World War II that has become the exemplar of neutral Irish ships during the war. The Kerlogue was a very small ship that was attacked by both sides and rescued people from both sides. She was almost sunk by a German mine and was strafed… Read More

An Overview of Irish Neutrality during World War II

Introduction The policy of Irish neutrality during World War II was adopted by the Oireachtas at the instigation of the Taoiseach Éamon de Valera upon the outbreak of World War II in Europe. It was maintained throughout the conflict, in spite of several German air raids by aircraft that missed their intended British targets, and… Read More