In the last few years in Great Britain, on Remembrance Day, English tv does a documentary on some long dead, young English soldier who was executed for cowardice during the First World War. These shows are unbearably moving. They find the descendents of these young soldiers who try and tell their history through photos and family lore. Many of these young men were victims of shell shock and/or gassing.
Personally, I think the men who deserted the Irish Army and joined up to fight Hitler were and are heroes.
True.
I think the point is that given what they did, and why they deserted (they didnt desert out of cowardice, in fact the complete opposite!), and that whilst other Irishmen supported and even helped the Nazis, they fought them, that over 70 years after the war started, that Ireland should celebrate these men and their heroism and bravery and moral choice. And treat them accordingly.
Its ironic imo that whilst Ireland was essentially founded by terrorists and had for many years men in govt who were guilty of some appalling crimes and were hateful men towards the British and even simply Protestants, that these brave men who deliberately deserted because they wanted to fight evil are pariahs.
Thank you for pointing out what should be obvious.
How big was the Irish Army, anyway? Today, it's only 8,500.