10 Astounding World War 2 Facts You Didn't Know

Ireland was one of the few countries in the world to actually remain neutral throughout the war, having politically distanced itself from the UK over the status of Northern Ireland, among other issues. The nation enacted a law granting the Irish government sweeping powers of control over its people, including authority to censor, control economic aspects, and also to imprison freely in the name of 'Emergency Powers'.

To this end Ireland worked with, and against, both sides, and likewise was worked with and against, as well. Ireland's instruments at Blacksod Bay in Cork were used to get the most accurate weather forecast for the Allies' Normandy Invasion in 1944. At the same time any British sailors or pilots who washed ashore in Ireland were kept in an internment camp, while Axis sailors and pilots were kept on the other side of the same camp. But likewise both the British and German forces managed to 'accidentally' attack Irish ships and locations.

Winston Churchill even ordered British general, Bernard Montgomery, to create a detailed invasion plan of Ireland in 1940 with the ultimate intent to take control of the ports of Cork and Cobh. Though, luckily, it never came to pass.