When studying World War I, we often tend to focus on the major players- England, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, and the US. However, it can be very interesting and insightful when you take a different approach and devle into the story behind the seemingly less significant nations during the conflict. In his article published in the Atlantic Montly, Henry W. Massingham discussed just this. He began this article entitled "Ireland 1916- And Beyond" by saying that "it had been the misfortune of England to forget Ireland at the moment when the relationship of the two countries should have been closer and more sympathetic than usual." In the wake of a devastating famine, England neglected to aid Ireland due to the outbreak of the war. The effects of this proved to be disastrous both then and in the future.
England's first big mistake regarding Ireland was the postponement of Home Rule there. By removing any semblance of control the Irish had, the English fueled their desire for independence. The threat of this volatile Ulster greatly demoralized the British army and brought about the possiblity of a civil war- something that Germany considered and tried to instigate. In fact, pro-German sentiments in Northern Ireland were not uncommon at all during the war. Massingham noted how many much of the clergy in the Irish Catholic Church had close ties to the German Church. The notion of a defiant Ireland siding against England was something our BLC lecturer Dr. Mark Boden noted as still being present today. He told us that modern soccer matches between England and Germany incite Irish support against the English. It is interesting to see how political events during WWI carry over to today.
Another result of the end of Home Rule in Northern Ireland was the rise of Sinn Fein. As a party, Sinn Fein tapped into the Irish outrage regarding their underrepresentation in the government. Futhermore, many Irish were angered at the conscription which was imposed on them with the onset of the war. The document pictured here is the National Defence Fund which was an anti conscription pledge/fund drawn up after the British decided to extend conscription to Ireland in 1918. It is because of the gains that Sinn Fein made during these formative years that they were able to become a dominant political force in the late 1960s.
Overall, Massingham discusses the difficulty of the "mixed problem of nationality and empire, whith neither the Home Rule bill, nor the plan of provincial self-government, nor Sinn Fein propaganda could yeild." Indeed, the problems that arose between England and Ireland during WWI paved the way for the violence in Northern Ireland that lasted the better part of the 20th Century.
Great post!
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