Todays photo blog introduces historical fiction author Pam Lecky to our listeners. Pam resides in Dublin, Ireland.
Her latest historical novel entitled Her Secret War, deals with Ireland’s controversial neutrality during World War II. The protagonist, a young Irish woman who has lost her family to an errant German bombing raid on Dublin in 1941, joins the UK war effort working on the iconic British fighter aircraft the Spitfire.
A compelling and twisty tale of espionage, deceit and manipulation unfolds. Her Secret War is Pam’s first novel to be published in the US in early January.
Ireland was alone among English speaking countries not to join the War effort against Germany and the Axis Powers. A brief discussion of this controversial policy follows.
But de Valera’s neutrality policy was supported by the majority of Irish voters. Even the entrance of the US into the War did not sway the Irish position of non-alignment. But unlike the other two European neutrals, Switzerland and Sweden, Ireland did not have a robust military to support its neutrality.
Post WWII Ireland was blocked by a Soviet veto at the UN Security Council from joining the UN from 1946 to 1955. The exclusion policy was said to have been agreed by the Allies at Yalta, notwithstanding Ireland’s active leadership role in the predecessor League of Nations.
Ireland marked its Western coastline with its name EIRE to warn overflying German and Allied pilots they were flying over neutral territory.
