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Éamon de Valera, left, and Frank Aiken, Minister for Defence being escorted by officers of the Free State Army, on the former's arrival on Spike Island, on 11 July, 1938. AP/Press Association Images

Revealed: Ireland's surveillance activities during World War Two

The newly released files also uncover attempts to turn Ireland into a fascist state, in addition to Britain’s wartime recruitment within the 26 counties.

THE EXTENT OF Ireland’s war-related activities during the second world war have been revealed.

Newly released files from the Department of Justice and Equality show the surveillance of both non-Irish and Irish people, the IRA sympathisers who were among them, attempts to turn Ireland into a fascist state and the beginnings of Britain’s wartime recruitment within the 26 counties.

Propaganda

The state also took steps to prevent those who where living here from engaging in propaganda, regardless of their nationality. Once such case was that of Dr Kapeller, an Austrian refugee, to which the Office of the Controller of Censorship in Dublin Castle was alerted.

To view larger image, please click here.


(Image taken from file 2011/25/249, available from the National Archives)

So what did the propaganda consist of? The answer: two broadcasts to the French wartime radio station Radiodiffusion Nationale, where he said that recent events had shown Napoleon to be “quite a gentleman”.

Declaring that the complaint was not “about the substance” but rather the fact that “while enjoying our hospitality he is prepared to take an active part in Allied propaganda,” the call was made to make him act with “some discretion and consideration for us.”

To view larger image, please click here.


(Image taken from file 2011/25/249, available from the National Archives)

A more overt piece of propaganda – in this case, pro-German – was the “News From Germany.” The principal contents of the September/October 1939 edition, as held in the National Archives, is bookended by the “Führer’s Great Speech in Danzig” and one by Mussolini.

To view larger image, please click here.


(Image taken from file 2011/25/250, available from the National Archives)

Surveillance

The company that was kept by foreign nationals resident in Ireland was also monitored. One such case was that of Dr C. H. Peterson, a German national and Press Attache to the German Legation. Of particular interest was his relationship with a Miss Kay Lynch.

Having had her plans of travel to the US postponed due to the outbreak of war, Lynch, a secretary, lived in the same building as Peterson, where she spent “most of her spare time in his company.”

Attending the “cinema and other entertainments together,” surveillance by the Detective Branch concluded that “Miss Lynch is a frivolous type of individual who is fond of drink”. Noting her “infatuation” with Peterson, they found no reason to believe that the time she spent with him was “prompted by any motive of an illegal character.”

To view larger image, please click here.


(Image taken from file 2011/25/250, available from the National Archives)

Members of the public were also vigilant for anything out of the ordinary. When a German training ship visited Cobh in 1939, the manager of a clothing shop, who was an ex-British officer, noted their purchases when ashore.

The opinion of the Manager is, seeing that landing of troops by Parachutes is not a feature of the German Army, the purchases may have been made for deception purposes. He was, he states, paid the amount in British notes, and he also states they were very desirous of purchasing suitings of different colours and weight.

To view larger image, please click here.

(Image taken from file 2011/25/251, available from the National Archives)

Members of the Italian community were also monitored. When an Italian ship was moored at the North Wall, its crew, along with who they came in contact with, were observed.

One such incident involved Ernest Randolfi, a chip shop owner living in Dublin. Having visited the crew, it was determined that his car, which “is used for pleasure” was used to bring some of the sailors to the Gaiety Theatre.

To view larger image, please click here.


(Image taken from file 2011/25/252, available from the National Archives)

IRA links

IRA sympathisers were also found among some foreign nationals resident in Ireland. A report from 8 June, 1940 established that a Karel Stieber, from the then Czechoslovakia, and who had been an officer in the Austrian army during The Great War, found that he was regarded as having “pro-Nazi sympathies” and “being “friendly to the I.R.A element” in the sugar beet factory in Tuam, where he was a manager.

Or particular note was his relationship with a Charles Reynolds, who had previously been interned. Despite living “a retired life” the decision was made to maintain “discreet observation locally”.

To view larger image, please click here.


(Image taken from file 2011/25/251, available from the National Archives)

Later in 1940, the movements of German Alice Micha were recorded. Having “developed the habit of staying out until very late hours at night” her employment had ceased, her having “become uppish and arrogant in her manner” towards her employer.

She spends her time in the company of persons known to be supporters of the I.R.A. She makes no secret of her admiration for the objects of the I.R.A. or the German War effort and successes.

To view larger image, please click here.

(Image taken from file 2011/25/252, available from the National Archives)

Monthly reports

Regular reports were also maintained, with reports listing any change of address or behaviour. In the case of German woman Carla Mensing, who was living in Monkstown, Co Cork in February 1940, “the special source available to Gardaí” had not observed anything within the last month to arouse suspicion.

Her social life had taken a dip, however, as her associate, a Miss Harty, had “not taxed her car for the current quarter, so that they no longer go for drives together.”

To view larger image, please click here.


(Image taken from file 2011/25/250, available from the National Archives)

Finance

Strange transactions were also investigated by Gardaí during wartime. In a letter relating to “aliens suspected of espionage,” German national Heine Langheld was suspected of not declaring money, having told a local grocer that he did not hold a bank account in order to get him to cash cheques on his behalf.

To view larger image, please click here.

(Image taken from file 2011/25/251, available from the National Archives)

Making Ireland a fascist state

The “promotion of a Fascist State in this country” was also observed in Ireland during wartime. Having been made aware of German literature in which “British Government was strongly criticised,” those who were believed to favour a fascist state included an ex-TD and an ex-member of the IRA.

To view larger image, please click here.


(Image taken from file 2011/25/08, available from the National Archives)

To view larger image, please click here.


(Image taken from file 2011/25/08, available from the National Archives)

British Army recruitment

Exactly a week after Britain declared war on Germany, recruiting for the British Army was found to be taking place at a meeting of the Cashel Branch of the British Legion. Having been attended and “carefully watched” by Gardaí, the decision was taken by those in attendance to “communicate with the British War Office and the British Legion Head Quarters.”

The position is being carefully watched, having due regard to the possibility of attack eminating from the I.R.A and any developments will be reported.

To view larger image, please click here.

(Image taken from file 2011/25/467, available from the National Archives)

Earlier that year, Garda Commissioner Carroll has stated that Gardaí were no longer to provide references for “local persons who are applicants for British Forces,” replying that Garda Regulations prevented it.

To view larger image, please click here.


(Image taken from file 2011/25/467, available from the National Archives)

Read: Norwegian police apologise for deportation of Jews during WWII >

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31 Comments
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    Mute gary power
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    Dec 15th 2012, 9:26 AM

    Very interesting stuff

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    Mute Brian Mulligan
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    Dec 15th 2012, 8:52 AM

    Fascist State? Ireland? Never!

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    Mute Damien Flinter
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    Dec 15th 2012, 12:15 PM

    More….Francoist?

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    Mute Paul Callaghan
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    Dec 15th 2012, 9:16 AM

    There was no war, there was an ‘emergency’, which happened to coincide

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    Mute Cormac Mc
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    Dec 15th 2012, 12:25 PM

    Tell that to the relatives of the 70,000,000 dead of the Second World War and the soldiers who died preventing the invasion of Britain and, inevitably, Ireland.

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    Mute jim ahh jim ahh jim
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    Dec 15th 2012, 7:24 PM

    @ Cormac Mac

    Why do you assume things would have been worse if we were invaded ??

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    Mute Jill :D
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    Dec 15th 2012, 11:58 PM

    @Jim okay you’re obviously a troll because what you just said was beyond stupid. Operation green. do your reshearch.

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    Mute Patrick Lyons
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    Dec 15th 2012, 11:44 AM

    The IRA/Sinn Féin thugs supported The Nazis – there can be no greater shame.

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Dec 15th 2012, 12:10 PM

    So did the Blueshirts

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    Mute Richie Brennan
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    Dec 15th 2012, 12:18 PM

    ‘IRA/Sinn Féin thugs’ also fought against fascism in the International Brigades of the Spanish Civil War. Way too simplistic Patrick.

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    Mute Randy Cecil
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    Dec 15th 2012, 10:16 AM

    Interesting that the article omitted any reference to blueshirt sympathizers of Hitler or the Irish volunteers sent to fight alongside Franco and Hitlers’ forces in Spain. How many IRA members died in Spain fighting fascism?

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Dec 15th 2012, 9:17 AM

    The country better wake up or the fascist,s will have taken over

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    Mute fotocrat™
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    Dec 15th 2012, 10:28 AM

    Too late

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    Mute Simon Power
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    Dec 15th 2012, 10:55 AM

    What utter hyperbole. “Fascist State”? I can only assume that you neither know the meaning of the phrase nor the history associated. You may not agree with current government policy (and in many instances, I would be of the same persuasion) but liberal application of the word “fascist” is paramount to the juvenile rantings of a petulant teenager.

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    Mute Tony Rogers
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    Dec 15th 2012, 11:27 AM

    Yes Simon I agree the government maybe guilty of stupidity, greed and selling everyone in the country to banker debt but fascism NO, incompetency YES definitely

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    Mute Eoin Ryan
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    Dec 15th 2012, 10:23 AM

    It is worth noting that the laws with the fascist tendencies named in the document, Tom Hales and Tom Kelleher, were both senior IRA commanders on the anti-treaty side of the civil war.

    Both participated in the Beal na Blaith ambush…

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    Mute John Hyland
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    Dec 15th 2012, 10:20 AM

    A very good and interesting article. It certainly is a snap shot to the past.

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    Mute Damien
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    Dec 15th 2012, 12:18 PM

    this was a great read, very interesting look at government and Gardai activity during the war.

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    Mute John Buckley
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    Dec 15th 2012, 11:39 AM

    A very interesting read. I read a very good book on Censorship in Ireland, by Donal O Driscoll, a good few years ago now, and it touches on stuff like this (not these details though), and clearly shows that Frank Aitken controlled with an iron-hand!

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    Mute Damien Flinter
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    Dec 15th 2012, 12:19 PM

    Whereas the current incumbent is controlled ‘with an iron hand’.
    In Nato’s velvet glove of Parntnership for Peace. Forward Eirebase Shannon, mission accomplished.

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    Mute Reginald's Tower
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    Dec 15th 2012, 10:09 PM

    You really are a broken record

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    Mute Damien Flinter
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    Dec 16th 2012, 9:47 AM

    Beats being a gombeen mercenary flunkie by several shades.

    Get back in your Bush, reggie.

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    Mute Richard Barry
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    Dec 15th 2012, 7:12 PM

    The IRA were Marxists.. Their main aim was destabilising the order of the day…

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    Mute jim ahh jim ahh jim
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    Dec 15th 2012, 7:36 PM

    @richard
    And some things never change, ….

    when you look at sinn fein/ira today doing the same thing

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    Mute Garrett O' Brien
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    Dec 15th 2012, 3:52 PM

    A really interesting read. I notice that while supposedly neutral pro-Germans were monitored but British recruiters were warned of possible attack.

    Now before people start thinking I would have been a Nazi supporter, that is NOT the case. I’m just saying, while supposedly “neutral” there was definitely a bias, much like with the US refuelling in Shannon, so I think it’s laughable to claim neutrality.

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    Mute Richie Brennan
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    Dec 15th 2012, 6:29 PM

    Very true, although we had little choice in what we did.

    Captured German troops were apparently held in the curragh; while their British counterparts were sent back across the Border.

    Irishmen fighting with the Allies were provided with civilian clothes when on leave in Dublin to avoid any antagonism.

    Weather reports were also relayed to the British etc.

    What was the Country to do? We had barely gained the faintest level of independence when the rise of fascism exploded across Europe.

    If we had declared and entered the war the only certainty was that we would descend back into civil war. Not that we had an army or infrastructure capable of doing anything.

    The Irish north and south gave their lives in the fight against fascism and at least in the 26 counties did so only a few short years after waving goodbye to our own tyrants.

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Dec 15th 2012, 10:51 AM

    Interesting. Provides a little insight into what was of concern back during the emergency.

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    Mute EndaKennysALiar
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    Dec 15th 2012, 7:13 PM

    I’d say if you had sex outside of marriage back then that made you a Nazi collaborator too

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    Mute Emmy Grant
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    Dec 15th 2012, 8:48 PM

    And bloody lucky!!

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    Mute Eoin Ryan
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    Dec 15th 2012, 10:26 AM

    …lads with…

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    Mute Al S Macthomais
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    Dec 16th 2012, 12:46 AM

    Ireland is already part of a fascist state as the new western province of 4th Reich Germany.lord Haw Haw Kenny and Goebbels GIlmore have seen to that plus FF also signed up to Merkels misery crusade.

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