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Why Irish soldiers who fought Hitler hide their medals
BBC News ^ | 28th December 2011 | John Waite

Posted on 12/28/2011 5:32:30 AM PST by the scotsman

'Five thousand Irish soldiers who swapped uniforms to fight for the British against Hitler went on to suffer years of persecution.

One of them, 92-year-old Phil Farrington, took part in the D-Day landings and helped liberate the German death camp at Bergen-Belsen - but he wears his medals in secret.

Even to this day, he has nightmares that he will be arrested by the authorities and imprisoned for his wartime service. "They would come and get me, yes they would," he said in a frail voice at his home in the docks area of Dublin. And his 25-year-old grandson, Patrick, confirmed: "I see the fear in him even today, even after 65 years."

Mr Farrington's fears are not groundless. He was one of about 5,000 Irish soldiers who deserted their own neutral army to join the war against fascism and who were brutally punished on their return home as a result.

They were formally dismissed from the Irish army, stripped of all pay and pension rights, and prevented from finding work by being banned for seven years from any employment paid for by state or government funds.

A special "list" was drawn up containing their names and addresses, and circulated to every government department, town hall and railway station - anywhere the men might look for a job. It was referred to in the Irish parliament - the Dail - at the time as a "starvation order", and for many of their families the phrase became painfully close to the truth.'

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Germany; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: fartyshadesofgreen; germany; hitler; ireland; irishsoldiers; uktroops; veterans; worldwareleven; wwii
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To: Bringbackthedraft

Everybody had some traitors. This might make interesting reading:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Twisted-Patriot-ebook/dp/B006BZBQ4C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325097444&sr=8-2

And the Kindle version is FREE!


61 posted on 12/28/2011 10:48:36 AM PST by Little Ray (FOR the best Conservative in the Primary; AGAINST Obama in the General.)
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To: miss marmelstein

A lot of Kennedy money went to the IRA....Joe P Kennedy was a Nazi-lover.


62 posted on 12/28/2011 10:53:48 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: yank in the UK

The most famous Irish traitor, William Joyce, aka "Lord Haw Haw."

63 posted on 12/28/2011 10:55:33 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Sudetenland

You wrote:

“You might try reading the entire article”

Nothing in the article contradicted what I said. If someone doesn’t seize you, beat you, torture you, shoot you, seize your property, or exile you it really can’t be called brutal. These people wanted to serve Britain. They could easily have moved there after serving in the British army. Dig deep enough and you’ll discover some (just some) of these men were communists and other radicals upset that their native Ireland was not fighting alongside the USSR while Britain was.

The rule about no government support was hardly a starvation order since all of those who deserted could easily stay in Britain. And we might do the same thing if we had citizens joining to fight those who we believe had been our enemies for 800. Wait and see what we’ll do to Muslim collaborators when the time comes.

If we were invaded by China, oppressed by them for 800 years in our view, fought a low level guerilla war to free ourselves, and then had our soldiers desert to fight FOR China, how upset do you think we would be?

To many Irish patriots who suffered under British oppression it would actually be quite fitting for them to see their neighbors who wished to serve the former oppressor to go hungry wouldn’t it? After all Britain certainly could have done much more to save a starving Ireland in the 19th century. What comes around, goes around.


64 posted on 12/28/2011 12:14:31 PM PST by vladimir998
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To: the scotsman
Most British people in 1845 were little better than the Irish.

I presume you mean the Irish that lived as opposed to the ones that starved to death - and yes, there were so may in Britian that fell into the starved to death category.

65 posted on 12/28/2011 12:22:49 PM PST by frithguild (Restricting access to capital - Liberalism: The sharpest tool of big business.)
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To: dfwgator

Who exactly was he a traitor to?

He was born in the U.S., informed on the IRA to the British while living in Ireland where he grew up, and then made propaganda broadcasts for the Nazis (he had earlier become a member of the British Union of Fascists). He was also a German citizen. Seems like he betrayed everyone (other than his last chosen nation).


66 posted on 12/28/2011 12:23:38 PM PST by vladimir998
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To: vladimir998

Even Oswald Mosely had him kicked out of the BUF because he was too fanatical.


67 posted on 12/28/2011 12:27:24 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

sheesh! that’s saying something!


68 posted on 12/28/2011 12:39:02 PM PST by vladimir998
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To: driftless2

“huge quantities of food were exported from Ireland to England throughout the period when the people of Ireland were dying of starvation.” Irish exports of calves, livestock (except pigs), bacon and ham actually increased during the famine.


69 posted on 12/28/2011 12:40:20 PM PST by frithguild (Restricting access to capital - Liberalism: The sharpest tool of big business.)
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To: Mears

bfl


70 posted on 12/28/2011 12:46:10 PM PST by Mears (Alcohol. Tobacco. Firearms. What's not to like?)
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To: vladimir998

Mosley deep down wasn’t as anti-semitic as the others in the BUF, but he felt he had to adopt it to advance the BUF....to me, Mosley, next to Churchill, is the most fascinating British politician of the 20th century,
in terms of oratory skills, nobody could come close to him, and had it not been for the rise of Nazi Germany, and the ugly face of Fascism they showed, as opposed to the more benign Italian model of Mussolini, which was Mosley’s original inspiration, it’s scary to think the heights of power he very well may have reached.


71 posted on 12/28/2011 12:53:20 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

Mosley was a fascinating figure. The Mitford sisters are fascinating too - and strange!


72 posted on 12/28/2011 1:02:55 PM PST by vladimir998
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To: vladimir998
Only those of limited intellect or who live in a state of permanent victim hood--like the African American community who still think that slavery happened yesterday. Most people get past those sorts of historical slights.

How many American soldiers suffered at the hands of the Japanese in WW II? Who is the number one marketer of automobiles in America today?

We got over our enmity in spite of the horrendous treatment our troops received that their hands--because we had more important things to do than sit around nursing our hurt feelings and whining about how we had been treated.

By the way Einstein, I didn't call it a "starvation order," the members of the Irish Parliament called it a "starvation order." If you have a beef over that description and the effective results, then take it up with them.

But then I see fropm the rest of your post you are one of those wood-headed "Mics" who simply can't let go of the past.

No one ever accused the Irish of being geniuses. Or mature. Or capable of self-rule.
73 posted on 12/28/2011 1:27:58 PM PST by Sudetenland (Anybody but Obama!!!!)
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To: Sudetenland

You wrote:

“Only those of limited intellect or who live in a state of permanent victim hood—like the African American community who still think that slavery happened yesterday.”

Actually no. It has nothing to do with intellect or “a state of permanent victim hood”. Many Russians still hate the Germans. Many Chinese still hate the Japanese. And we are talking about a law enacted AT THE TIME and only 20 or so years after British oppression was overthrown in MOST of Ireland but still existed in one part of Ireland.

“Most people get past those sorts of historical slights.”

If they are significant - 800 years - they don’t usually get over them in just a few years - especially when they are viewed as still going on.

“How many American soldiers suffered at the hands of the Japanese in WW II?”

Irrelevant. Now ask how many Americans died in the heartland of America because of the Japanese. None. You can’t compare the two. The Japanese never occupied Iowa, or New Hampshire. They never banned English or outlawed Christianity IN AMERICA.

“Who is the number one marketer of automobiles in America today?”

Irrelevant. We destroyed Japan. If the Irish destroyed the UK, I am sure they would be more than happy to like them afterward. Utterly destroying your enemy can go a long way to making you open to them afterward. How much would we like the Japanese if they oppressed America for 800 years and STILL occupied the Northwest even after leaving the rest of the country?

“We got over our enmity in spite of the horrendous treatment our troops received that their hands—because we had more important things to do than sit around nursing our hurt feelings and whining about how we had been treated.”

Because we utterly destroyed them. Army? Destroyed. Navy? Destroyed. Cities? Leveled. We nuked two of their cities.

“By the way Einstein, I didn’t call it a “starvation order,” the members of the Irish Parliament called it a “starvation order.””

I never said you said it. Maybe you should learn to read before you attack someone else’s intellgence there, chief.

“If you have a beef over that description and the effective results, then take it up with them.”

No, I’ll take it up with you since you believed the libs (BBC) and quoted it. You do remember that you quoted it, right, Einstein?

“But then I see fropm the rest of your post you are one of those wood-headed “Mics” who simply can’t let go of the past.”

Wood-headed “Mics”? Not only are you a bigot, but you are too dumb to spell “Micks”. I really don’t mind the fact that you’re an embarrassment to yourself. Do you mind?

“No one ever accused the Irish of being geniuses. Or mature. Or capable of self-rule.”

No one will accuse you of being particularly bright or enlightened. Not only can you not make an argument, but, quite frankly, you’re a moron. But you’re probably okay with that, right?


74 posted on 12/28/2011 2:48:26 PM PST by vladimir998
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To: frithguild

Your assertion that Britain feasted whilst Ireland starved is ludicrous, just laughable.

You DO realise that, then as now, most British people were poor and working class, living in cramped, unsanitary conditions and most of Britain earned a pittance doing back breaking labour or industrial work?. Or do you think Britain is all lords and ladies, and was in 1845?.

Most British people ate poor food and lived on meagre diets in 1845. Feasted?. Dont make me laugh.


75 posted on 12/28/2011 2:51:03 PM PST by the scotsman (I)
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To: vladimir998

Britain did far more to help Ireland than myth states.

Much of what passes for Irish Famine history is simply BS.


76 posted on 12/28/2011 2:52:31 PM PST by the scotsman (I)
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To: the scotsman

Millions died. Britain was next door and could have done far more. It chose not to. There’s no BS there.


77 posted on 12/28/2011 3:05:41 PM PST by vladimir998
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To: the scotsman

I wonder how they also resolve the idea keeping an Irishman out of any fight, even if it did heard the British. Every war we ever had they were always in the front.


78 posted on 12/28/2011 3:06:52 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult (Those who trade land for peace will end up with neither one.)
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To: sam_paine

“They have no idea how such things typically go, as with 1916 in Ireland or 1920’s in Berlin.”

This nation was formed by rebellion. Seemed to work just fine then.


79 posted on 12/28/2011 3:15:58 PM PST by CodeToad (Islam needs to be banned in the US and treated as a criminal enterprise.)
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To: CodeToad
This nation was formed by rebellion. Seemed to work just fine then

I'll give you points for smarmy, but not much for comparative history.

Cornwallis would've evacuated and crushed the regulars in a final smash if not for intervention by a world power bent on foiling the British.

The "good guys" didn't so much win the revolution as to retreat from defeat bitterly until the balance of world powers turned.

And there's a helluva lot of difference in demographics, ethics and education in the 18th century America vs 20th or 21st century -- anywhere.

The French revolution was what happened with trying the same thing on a different people with different history.

Let's go through dozens of examples of revolution in Central America, Cuba, South America, China, Russia, the middle east, The Confederacy....all of those have more in common with what we'd see now than what belatedly materialized by the 1790s.

80 posted on 12/28/2011 3:32:08 PM PST by sam_paine (X .................................)
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