Why did Ireland send condolences on Hitler's death?

[realpolitic]

Were we in support of the Nazi regime during WW2. Why did our
government send condolences and tributes to the German embassy
on Hitler's passing??

[Halibut]

Fisk's book is good on this.
But yes, we were pussies.

[Jim236]

It wasn't that Ireland was in support of the Nazi regime, but it was to reiterate Ireland's neutrality in the war, to give condolences of Hitler's death. This is how de Valera saw it anyway. AFAIK he was the only Head of State in Europe to share his condolences for Hitler's death.

[Sligoboy]

This idiot has been spammimg P.ie for the last 2 days.

[Jaydock]

De Valera also sent condolenses to the Americans after FDR died during the war. As previously stated, it was about reiterating neutrality and not jumping on the allied bandwagon when the end of the war was in sight.

[realpolitic]

This idiot has been spammimg P.ie for the last 2 days.

Turn off your spam machine, there's a lot of idiots that have been
on here for a very long time and feel they own it!

[Odyessus]

I believe De Valera's point was that since we had normal diplomatic relations with Germany, offering condolences on the death of their head of state was common diplomatic courtesy. It implies no pro Nazi nor pro Hitler feelings. When the late Bobby Sands died, the Union flag over Westminister was lowered to half-mast and the members stood in silence. This did not imply any sympathy on their part for the late Mr. Sands or his political views, rather it was the protocol observed when an M.P. as Mr. Sands was, dies.

[Odyessus]

Fisk's book is good on this.
But yes, we were pussies.

If by the word "pussy" you mean cowardly or fearful, what exactly had De Valera to fear from an utterly defeated and powerless Germany?

[DaraghM]

I think we can all agree that in the strictest sense of diplomatic protocol, DeValera's actions were not out of bounds. However, we do have to consider the context. This was in the final days of the War, in which literally tens of millions of people had perished as a result of Hitler's megalomaniacal lust for conquest, not to mention the continuing revelations of the racially motivated slaughter we now call the Holocaust. All in all, it was in rather bad taste and this was probably a situation in which diplomatic protocol should have been politely ignored.

[Halibut]

I mean not taking part in the war from the off.