2nd Year Winner: County Kildare, 1941

HIST 2300, Modern Europe. CD: Adrian Shubert.

Abstract

This well-written, well-developed response to what must be recognized as a truly well-designed assignment, introduces us to a lesser known (at least, in Canada) aspect of WWII history through the mystery of why an airman, who successfully escaped from an internment camp to rejoin his squadron, was ultimately returned to the camp by his commanding officers. Skillfully moving from the vignette to the broader historical context, the author creates a compelling argument not only supporting, but illuminating, the reasoning behind Ireland’s wartime neutrality and its decisions in the face of pressure from both the Allies and Germans throughout the conflict. This captivating narrative, enriched by seamlessly interwoven scholarship, illuminates the story of Ireland’s struggle to maintain its integrity as a neutral state and newly independent nation in a time of unprecedented conflict. In addition to being a well researched, well developed argument, it is, quite simply, a really great read.