Editing Derry (section)

====World War II====
During [[World War II]], the city played an important part in the [[Battle of the Atlantic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local/derry-was-best-kept-secret-in-battle-of-the-atlantic-1-2130529 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121113146/http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local/derry-was-best-kept-secret-in-battle-of-the-atlantic-1-2130529 |archive-date=21 January 2013 |title=Derry was 'best kept secret' in Battle of the Atlantic |access-date=2 March 2022 |last=Cullen |first=Ian |date=13 October 2008 |work=[[Derry Journal]] |url-status=dead}}</ref> Ships from the [[Royal Navy]], the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] and other Allied navies were stationed in the city and the United States military established a base. Over 20,000 [[Royal Navy]], 10,000 [[Royal Canadian Navy]] and 6,000 [[United States Navy]] personnel were stationed in the city during the war.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radiofoyle/peoples_war/context.shtml |title=Derry in the Second World War |work=People's War |publisher=[[BBC Radio Foyle]] |access-date=13 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113025404/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radiofoyle/peoples_war/context.shtml |archive-date=13 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The establishment of the American presence in the city was the result of a secret agreement between the Americans and the British before the Americans entered the war.<ref name="culturenorthernireland1">{{cite web |url=http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article/447/world-war-two-in-derry |title=World War Two in Derry |date=16 November 2005 |work=CultureNorthernIreland.org |access-date=13 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523084734/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article/447/world-war-two-in-derry |archive-date=23 May 2013 |url-status=live |last1=Ireland |first1=Culture Northern }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1942/07/02/page/2/article/giant-u-s-naval-base-completed-at-londonderry |title=Chicago Tribune – Historical Newspapers}}</ref> It was the first American naval base in Europe and the terminal for American convoys en route to Europe.

The reason for such a high degree of military and naval activity was self-evident: Derry was the United Kingdom's westernmost port; indeed, the city was the westernmost Allied port in Europe: thus, Derry was a crucial jumping-off point, together with Glasgow and Liverpool, for the shipping convoys that ran between Europe and North America. The large numbers of military personnel in Derry substantially altered the character of the city, bringing in some outside colour to the local area, as well as some cosmopolitan and economic buoyancy during these years. Several airfields were built in the outlying regions of the city at this time, Maydown, Eglinton and Ballykelly. RAF Eglinton went on to become [[City of Derry Airport]].

The city contributed a significant number of men to the war effort throughout the services, most notably the 500 men in the 9th (Londonderry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, known as the 'Derry Boys'. This regiment served in [[North Africa campaign|North Africa]], the Sudan, Italy and mainland UK. Many others served in the Merchant Navy taking part in the convoys that supplied the UK and Russia during the war.

The border location of the city and the influx of trade from the military convoys allowed for significant smuggling operations to develop in the city.

At the conclusion of the Second World War, eventually some 60 U-boats of the German [[Kriegsmarine]] ended in the city's harbour at [[Lisahally]] after their surrender.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.secondworldwarni.org/print.aspx?pagerecordid=1469 |title=The U-boat surrender |access-date=13 February 2010 |work=SecondWorldWarNI.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723201427/http://www.secondworldwarni.org/print.aspx?pagerecordid=1469 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The initial surrender was attended by Admiral Sir [[Max Kennedy Horton|Max Horton]], Commander-in-Chief of the [[Western Approaches]], and Sir [[Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough|Basil Brooke]], third [[Prime Minister of Northern Ireland]].<ref name="culturenorthernireland1" />