In 1941 Belfast was targeted by over 150 Luftwaffe bombers. Why?

Northern Ireland’s industrial contribution Northern Ireland’s strategic importance

• N. Ireland played a key role in the war effort by • N. Ireland’s geographical position allowed it to play a key manufacturing weapons and munitions. role in the Battle of the Atlantic. • Harland and Wolff produced 150 ships and converted • The naval bases in N. Ireland (Belfast, Larne and 3,000 vessels into warships. It also produced 500 tanks. Londonderry) were crucial in helping to win that battle by • Engineering works like Mackies produced armaments and protecting the Western Approaches and combating the munitions. For example, over 75 million shells were threat of the German U-boats by providing anti- produced for the war, and materials for D-Day were also submarine escorts. produced in Belfast. • Without the ports and airfields of N. Ireland, it would • Shorts made 1,500 bombers, while the linen and textile have been much more difficult to protect the Atlantic sea- industries were expanded to produce parachutes, routes between Britain and America, and convoys could uniforms and tents. have been easy prey for U-Boats. The naval and air bases kept the sea lanes open during the Battle of the Atlantic. Weaknesses of Belfast’s Defences Reasons why Belfast was so weakly defended • Belfast’s sole squadron of Hurricanes could not fly at night • Craigavon and the Unionist government were more • The city’s balloon barrage was very light. concerned with dealing with the IRA and internal security • There were only 6 light and 16 heavy anti aircraft guns. • Stormont was faced with serious domestic problems in the 1930s e.g. unemployment and social deprivation • There were no searchlights until after the first German raid; Belfast had searchlights but these had been • Complacency: there was an almost unshakeable belief that transferred to the mainland in 1939 The because of its location Northern Ireland would not be a • The city’s passive defences (firemen, ARP, medical) were target. Even the Committee of Imperial Defence said in under equipped, understaffed and unready Belfast 1939 that ‘there was little likelihood of an attack’. • When war broke out there were only 4 air raid shelters; Blitz • There was a great deal of confusion over responsibility. It they were made from sandbags and were found in the was never made clear where the responsibilities of London grounds of the City Hall. ended and those of Belfast began. There was similar confusion about the roles of the Northern Ireland • After the raids on Coventry in November 1940 the number of air raid shelters was increased but they could still only government and that of the local councils. provide protection for 25% of the city’s population. • The Northern Ireland government was unwilling to commit itself to large scale defence spending, preferring to keep a tight grip on the purse strings.

Effects of the Belfast Blitz

• The air raids claimed the lives of 955 people, with almost 2,500 being injured. • Over 56,000 houses were destroyed or damaged (53% of the total) • The production at the Harland and Wolff shipyards did not recover for six months. • There was a less hostile attitude to Eire as its government had sent fire engines to N. Ireland to help during the Blitz. • At least 100,000 people left Belfast to get away from the bombing, and to try to find homes in the country. • There was deep criticism of John Andrew’s government in N. Ireland. In 1943 he was replaced as the Unionist leader by Sir Basil Brooke.