Suddenly, While Abroad: Hitler's Irish Slaves

by David Blake Knox

In this thoroughly researched and engrossing study, author David Blake Knox explores a lesser known incident in Irish history - a fascinating and tragic story of hardship and struggle that has for too long remained hidden. In February of 1943, during World War II, 32 Irish merchant seamen were captured by the Nazis and sent to a labor camp in northern Germany. They were being punished for refusing to join the German war effort, and they became part of a slave workforce that was used to construct an enormous bunker. The Nazis believed they could build a 'miracle boat' in this a new type of U-boat that they thought could win the war for Germany. To achieve that goal, they were prepared to work thousands of their slaves to death, including five of the Irishmen who died in one of their camps. This is their story. *** "Although focused on the fate of fewer than three dozen men, Suddenly, While Abroad is a valuable contribution to the literature of the Nazi horror, and serves to remind us that all of the millions of others who suffered were just ordinary people as well." -- The NYMAS Review, Issue No. 59, Winter 2015 [ History, Irish Studies, World War II]Ã?Â?Ã?Â?

334 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book - 3 stars simply due to the fact that this book held more information on navel battles and the history of German SS officers than the journey of Irish prisoners in the German workcamps. If you’re into that sort of thing, this would be a fantastic book for you.

Personally, I was hoping for more information on Irish neutrality and it’s relationship with the general public alongside the story of the Irish seamen.

A good book, unfortunately just not for me.

[Aoiffe Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an informative read on the complexities of Ireland's "neutrality" during WW2 and about one group of Irish seamen that suffered as a result. The story of these men is harrowing but what is worse is the government of the time's lack of understanding of the situation and the callous disregard for its citizens.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some interesting stuff in here, particularly about the horrors of Hitler’s work camps and about Ireland’s so-called neutrality during the war. But for the book being promoted as being written about “Hitler’s Irish Slaves,” we actually get very little information about the Irishmen who were captured and sent to Farge, which is odd and disappointing.

[MS Meagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may have been one of the most infuriating I have ever read. Every time you think you have reached the pinnacle of anger, you read something else about how De Valera's government completely and utterly let the country down during this period, and realise that in fact it is possible to become more angry. The treatment of the "deserters" who left the Irish army to fight in the UK army; the abandonment of the captured merchant seamen, the connivance of diplomats with Nazis, even the behaviour of the government after the war, was appalling. Some of this I knew, some came as a complete surprise to me.

The one hesitation I have with this book is the claim that the author took advantage of an elderly veteran to obtain information under false pretences. I have no idea if there is any truth in this, but it left a bad taste in my mouth and I would like to see e matter resolved before I could wholeheartedly recommend the book.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am ashamed at my lack of knowledge regarding the level to which Irish men and women served in the war and my ignorance of what they suffered both during and especially after the war was over. Especially repugnant is the way in which they were disregarded by the Irish Government and the Irish people and even today we still live in ignorance.

[Paul Coughlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well told story with an important message.