Northern Ireland, the United States and the Second World War

During the Second World War, Simon Topping's book explores the American military presence in Northern Ireland, examining the government's management of the "friendly invasion," the diplomatic and military rationales for deployment, the American attitude toward their posting, and the impact on local sectarian dynamics. It also highlights influential individuals such as Prime Minister Sir Basil Brooke and offers a reassessment of David Gray, America's minister to Dublin.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In Northern Ireland,The United States and the Second World War, Simon Topping delves into the American military presence in Northern Ireland during the war, examining the role of the government at Stormont in managing this 'friendly invasion,' the diplomatic and military rationales for the deployment, the attitude of Americans to their posting, and the impact of the US presence on local sectarian dynamics. He explores US military planning, the hospitality and entertainment provided for American troops, the renewal and reimagining of historic links between Ulster and the United States, the importation of 'Jim Crow racism,' 'Johnny Doughboys marrying 'Irish Roses,' and how all of this impacted upon internal, transatlantic, and cross-border politics. This study also draws attention to influential and understudied individuals such as Northern Ireland's Prime Minister Sir Basil Brooke and offers a reassessment of David Gray, America's minister to Dublin. As a result, it provides a comprehensive examination of largely overlooked aspects of the war and Northern Ireland more generally, and fills important gaps in the history of both.

Northern Ireland,The United States and the Second World War is essential for students and scholars interested in the history of Northern Ireland, American-Irish relations, the Second World War on the UK home-front, and wartime transatlantic diplomacy. It offers a detailed analysis of the American military presence in Northern Ireland during the war, exploring the government's role in managing the deployment, the diplomatic and military rationales behind it, the attitudes of Americans towards their posting, and the impact on local sectarian dynamics. The study also examines US military planning, the hospitality and entertainment provided for American troops, the renewal and reimagining of historic links between Ulster and the United States, the importation of 'Jim Crow racism,' 'Johnny Doughboys marrying 'Irish Roses,' and how these factors influenced internal, transatlantic, and cross-border politics. Additionally, it sheds light on influential and understudied individuals such as Northern Ireland's Prime Minister Sir Basil Brooke and provides a reassessment of David Gray, America's minister to Dublin. By examining these largely overlooked aspects of the war and Northern Ireland, the study fills important gaps in the history of both regions and contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between the United States, Northern Ireland, and the wider world during the Second World War.

Weight: 652g
Dimension: 163 x 243 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350037595