Those Who Fought on That Side

Poem exploring the story of the Irish who faught directly for Hitler

  

 

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Above: Nazis at a rally, Francis Stewart, Aosdana member and
former propagandist for the Nazis, and the Aosdana logo,
one of whose members resigned in protest at his membership.
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Many men faught not for Ireland

But under another flag

And of their deeds our folklore feeds

Of them we like to brag

But there are those of whom

A silence does not speak

A veil is drawn as if to warn

That knowledge of them one should not seek.

 

Underneath the Swastika

Few men now confess

That they had not swevered but winningly served

And not loved their country less

For Germany was not OUR enemy

Against us struck no blow

And may aid and new Irish Brigade

So a United Ireland we may know.

 

And in the aftermath

When the counting was done

All hushed their role hiding a shamed soul

In the war they had not won.

Were they any less Irish

Then those who faught neath the Union Jack

Nether faught against Ireland, all loved their homeland

Yet were despised when they came back.

 

God will judge all souls

Declare the good and the bad in time

Weigh the reasons for why men faught and did die

No matter how we think it a crime

For the Soviet Union too killed millions

From Tartarstan to the Ukraine

By famine, in gulag, under the Red Flag

So the Workers Republic could gain

 

Author's Note

Subject to editing and further additions...

Reviews

[Sarah]

This is really powerful - very historical & accurate to facts, while still playing on the emotions of loyalty and where it lies when you're truely fighting for something. In a few lines, however, the meter was a bit off - some lines were too long & sounded awkward. Perhaps if you read the poem outloud, you'd catch this - just minor errors that distracted me from the beautiful content that you've written. Otherwise, great job. =)

[Gandré]

oh.. I am in awe...
you have a way with words....

[TL Boehm]

I was unaware of this too. My father in law was American born of German immigrant parents- he was a POW in Germany for 13 months....and was actually well treated by the German soldiers....I guess - being a generation or two removed makes me ignorant at times. How easily we forget....

[Nely Amorim]

I never knew the Irish fought for Hitler and you make a very good point about the Union / Rebel soldiers.. who knows at the time which side is right or wrong till the dust settles. Excellent poem, so far I've read 3 and all have taught me something new :) I like that.

[C.J.]

if you say this is a draft you would make me feel like a fool good job.