The Luftwaffe bomb Dublin, May 1941

In the early hours of 31 May 1941, four bombs were dropped by German bombers across Dublin, with the North Strand area of the city the worst hit (Éire/Ireland was neutral during the Second World War). The bombing killed 28 people, with eight of them from a single family, the Brown’s. A further 90 were injured, 17 houses were destroyed and over 300 were damaged. It was the worst loss of life caused by a Luftwaffe raid.

The Irish Government Information Bureau confirmed that the bombs were of "German origin” and a protest was made in the "strongest terms" to the German government.

On 5 June 1941, a funeral was held for 12 of the victims, with Taoiseach Éamon de Valera and other government officials in attendance.
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The West German government accepted responsibility for the raid and paid compensation (using Marshall Aid money) to the families of the victims in the late 1950s. 

Air raid damage in the North Strand area of Dublin, 1941