Irish Army, 1940

Started by fsn, 28 March 2015, 08:29:15 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Hertsblue

Interesting that the German-style helmets were all the 1916 pattern, with the lugs for the drop-down visor.
When you realise we're all mad, life makes a lot more sense.

www.rulesdepot.net

cameronian

How ironic, the officers in the armoured cars look EXACTLY like Auxilliaries!
Don't buy your daughters a pony, buy them heroin instead, its cheaper and ultimately less addictive.

Chris Pringle

To add to Sunray's recommendation of the Curragh (which I haven't been to), I recommend Collins Barracks:
http://www.museum.ie/en/info/things-to-see-and-do-national-museum-ireland-decorative-arts-history.aspx
I thought this was really well done: interesting exhibits, well curated, and a (to my British eyes) balanced and objective view of Irish history.

My favourite exhibit there was one of the two Swedish L-60 tanks they bought in the 1930s so they could practice being attacked by tanks.

Chris

Sunray

Quote from: toxicpixie on 29 March 2015, 05:19:59 PM
I'd sort of assumed it was a deliberate "don't look like the British" thing, but having seen them in British style uniform from the "Emergency" period it's an interesting surprise!

Its an interesting but neglected period . I would recommend Robert Fisk's In time of war(Gill & Macmillan 1985) for the best account.

There was little love lost between the Free State Army and the Ulster Special Constabulary.  With a remarkably open border it would have been all to easy for the B Specials to shoot a few Free Staters in German helmets and claim they were Hilter's Storm troops.   Hence the urgent change to British (Brodie) helmets  After the war they acquired the Mk 4 helmet and British olive green combat clothing  which they retained as late as  the 1980s. It contrasted well with the British DPM

There were actually German plans devised  to invade N Ireland  by use of airborne - but they were  never approved and the units involved were deployed to .....Crete.