De Valera's condolence on the death of Hitler

Ireland maintained a public stance of neutrality by refusing to close the German and Japanese embassies, and the Taoiseach Éamon de Valera signed the book of condolence on Adolf Hitlers death, on May 2, 1945, and visited personally with the Nazi representative in Ireland, Dr Eduard Hempel. At the time the Third Reich was still in existence, but only just.
De Valera is often demonised for doing so but that is only when it is shown out of context.
The fact is De Valera formally offered his condolences to the German Minister in Dublin on the death of Hitler, in accordance with diplomatic protocol. It was not Dev's personal opinion it was diplomatic protocol. This action has been defended as proper given the state's neutrality. Sir John Maffey, the British Representative, commented that de Valera's actions were "unwise but mathematically consistent". On the death F.D. Roosevelt all flags in Dublin were lowered to half-mast out of respect. Dev could be very stuborn and wanted to prove Ireland was Diplomatic and not cowardly in it's stance on Neutrality.

De Valera argued that to refuse condolences "would have been an act of unpardonable discourtesy to the German nation and to Dr Hempel. During the whole of the war, Dr Hempel's conduct was irreproachable. ... I certainly was not going to add to his humiliation in the hour of defeat."

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