The Siege of Tralee occurred in the city of Tralee, Ireland on November 1-9, 1920. It was the "Black and Tans'" response to the killings and kidnappings being done by Collins' twelve assassins called the "Squad." The Black and Tans were a large group of men recruited by the British. They were former British soldiers with brutal methods. Collins' hit squad of twelve men had been killing off and kidnapping specific people per Collins' instructions. He always assigned them a target on a political and strategic basis. The Black and Tans reacted to this by terrorizing the city of Tralee, starting on All Saints' Day. They shut down schools and shops, opened fire while driving up and down streets, and even shot civilians. They occupied Tralee for nine awful days. After the ninth day, they finally withdrew from the city.
The global response was immediate. The press criticized Britain ruthlessly for allowing such terrors. The Prime Minister tried covering the siege up by telling the world that British troops were in Ireland, taking care of the situation. But he was fooling no one. The public scandal had done too much damage that could ever be repaired.The world England as oppressors. An Irish independence was getting closer and closer.
Collins had predicted that Britain would retaliate violently. The Siege of Tralee made him a larger hero, and pushed Britain and Ireland closer to a truce.
The global response was immediate. The press criticized Britain ruthlessly for allowing such terrors. The Prime Minister tried covering the siege up by telling the world that British troops were in Ireland, taking care of the situation. But he was fooling no one. The public scandal had done too much damage that could ever be repaired.The world England as oppressors. An Irish independence was getting closer and closer.
Collins had predicted that Britain would retaliate violently. The Siege of Tralee made him a larger hero, and pushed Britain and Ireland closer to a truce.