The devastating German air raids of April-May 1941 left  at least 1,100 people dead during four raids and many thousands injured. The raid on Belfast of 15-16 April alone resulted in the United Kingdom’s highest casualty rate in one night’s bombing. Over 200,000 people fled Belfast, and many others were made homeless by bomb damage.

During the war the unemployment rate dropped rapidly and full employment – unimaginable in recent years - was achieved by 1944. Employment of women grew rapidly during the war.

Fearful of alienating Catholics, both in Éire and in Northern Ireland, the British government’s Compulsory Military Training Bill exempted Northern Irish citizens from compulsory military service. Prime Minister Craig and his Northern Ireland cabinet wanted it extended at once.

So keen was the British government to secure co-operation from Eire that first Chamberlain in 1940 and then Churchill in 1941 suggested the possibility of Irish unity…