The proposed German invasion of Ireland

[spidge]

In World War II, Operation Grün (Green) was the German codename for the decoy invasion of Ireland planned in conjunction with Seelöwe, in 1940.

Like Herbstreise ("Autumn Journey"), barges were to be sent towards the south coast of Ireland to give the English the impression of a widescale sea invasion of the British Isles. To convince British Intelligence of the plan, German operatives led by Hermann Goertz were parachuted into Ireland to make contact with the Irish Republican Army (I.R.A.) and to initiate a bombing campaign in British-controlled Northern Ireland. This part of the operation was known as Plan Kathleen. The I.R.A. targets would be the British embassy in Dublin, various police and military posts in Northern Ireland and to destabilise the government of Eamon de Valera.

In final stage of the operation, once the I.R.A. bombing campaign had finished, a 32,000 strong German paratrooper force led by General Kurt Student would parachute into two zones in Northern Ireland. One south of Lisburn to sever the railway and communication lines between Belfast and Dublin and to destroy the RAF airbase at Long Kesh, while the second to land north of Belfast and capture the RAF airfields at Nutts Corner, Aldergrove, and Langford Lodge. The Luftwaffe would then be able to strike targets in Scotland and the west coast of England.
A side benefit of the plan would be that fearing Ireland may fall into the hands of Germany, the United Kingdom would then be forced to invade the neutral Irish Free State thus risking the condemnation of the United States, which was not yet at war.
The operatives however reported back to Germany that the I.R.A. were "unreliable" and "undisciplined" and would take months to train. The operation was finally scrapped when Seelöwe was placed on indefinite hold and the operatives captured by the Irish police.
A modified bombing campaign by the I.R.A. in conjunction with the Luftwaffe aerial bombing over England was later planned in 1941, codenamed Artur ("Arthur").

Interesting. Bu tconisdering the barges were to land on Ireland's south coast, how did they expect to get away with it? This would be deemed an act if invasion on the neutral Irish state, who would then declare war on Germany. And let's face it, who wants to face an irate irishman?
The IRA's plans to buddy up with Germany would probably have led to their downfall once it was realised by the Unionist side of Ireland that Germany was here to stay and was a much nastier master than Britain had ever been. Ireland would have gone up like a bottle of pop!
Operation Green would have really given Germany a bloody nose, and brought the Irish into the game. And ultimately America.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

It just goes to show the bitterness that some (by no means the majority) felt towards the British that they would throw their lot in with the Nazis in order to get a united Ireland. What they didnt realise is that whilst they may have got their wishes it would be a mere province in a greater Reich.

I live 10 minutes away from the house that Goertz stayed in in a district called Terenure. I must get some photos of the house and post them here!

[lancesergeant]

Originally Posted by mosquito617

Interesting. Bu tconisdering the barges were to land on Ireland's south coast, how did they expect to get away with it? This would be deemed an act if invasion on the neutral Irish state, who would then declare war on Germany. And let's face it, who wants to face an irate irishman?
The IRA's plans to buddy up with Germany would probably have led to their downfall once it was realised by the Unionist side of Ireland that Germany was here to stay and was a much nastier master than Britain had ever been. Ireland would have gone up like a bottle of pop!
Operation Green would have really given Germany a bloody nose, and brought the Irish into the game. And ultimately America.

Don't you mean Republican?, the Unionists are pro- British.

Originally Posted by lancesergeant

Don't you mean Republican?, the Unionists are pro- British.

You are quite right. Thanks Sarg. However, you try sitting through a Global Socio-Political Issues lecture on a monday morning and then do coherent for the rest of the day.

[morse1001]

I could se one major problem with the plan and its flaw was actually borne out in real life. The planning staff of the Okw were assuming that the IRA were trained to the same standard.

[smc]

Hence, the reported quote from Goertz to the IRA, "You might know how to die for your country but you have no idea how to fight for it" (Or words to that affect).

De Valera had a huge problem in that Ireland's army was infiltrated by the IRA right up to Chief of Staff level with a number of others sympathetic. In fact the IRA used to regularly raid the Irish Army's arsenals for weapons. The Nazis often used small terrorist groups for their own ends either to use against legitimate governments or to hold as a threat should a friendly government walk out of line. And yes the IRA as well as these other groups were so cocooned by their own hatred for a particular enemy that they failed to see the consequences that co-operation would bring.

Colloaboration with an invading Nazi army may well have been the long term death sentence for the then IRA.

It would have been interesting to see the response of the Unionist (is that right Sarge?) factions to the IRA alliance with Germany. And what about the average Irishman? Would he have stood back and let Germany land in his home country just to allow them to get at the British forces and try to force Britain into an invasion? Would Britain have invaded? Shame the token Paddy's in Berlin, this is just the kind of thing he can answer.

[morse1001]

Originally Posted by mosquito617

It would have been interesting to see the response of the Unionist (is that right Sarge?) factions to the IRA alliance with Germany. And what about the average Irishman? Would he have stood back and let Germany land in his home country just to allow them to get at the British forces and try to force Britain into an invasion? Would Britain have invaded? Shame the token Paddy's in Berlin, this is just the kind of thing he can answer.

the unionists were the protestant part of the North. Sinc e, many thousands of Southern irishmen and women joined the British forces, then there was some feeling for the old country!

[Herroberst]

Geoff, excellent thread. So there were SD or Abwehr units operating in Ireland and they were helped by the IRA?May be a little truth to Mr.Devlin after all.

Give me one of those Bolshevik firecrackers...
I think I fell asleep in the snow.

Thought this was interesting:

http://www.hoganstand.com/general/id...s/ballivor.htm

reads like the script to: The Eagle has Landed