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{{Short description|Plan of joint military operations during World War II}}
[[Image:Eiresign.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Markings to alert aircraft to neutral Ireland ("Éire") during WWII on [[Malin Head]], [[Co Donegal]]]]▼
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
'''Plan W''' (sometimes referred to as ''"the W Plan"''{{Fact|date=March 2007}}), during the [[Second World War]], was a plan of joint military operations between [[Ireland]] and the [[United Kingdom]] devised between 1940 and 1942, to be executed in the event of an invasion of [[Ireland]] by [[Nazi Germany]].▼
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Original research|date=September 2022}}
▲[[ImageFile:Eiresign.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Markings to alert aircraft to neutral Republic of Ireland ("Éire") during WWII[[World War II]] on [[Malin Head]], [[CoCounty Donegal]]]]
 
▲'''Plan W''' (sometimes referred to as ''"the W Plan"''{{Fact|date=March 2007}}), during the [[Second 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 [[Irish neutrality|officially neutral]], after the German [[Blitzkrieg]]s of 1939-40 that resulted in the defeat of [[Poland]], the [[Low Countries]], and [[France]], the British rightly suspected that Germany planned an invasion of Britain ([[Operation Sealion]]), and were also concerned about the possibility of [[Operation Green (Ireland)|German plans to invade Ireland]]. German planning for Operation Green began in May 1940, and the British had intercepted chatter about it starting in June 1940. The British were interested in securing Ireland as its capture by German forces would expose their western flank, and provide a base of operations for [[Luftwaffe]] in the [[Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945)|Battle of the Atlantic]] and in any operations launched to conquer Britain as part of Operation Sealion.▼
 
▲Although Ireland was [[Irish neutrality|officially neutral]], after the German [[Blitzkrieg]]s of 1939-401939–40 that resulted in the defeat of [[Poland]], the [[Low Countries]], and [[France]], the British rightly suspectedrecognised that Germany planned an invasion of Britain ([[Operation SealionSea Lion]]), and were also concerned about the possibility of [[Operationa Green (Ireland)|German plansinvasion to invadeof Ireland]]. German planning for [[Operation Green (Ireland)|Operation Green]] began in May 1940, and the British hadbegan intercepted[[Ultra chatter(cryptography)|intercepting communications]] about it starting in June 1940. The British were interested in securing Ireland, as its capture by German forces would expose their western flank, and provide a base of operations for the [[Luftwaffe]] in the [[Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945)|Battle of the Atlantic]] and in any operations launched to conquerinvade Great Britain as part of Operation SealionSea Lion.
British-Irish cooperation was a controversial proposal for both sides as most of the Irish political establishment had been combatants in the conflict against the British between 1916 and 1921, however, due to the threat of German occupation and seizure of Ireland and especially valuable Irish ports, Plan W was developed. Northern Ireland was to serve as the base of a new [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] that would move into Éire to repel the invaders from any beach-head that was established by German [[paratrooper]]s. In addition, coordinated actions of the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[Royal Navy]] were planned to repel German air and sea invasion. According to a restricted file prepared by the British Army's "Q" Movements Transport Control in Belfast, the British would not have crossed the border "until invited to do so by the Irish Government,"<ref>Fisk P.237-238.</ref> and it is not clear who would have had the operational authority over the British troops invited into Ireland by [[de Valera]], but it is assumed the British would have retained command.<ref>de Valera had agreed to the plan "wholeheartedly" although was more reluctant in private about which would be worse &mdash; a German or a British occupying force.</ref> The document added that most people in Ireland probably would have helped the British Army, but "there would have been a small disaffected element capable of considerable guerilla activities against the British."<ref>Fisk P.237-238. This is certainly true. While the IRA of the time considered de Valera and the rest of those who had accepted partition of the island as traitors, the act of extending an invitation to British troops back into the 26 counties would have emboldened them even further.</ref>▼
 
▲British-Irish-British cooperationco-operation was a controversial proposal for both sides, as most members of the Irish political establishment had been combatants in the conflict[[Irish againstWar theof BritishIndependence]] between 19161919 and 1921,. howeverHowever, duebecause toof the threat of German occupation and seizure of Ireland and especially the valuable Irish ports, Plan W was developed. [[Northern Ireland]] was to serve as the base of a new [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] that would move intoacross Éirethe [[Irish border]] to repel the invaders from any beach-head that was established by German [[paratrooper]]s. In addition, coordinated actions of the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[Royal Navy]] were planned to repel German air and sea invasion. According to a restricted file prepared by the [[British Army]]'s "Q" Movements Transport Control in Belfast, the British would not have crossed the border "until invited to do so by the Irish Government,"<ref>Fisk Ppp.237-238 237–238.</ref> and it is not clear who would have had the operational authority over the British troops invited into Irelandthe State by [[Éamon de Valera]], but it is assumed the British would have retained command.<ref name="ReferenceA">de Valera had agreed to the plan "wholeheartedly" although was more reluctant in private about which would be worse &mdash;– a German or a British occupying force.</ref> The document added that most people in Ireland probably would have helped the British Army, but "there would have been a small disaffected element capable of considerable guerillaguerrilla activities against the British."<ref name="autogenerated1">Fisk Ppp.237-238 237–238. This is certainly true. While the IRA of the time considered de Valera and the rest of those who had accepted partition of the island as traitors, the act of extending an invitation to British troops back into the 26 counties would have emboldened them even further.</ref>
By April 1941, the new BTNI commander, General Sir [[Henry Pownall]] extended his planning for a German invasion to cover fifty percent of the entire Irish coastline. He believed that German troops were likely to land in Cork, [[Limerick]], [[Waterford]], [[Westport, County Mayo|Westport]], [[Galway]], [[Sligo]], and [[Donegal]]. British Army personnel also carried out secret intelligence gathering trips to glean information on the rail system south of the border.▼
 
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:EIRE-MECHANIZED-TROOPS.gif|thumb|200px|right|Irish Army Cavalry Corps circa. 1941 with Swedish Landswerk vehicles.]] -->
▲By April 1941, the new [[Headquarters Northern Ireland|British Troops in Northern Ireland]] (BTNI) commander, General Sir [[Henry Pownall]], extended his planning for a German invasion to cover fifty percent of the entire Irish coastline. He believed that German troops were likely to land in [[County Cork|Cork]], [[Limerick]], [[Waterford]], [[Westport, County Mayo|Westport]], [[Galway]], [[Sligo]], and [[County Donegal]], i.e. on the southern or western coasts. British Army personnel also carried out secret intelligence -gathering trips to glean information on the rail system south of the border.
 
==Context==
[[ImageFile:OperationSealion.svg|thumb|right|300px|Plan of Operation ''SealionSea Lion'', which the British feared would be executed alongside a Nazi invasion of Ireland.]]
 
===Political context and early planning===
Discussions over the possible German invasion of Ireland had been ongoing in Britain since the beginning of 1939. In June 1940, Britain's political and military establishment had witnessed the seemingly invincible German [[Blitzkrieg]] which led to the defeat of [[Poland]], the [[Low Countries]], and [[France]], and the retreat of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] from [[Dunkirk]]. The British rightly suspected that, following their defeat in France, the next step would be a German invasion of Britain -– [[Operation SealionSea Lion]]. They did not know, but also suspected, that there was a plan to invade [[Irish neutrality|neutral Ireland]] -– [[Operation Green (Ireland)|Operation Green]].
 
In this context, they embarked on the policy of planning, together with the Irish authorities, for the defence of [[Ireland|the island]]. This may be regarded aswas a controversial proposal for both sides in 1940 as most of the Irish political establishment had been combatants in the conflict[[Anglo-Irish War]] against the British between 1916 and 1921. For instance, many of the [[Fianna Fáil]] politicians ofin the Irish Government'sgovernment Cabinet includingincluded [[Éamon de Valera]], [[Seán T. O'Kelly]], [[Seán Lemass]], [[Gerald Boland]] and, [[Oscar Traynor]] had participated in the [[Easter Rising]] in 1916 and, [[Frank Aiken|Aiken]], [[Seán MacEntee]], and [[Thomas Derrig]], all of whom had been active against the British. On the British side, [[Winston Churchill]], and many senior members of his administration had forcibly opposed their bid for an independent Irish state, including setting up the Freecontroversial [[Black and Tans]] to Stateoppose aftermilitant 1918separatism.
 
However it was not so controversialdifferent whenfrom de Valera's position in 1921 is understood. During the debates on the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] in late 1921, de Valera had submitted his ideal draft, known as "[Document No.2"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/DT/D.P.A.170001.html|title=APPENDIX Document17 NoPROPOSED TREATY OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN IRELAND AND THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH PRESENTED BY PRESIDENT DE VALERA TO THE SECRET SESSION OF AN DÁIL|publisher=Historical-debates.2]",oireachtas.ie|accessdate=21 February 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218222359/http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/DT/D.P.A.170001.html|archivedate=18 February 2012}}</ref> which included:
* ''2. That, for purposes of common concern, Ireland shall be associated with the States of the British Commonwealth, viz: the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, and the Union of South Africa.''
* ''4. That the matters of “common"common concern”concern" shall include Defence, Peace and War, Political Treaties, and all matters now treated as of common concern amongst the States of the British Commonwealth, and that in these matters there shall be between Ireland and the States of the British commonwealth “such"such concerted action founded on consultation as the several Governments may determine”determine".''
* ''8. That for five years, pending the establishment of Irish coastal defence forces, or for such other period as the Governments of the two countries may later agree upon, facilities for the coastal defence of Ireland shall be given to the British Government as follows:
*: ''(a) In time of peace such harbour and other facilities as are indicated in the Annex hereto, or such other facilities as may from time to time be agreed upon between the British Government and the Government of Ireland.''
*: ''(b) In time of war such harbour and other Naval facilities as the British Government may reasonably require for the purposes of such defence as aforesaid.''
* ''9. That within five years from the date of exchange of ratifications of this treaty a conference between the British and Irish Governments shall be held in order to arrange for the handing over of the coastal defence of Ireland to the Irish Government unless some other arrangement for naval defence be agreed by both Governments to be desirable in the common interest of Ireland, Great Britain, and the other associated States.''
 
Despite his anti-British stance, which continued, deDe Valera thereforehad understoodproposed that anya final settlement between Ireland and Britain hadwould to begive sensitiveregard to Britain's future maritime defence., in recognition of Britain's longstanding fear of invasion from the west.
 
Among the Irish opposition party's [[Fine Gael]] leadership, both [[LiamW. T. Cosgrave]] and, [[RichardDesmond FitzGerald Mulcahy(politician)|MulcahyDesmond Fitzgerald]] had also fought in 1916. In addition, within[[Richard theMulcahy]] Irishand Armyseveral there were thousands of men whoothers had beenalso involvedfought in the Firstprevious World[[Irish Civil War]] and the [[Anglo-Irish warArmy]] afterwardshad thousands of veterans from that conflict. Major General [[Joseph McSweeney]], [[General Officer Commanding|GOC]]. (GOC) of Irish Army's westernWestern commandCommand in 1940, had been in the GPO withduring the [[PatrickEaster Pearse|PearseRising]]. Colonels Archer and Bryan of [[Directorate of Intelligence (Ireland)|Military Intelligence [[G2]] had also fought in the conflicts. The IRA member [[Tom Barry (Irish republican)|Tom Barry]] volunteered his services to the [[Irish Army]] in 1939 and became Costello's operations officer in the 1st Division.<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[ImageFile:EIRE-NAZIHELMETS.gif|thumb|200px|right|A unit of Ireland's 7500 regular soldiers early 1940. Note German style helmets made under a Belgian patent in Britain.]] -->
 
===British Strategicstrategic Assessmentassessment===▼
Following the fall of France in June 1940, a formal offer of Irish unity to end the [[partition of Ireland]] was also made to de Valera via [[Neville Chamberlain]]. The revised final terms were signed on [[28 June]] [[1940]]. On their rejection, neither the London or Dublin governments publicised the matter.
[[ImageFile:Eamon de Valera c 1922-30.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[EamonÉamon de Valera]], Irish Taoiseach]]▼
* Ireland (then described as "''[[Éire]]''") would effectively join the allies against Germany by allowing British ships to use its ports, arresting German and Italian civilians resident in the Free State, setting up a joint defence council and allowing overflights.
After the [[German invasion of Belgium (1940)|invasion of Belgium]] and [[Battle of the Netherlands|the Netherlands]], the British were convinced that an invasion of Ireland would come from the air, via paratroopers[[paratrooper]]s. They were not satisfied with the Irish Governmentgovernment's defence capability, particularly against airborne troops. The topic of reoccupying the 26 counties of Ireland had been a matter of political conversation in Britain since the beginning of the war. In June 1940, [[Malcolm MacDonald]] offered to "give back" the 6six counties comprising [[Northern Ireland]] -– an offer of [[Irish reunification|Irish unity]] -– if ÉireIreland would join with the alliesAllies, but the offer was not taken seriously. The same month Major General [[Bernard Montgomery|Bernard "Monty" Montgomery]] was busy planning the seizure<ref>See [[Robert Fisk]]'s ''In Time of War: Ireland, Ulster and the Price of Neutrality, 1939-19451939–1945'' (1996). London: Gill & Macmillan. {{ISBN |0-7171-2411-8}} — (1st ed. was 1983) Pp. 241. Cobh was to be attacked by the [[British 3rd Infantry Division]] so that the [[Cork Harbour]] could be used as a naval base for the anti-submarine war in the Atlantic, the plan was eventually dropped as one division was not considered enough of a force to reoccupy this part of Éirethe State.</ref> of what he referred to as "Cork and Queenstown ([[Cobh]]) in [[Southern Ireland (1921–22)|Southern Ireland]]" ''(sic)''. [[Winston Churchill]] was to also refer to the "... most heavy and grievous burden placed upon Britain by the Royal Navy's exclusion from the three [[Treaty ports (Ireland)|Treaty Ports]] [in ÉireIreland].."<ref name="fisk242">Fisk Pp. 242</ref> ''[[The Economist]]'' reported that Britain should seize the ports if they become "a matter of life and death".<ref name="fisk242"/> The remarks were made in the face of mounting losses in the [[Second Battle of the Atlantic|Battle of the Atlantic]].▼
*In return, arms would be provided to Éire and British forces would cooperate on a German invasion. London would declare that it accepted "the principle of a United Ireland" in the form of a solemn undertaking "that the Union is to become at an early date an accomplished fact from which there shall be no turning back."<ref>Eds. O'Day A. & Stevenson J., ''Irish Historical Documents since 1800'' (Gill & Macmillan, Dublin 1992) p.201. ISBN 0-7171-1839-8 </ref>
*Clause 2 of the offer promised a Joint Body to work out the practical and constitutional details, "the purpose of the work being to establish at as early a date as possible the whole machinery of government of the Union".
The proposals were first published in 1970 in a biography of de Valera.<ref>Longford, Earl of & O'Neill, T.P. ''Éamon de Valera'' (Hutchinson 1970; Arrow paperback 1974) Arrow pp.365-368. ISBN 0 09 909520 3</ref>
 
Attempts were also made on [[26 June]] [[1940]] to split the consensus in Ireland over the neutrality policy via a possible [[coup]] attempt. An approach was made to [[Richard Mulcahy]] ([[leader of [[Fine Gael]] at the time) by an Irish -born ex-British Army Lieutenantlieutenant Colonelcolonel who was a city councillor in Éirethe State. Mulcahy recorded that the ex-officer:▼
▲===British Strategic Assessment===
▲[[Image:Eamon de Valera c 1922-30.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Eamon de Valera]], Irish Taoiseach]]
▲After the invasion of Belgium and Netherlands, the British were convinced that an invasion of Ireland would come from the air, via paratroopers. They were not satisfied with Irish Government's defence capability, particularly against airborne troops. The topic of reoccupying the 26 counties of Ireland had been a matter of political conversation in Britain since the beginning of the war. In June 1940, [[Malcolm MacDonald]] offered to "give back" the 6 counties comprising [[Northern Ireland]] - an offer of [[Irish reunification|Irish unity]] - if Éire would join with the allies. The same month Major General [[Bernard Montgomery|Bernard "Monty" Montgomery]] was busy planning the seizure<ref>See [[Robert Fisk]]'s ''In Time of War: Ireland, Ulster and the Price of Neutrality, 1939-1945'' (1996). London: Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 0-7171-2411-8 — (1st ed. was 1983) P.241. Cobh was to be attacked by the [[British 3rd Infantry Division]] so that the [[Cork Harbour]] could be used as a naval base for the anti-submarine war in the Atlantic, the plan was eventually dropped as one division was not considered enough of a force to reoccupy this part of Éire.</ref> of what he referred to as "Cork and Queenstown ([[Cobh]]) in [[Southern Ireland]]" ''(sic)''. [[Winston Churchill]] was to also refer to the "... most heavy and grievous burden placed upon Britain by the Royal Navy's exclusion from the three [[Treaty ports (Ireland)|Treaty Ports]] [in Éire].."<ref name="fisk242">Fisk P.242</ref> ''[[The Economist]]'' reported that Britain should seize the ports if they become "a matter of life and death".<ref name="fisk242"/> The remarks were made in the face of mounting losses in the [[Second Battle of the Atlantic|Battle of the Atlantic]].
 
<blockquote>"...called to say that 'the people in the North are prepared to make a military convention with this country [ÉireIreland] without reference to the Northern Government... He wanted someone to go up there from here unofficially, to speak to someone in authority and say how the land lay. In reply to questioning, he stated that the people he referred to were the British Army authorities in the North."<ref name="fisk242"/></blockquote>▼
▲Attempts were also made on [[26 June]] [[1940]] to split the consensus in Ireland over the neutrality policy via a possible [[coup]] attempt. An approach was made to [[Richard Mulcahy]] (leader of [[Fine Gael]]) by an Irish born ex-British Army Lieutenant Colonel who was a city councillor in Éire. Mulcahy recorded that the ex-officer:
 
This was in effect a proposal for a joint military command of Éireall and Northernof Ireland, which the unidentified ex-British Army Lieutenantlieutenant Colonelcolonel said had been stimulated after discussion with "important members of the British Army in the North of Ireland."<ref>The colonel was a friend of [[John Loader Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby|Maffey's]] and the proposal had been made on the same day de Valera had been offered terms of unification with a joint defensedefence council of ÉireIreland and Northern Ireland.</ref> It is possible that the simultaneous discussions could have been an attempt to pressure [[Éamon de Valera]], the [[Taoiseach]]. [[Unionism in Ireland|Unionist]] politician Sir [[Emerson Herdman]] also called to speak with de Valera about obtaining "unity of command" and to ask if ÉireIreland would enter the war in return for an end to partition.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} Herdman appears to have been acting on behalf of [[James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon|Craigavon]], but when de Valera rebuffed him, he was of the view that: ▼
▲<blockquote>"...called to say that 'the people in the North are prepared to make a military convention with this country [Éire] without reference to the Northern Government... He wanted someone to go up there from here unofficially, to speak to someone in authority and say how the land lay. In reply to questioning, he stated that the people he referred to were the British Army authorities in the North."<ref name="fisk242"/></blockquote>
 
<blockquote>"the only thing to do now for Britain is to send in powerful forces here, and prevent this country being seized, or prevent them [the British] having to use and lose large numbers of troops in putting the Germans out if they got here."<ref name="fisk243">Fisk Ppp.243 - 244243–244.</ref></blockquote>▼
▲This was in effect a proposal for a joint military command of Éire and Northern Ireland, which the unidentified ex-British Army Lieutenant Colonel said had been stimulated after discussion with "important members of the British Army in the North of Ireland."<ref>The colonel was a friend of [[John Loader Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby|Maffey's]] and the proposal had been made on the same day de Valera had been offered terms of unification with a joint defense council of Éire and Northern Ireland.</ref> It is possible that the simultaneous discussions could have been an attempt to pressure [[Éamon de Valera]], the [[Taoiseach]]. Unionist politician Sir [[Emerson Herdman]] also called to speak with de Valera about obtaining "unity of command" and to ask if Éire would enter the war in return for an end to partition. Herdman appears to have been acting on behalf of [[James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon|Craigavon]], but when de Valera rebuffed him, he was of the view that:
 
▲<blockquote>"the only thing to do now for Britain is to send in powerful forces here, and prevent this country being seized, or prevent them [the British] having to use and lose large numbers of troops in putting the Germans out if they got here."<ref name="fisk243">Fisk P.243 - 244.</ref></blockquote>
 
Therefore the W-Plan had a dual purpose:
* a joint plan of action in the event of a compliant ÉireIreland,
* an invasion plan in the event of ana German invasion and subsequent resistance from de Valera.
 
===Knowledge of German Planningplanning===
Planning began for Operation Green in May 1940, butand the British had intercepted chatterintelligence about Operation Greenit beginning in around June 1940of that year. The British were interested in securing Ireland as its capture by German forces would expose their western flank, and provide a base of operations for the Luftwaffe in the Battle of the Atlantic and in any operations launched to conquer Britain as part of Operation SealionSea Lion. The British suspected that the Germans target for an invasion attempt would be Cork, particularly [[Cork Harbour]] with the naval base at Cobh because it was the nearest to [[Luftwaffe]] bases in north west France.
 
=== Irish defence status ===
[[ImageFile:Ireland map County Leitrim Magnified.png|thumb|right|200px|Map of Ireland, with [[Ballinamore]], location of the first line of defence of Ireland against a British invasion.]]
Irish preparations for defence of the island included protecting against the possibility of German '''or''' British attack. The Irish Army drew up contingency plans for an invasion from across the border although it is noteworthy that only two of its eight brigades were normally based in the northern half of the country. The Second Division did prepare two lines of defence against British invasion, placing explosives beneath bridges along rivers and canals in County Donegal to County Louth. The first line of defence, through Longford and Cavan was centred on the [[Ballinamore]]-[[Ballyconnell]] canal. The second line chosen was the Boyne. After a delaying action a conventional static defence, the 2nd Division was to "split up into smaller groups and start guerilla resistance against the British."<ref name="fisk247">Fisk P.247</ref>▼
 
▲Irish preparations for defence of the island included protecting against the possibility of GermanBritish '''or''' BritishGerman attack. The Irish Army drew up contingency plans for an invasion from across the border although it is noteworthy that only two of its eight brigades were normally based in the northern half of the country. The Second Division did prepare two lines of defence against British invasion, placing explosives beneath bridges along rivers and canals in County Donegal to County Louth. The first line of defence, through LongfordLeitrim and Cavan, was centred on the [[Ballinamore]]-[[Ballyconnell]] canal. The second line chosen was the [[River Boyne]]. After a delaying action with a conventional static defence, the 2nd Division was to "split up into smaller groups and start guerillaguerrilla resistance against the British."<ref name="fisk247">Fisk Pp. 247</ref>
More detailed defence plans were drawn up for local areas. In Cork city, any seaborne invaders would be engaged by [[Motor Torpedo Boat]]s and the 9.2 inch and six inch guns of the Treaty forts. If the enemy were able to effect a landing in strength, the forts would be demolished by explosives (as would the harbour quays and railway), a blockship would be sunk in the harbour channel and the Haulbowline oil refinery set on fire. The defence of the city itself would be undertaken by the local LDF and a regular army battalion, while the First Division would carry out operations in the surrounding countryside.▼
 
▲More detailed defence plans were drawn up for local areas. In Cork city, any seaborne invaders would be engaged by [[Motormotor Torpedotorpedo Boatboat]]s and the 9.2 &nbsp;inch and six -inch guns of the [[Treaty fortsPorts (Ireland)|Treaty Ports]]. If the enemy were able to effect a landing in strength, the forts would be demolished by explosives (as would the harbour quays and railway), a blockship would be sunk in the harbour channel and the Haulbowline oil refinery set on fire. The defence of the city itself would be undertaken by the [[local Defence Force|local defence force]] (LDF) and a regular army battalion, while the First Division would carry out operations in the surrounding countryside.
 
==Development of Plan W==
 
===The first meetings, 1940===
The first meeting on establishing a joint action plan in the event of a German invasion was on [[24 May]] [[1940]].<ref>A phoney war had been waged through public statements prior to this by Churchill hinting at possible invasion of Britain and Ireland.</ref> The meeting was held in [[London]] and had been convened to explore every conceivable way in which the German forces may attempt an invasion of Ireland. At the meeting were [[Joseph Walshe]], Irish secretary of External Affairs, Colonel [[Liam Archer]] of Irish Military Intelligence [[(G2]]), and officers from the British[[Royal Navy]], [[British Army]], and Airforcethe [[Royal Air Force]]. The [[War Office]] wanted direct liaisons between the Irish military authorities in Dublin and the British General Officer Commanding in [[Belfast]]. Walshe and Archer therefore agreed to fly in secret to Belfast with Lieutenant Colonel [[Dudley Clarke]].<ref>Dudley was a British staff officer who had practical experience of the failed British attempt to [[Allied campaign in Norway|conquer Norway]] and the subsequent evacuation [[Operation Alphabet]].</ref> In Belfast, two British Army staff officers were collected and the group travelled back to [[Dublin]] by rail. This meeting was held underneath Government buildings in [[Kildare Street]] and included a number of Irish Army officers. The meeting was informed that General Sir [[Hubert Huddleston]], the General Officer Commanding (GOC.) Northern Ireland, was already under orders to take a mobile column south of the border to help the Irish Army if the Germans invaded.<ref>Huddleston was awaiting the command from London.</ref>
The British [[War Office]] wanted direct liaisons between the Irish military authorities in Dublin and the British General Officer Commanding in [[Belfast]]. Walshe and Archer therefore agreed to fly in secret to Belfast with Lieutenant Colonel [[Dudley Clarke]].<ref>Dudley was a British staff officer who had practical experience of the failed British attempt to [[Allied campaign in Norway|conquer Norway]] and the subsequent evacuation [[Operation Alphabet]].</ref> In Belfast, two British Army staff officers were collected and the group travelled back to [[Dublin]] by rail. This meeting was held underneath Government buildings in [[Kildare Street]] and included a number of [[Irish Army]] officers. The meeting was informed that General Sir [[Hubert Huddleston]], the General Officer Commanding (GOC.) Northern Ireland, was already under orders to take a mobile column south of the border to help the Irish Army if the Germans invaded.<ref>Huddleston was awaiting the command from London.</ref>
 
Clarke also met with the Irish Army Chief of Staff, General [[Daniel McKenna (general)|Daniel McKenna]], who explained that the British would not be allowed into the south of Ireland before the Germans arrived. Clarke also met with the Irish Minister for Co-ordination of Defensive Measures, [[Frank Aiken]], and discussed "new ideas for the mechanical improvement of the war."<ref name="fisk235">Fisk Pp. 235</ref> The point of these meetings was to secure an understanding on the threat faced by both Britain and Ireland, and the benefit of joint action &mdash;– the details would later be worked out by the respective armed services.
 
Clarke returned to London on [[28 May]] [[1940]], where he reported that the Irish Army had given him full details of their organisation and equipment "without reservation" and had in return requested information on British troop strength in Northern Ireland.<ref>At that time around 10,000 but 8,000 were later withdrawn, although the [[Ulster Defence Volunteers]] were about to be raised like the [[Local Security Force]] had been in ÉireIreland.</ref> It had been agreed that in the event of a German invasion, the Irish would call for assistance from Huddleston in Belfast. The British Army's advance from Northern Ireland into neutral Ireland was to be called Plan W.
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[ImageFile:EIRE-AIRCORPS.gif|thumb|200px|right|Irish Air Corps. pilots inspecting one of their six Lysander reconnaissance aircraft at Ballydonnell airfield, 1942.]] -->
 
===Operational details===
As noted, Cork was the suspected target of an invasion because it was the nearest landfall between Luftwaffe bases in north-western France and the island of Ireland. Northern Ireland was to serve as the base of a new [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]], that would move into Éirethe State to repel the invaders from any beach-head that was established. Troops of the [[53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division|53rd Division]] in Belfast were held in readiness for the advance. A brigade of [[Royal Marines]] stationed at [[Milford Haven]] were also prepared to seize a bridge-head in Wexford the moment the Germans landed. Officers at the headquarters (HQ) of British troops in [[Northern Ireland]], [[Thiepval Barracks]], [[Lisburn]], [[County Antrim]] estimated that the Germans could embark five [[division (military)|divisions]] by sea to Ireland although "not more than 2 to 3 would reach land".<ref name="fisk237">Fisk Pp. 237</ref> Up to 8,000 German airborne troops could be flown into Éirethe State, some of them by seaplanes which would land on the lakes. The British striking force of 53 Division, later augmented by the 5th Battalion, [[Cheshire Regiment]], were to concentrate on the west of Down and Armagh borders, then drive across the border and race towards Dublin along three main roads &mdash;– the Belfast &mdash;– Dublin coastal road through [[Dundalk]], [[Drogheda]] and [[Balbriggan]], the inland road through [[Ardee]] and [[Slane]], and the [[Castleblayney]] &mdash;— [[Carrickmacross]] &mdash;— [[Navan]] road.<ref>This attempt to get to Dublin was to be made before the Luftwaffe destroyed the bridges.</ref> It is not clear who would have had the operational authority over the British troops invited into Ireland by de Valera, but it is assumed the British would retain command.<ref>de Valera had agreed to the plan name="wholeheartedlyReferenceA" although was more reluctant in private about which would be worse &mdash; a German or a British occupying force.</ref>
 
By December 1940 the plan had been extended. While the first British striking force headed for Dublin, the British [[61st Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|61st Division]], in a separate operation, would move across the border into [[County Donegal]] and secure the Treaty port of [[Lough Swilly]] for the [[Royal Navy]], providing the British Government with a third of the naval defence requirements that they had been requesting from de Valera for more than a year. The British Troops in Northern Ireland (BTNI) war diary of the time lists 278 Irish troops at Lough Swilly and only 976 Irish troops in the rest of Donegal.<ref>Considering that the invasion was meant only to take place at the invitation of de Valera these details should have been moot.</ref>
 
The diary goes on to say that in the event of an invasion "close cooperationco-operation is to be maintained with Éire forces including [[Irish Army Reserve#The (Ireland)#Local Security Force (L.S.F.)|Local Security Force]] '''if friendly'''". It is a feature of other British documents from the time; for example one reads "If Éire be hostile it may be necessary for [[Royal Corps of Signals|Royal Signals]] units to take over the civil telephone system".<ref name="fisk235"/>
 
According to a [[Classified information|restricted]] file prepared by the British Army's 'Q' Movements Transport Control in Belfast, the British would not have crossed the border "until invited to do so by the Éire Government", but the document added that although most people in Éirethe State probably would have helped the British Army, "there would have been a small disaffected element capable of considerable guerrilla activities against us."<ref>Fisk P.237-238. This is certainly true. While the IRA of the time considered de Valera and the rest of those who had accepted partition of the island as traitors, the act of extending an invitation to British troops back into the 26 counties would have emboldened them even further.<name="autogenerated1"/ref>
 
Sir [[John Loader Maffey]], the British representative to ÉireIreland since 1939, was to transmit the code word "Pumpkins" (later replaced by "Measure") to begin the troop movement of the 53rd Division onto Irish soil.<ref>All British troops entering ÉireIreland were to be issued with the [[Flag of Ireland|tricolourIrish flag]] to ensure a friendly reception from the locals, and religious symbols and motifs were banned from use, an image of an Irish Gate was finally chosen as the symbol of their intention to bar the way of the German invader.</ref> This codeword would be received by Huddleston and Lieutenant General Sir Frank[[Harold Franklyn]], the BTNI commander.<ref>Franklyn was a veteran of the British retreat at [[Dunkirk]], and as a consequence of his experience with refugees clogging roads in France had laid down strict rules for Plan W on refugees from Northern Ireland and the border. The Garda cooperated to designate Traffic Control posts at points where refugee routes might cross priority military roads.</ref>
 
Elaborate plans were made in Belfast to supply the BEF with guns, ammunition, petrol, and medical equipment by rail. The British [[Classification yard|marshalling yards]] at [[Balmoral railway station|Balmoral]], south of Belfast, were extended to take long ammunition and fuel trains which were loaded and ready on new sidings. In addition three ambulance trains were equipped and positioned around Belfast and an ambulance railhead established to take the wounded returning from the south of Ireland. British soldiers stripped the sides from dozens of coal trucks transforming them into flat cars for armoured vehicles and tanks that would be sent southwards. Once the 53rd Division was committed in ÉireIreland, the British military authorities planned to run thirty-eight supply trains on the two railway lines to Dublin every day &mdash;– thirty down the main line through Drogheda (if the viaduct over the [[River Boyne]] river remained undamaged), and the remainder along the track which cut through [[County Cavan]]. The Port of Belfast was estimated to have needed to handle 10,000 tons of stores a week and could receive up to 5,000 troops every day for the battle-front.<ref>All trains that were planned to be used were to be equipped with a carrier pigeon messaging system which were to relay their position back to military headquarters. A British officer from the War Office in London briefed men of the 53rd Division on the use of the birds.</ref>
 
The RAF were to fly three [[Hawker Hurricane|Hurricane]] fighter squadrons into [[Casement Aerodrome|Baldonnel Airfield]] southwest of Dublin and two [[Fairey Battle]] light bomber squadrons into [[Dublin Airport|Collinstown]] to attack German troops in Cork. The British 1st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment was to be moved into Éirethe State to defend the Drogheda viaduct, Collinstown, and Baldonnel. The Royal Navy was to issue instructions that all British and foreign ships depart from Irish ports. Vessels in Londonderry were to head for the [[River Clyde|Clyde]] and boats in Belfast were to head for [[Holyhead]] and [[Liverpool]]. As many ships as possible would be cleared from Irish ports and taken to the Clyde, Holyhead and Fishguard. Royal Navy officers in Dublin were to direct this exodus and the taking on of refugees was not to be encouraged. British submarines were to patrol off Cork and the Shannon in readiness for an invasion, and should one occur, the Royal Navy was to declare a "sink on sight" zone in the western approaches and off the south and west coasts of Ireland.
 
By April 1941, the new BTNI commander, General Sir [[Henry Pownall]] extended his planning for a German invasion to cover fifty percent of the entire Irish coastline. He believed that German troops were likely to land in Cork, [[Limerick]], [[Waterford]], [[Westport, County Mayo|Westport]], [[Galway]], [[Sligo]], and [[Donegal (town)|Donegal]]. British Army personnel also carried out secret intelligence gathering trips to glean information on the rail system south of the border.
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===Irish planning===
[[ImageFile:Gloster Gladiator.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The [[Irish Air forceCorps]] had four [[Gloster GladiatorsGladiator]]s similar to thisthe British-marked aircraft shown here.]]
By May 1940 Irish troops were already organised in mobile columns to deal with parachute landings.<ref name="fisk234">Fisk Pp. 234</ref> By October 1940, four more regular army brigades had been raised in Éirethe State and LSF recruiting figures were increasing. The German style helmets of the army had been replaced by the pale green uniforms and rimmed style helmets of the British Army. They had a total of sixteen medium armoured cars, and thirty Ford and [[Rolls-Royce Armoured Car|Rolls-Royce]] light armoured cars. By early 1941, two infantry divisions had been activated. First Division was headquartered in Cork and included:
1st Brigade (HQ Clonmel: 10th, 13th, 21st Battalions), 3rd Brigade (HQ Cork: 4th, 19th, 31st Battalions), 7th Brigade (HQ Limerick: 9th, 12th, 15th Battalions)
Second Division was headquartered in Dublin and comprised:
Line 98:
There were also three garrison battalions and the Coastal Defence Artillery forts at Cork, Bere Island, Donegal, Shannon and Waterford. The Irish Defence Forces, regular and reserve, were an all-volunteer force.
 
AssumingIf the Germans were going tohad landlanded where the British and Irish expected them to, they would have been engaged by the Irish Army's Fifth Brigade who had primary responsibility for the defence of Waterford and Wexford. They would have been soon supported by General [[Michael Joe Costello]]'s 1st Irish Division from Cork and General [[Hugo MacNeill (Irish soldier)|Hugo MacNeill]]'s 2nd Division. The British would establish their railhead near the [[Fairyhouse]] race course and be given billets at [[Lusk, Dublin|Lusk]], [[Howth]], and [[Portmarnock]] north of Dublin.
 
The [[Irish Air Corps]] consisted largely of nine [[Avro Anson]] light bombers and four [[Gloster Gladiator]]s, which provided the only fighter defensedefence for the country. InHowever, 1940in however1940 six second-hand [[Hawker Hind]]s were added to the Air Corps, and later in the war the Irish cannibalised and repaired several Allied aircraft that had crash landed in their territory, eventually putting two RAF Hurricanes, a [[Fairey Battle]], and an American-built [[Lockheed Hudson]] into service. From 1942 onwards a total of twenty [[Hawker Hurricanes]] entered Irish Air Corps service.
 
The [[Irish NavalMarine Service]] only acquired its first [[Motor Torpedo Boat]] in January 1940, leadingincreasing to a total of six by 1942. However, the only patrol vessels were the ''"Muirchu"'' and the ''"Fort Rannoch"'', two former British gunboats.<ref>The ''"Muirchu"'' had shelled Pearse and his colleagues in the Dublin GPO during the [[Easter Rising]] in 1916.</ref> Besides these vessels there was one "mine planter" and a barge. The NavalMarine Service neverdid acquirednot acquire any anotherother shipships during the war.
 
The Local Security Force was intended to harass and delay enemy forces by dynamiting bridges (already chambered for the purpose), and organising small ambushes and sniping attacks. Armament was paltry toat beginfirst, with, many units making do with requisitioned shotguns, althoughbut from 1941 on, American P-14[[M1917 Enfield]] rifles became available. In January 1941, the LSF was split into two, the 'A' force moving from police to military control and taking the new title [[Irish Army Reserve#The Local Defence Force (L.D.F.)|Local Defence Force]]. The B Group retained the title LSF and functioned essentially as an unarmed police reserve throughthroughout Thethe Emergency. In general, those aged under forty went with the LDF, those older remained with the LSF.
 
==RepercussionsSee also==
{{see also|The Troubles}}
De Valera's policy of neutrality widened the political gap between Éire and Northern Ireland. Often the charge was made that the Irish had shirked their responsibilities in World War II, and from this viewpoint it can be seen as reinforcing the identity the Unionists of Northern Ireland sought with Britain.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}
 
==Sources==
===Notes===
{{reflist|2}}▼
 
===See also===
* [[Operation Lobster]]
* [[Operation Lobster I]]
* [[Operation Seagull (Ireland)]]
* [[Operation Seagull I]]
* [[Operation Seagull II]]
* [[Operation Whale]]
* [[Operation Dove (Ireland)]]
* [[Operation Osprey]]
* [[Operation Sea Eagle]]
* [[Plan Kathleen]]
* [[Operation Mainau]]
* [[OperationPlan InnkeeperKathleen]]
* [[The Emergency (Ireland)|The Emergency]]
* [[Operation Green (Ireland)]]
* [[IRA Abwehr World War II]] - Main article on IRA Nazi links
 
==References==
===Further reading===▼
▲{{reflist|2}}
* Robert Fisk, "In Time of War" (Gill and Macmillan) 1983 ISBN 0-7171-2411-8▼
 
▲===Further reading===
▲* [[Robert Fisk]], "''In Time of War"'' (Gill and Macmillan) 1983 {{ISBN |0-7171-2411-8}}
 
==External links==
* [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/gladiator_eire.htm Irish Army Air Corps use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War.]
 
{{World War II}}
 
[[Category:WorldWestern WarEuropean IItheatre Westernof EuropeanWorld TheatreWar II]]
[[Category:CanceledCancelled military operations involving the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Cancelled military operations of World War II]]
 
[[Category:United Kingdom in World War II]]
[[fi:Suunnitelma W]]
[[Category:Independent Ireland in World War II]]
[[Category:Ireland–United Kingdom relations]]
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