Unit N

• During World War I (1914-18), Malta was never attacked by the enemy
• Malta's harbours were used by the allies as a naval and military base against the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria)
• In April 1915, about 800 Maltese volunteers were grouped into the Maltese Labour Battalion to dig trenches for the allies at Gallipoli during the Gallipoli Campaign against Turkey
• The Grand Harbour in Malta became the headquarters of the British fleet during the war
• The harbour warehouses in Malta were used to store ammunition and military equipment
• During World War I, the dockyard workers in Malta increased from 3,500 to 14,000
• Under the leadership of Henry Ear, the dockyard workers in Malta set up the first trade union in 1916, known as the Government General Workers Union
• The dockyard workers in Malta organized a demonstration in Valletta in 1917 and held the first strike in Malta, leading to a 50% rise in their wages by the British Government
• Malta became known as the "Nurse of the Mediterranean" during World War I due to the role it played in caring for injured and sick soldiers brought from the warfront
• German submarines attacking allied ships in the Mediterranean during World War I caused scarcities of imported food items in Malta, leading to a rise in prices and the cost of living
• After World War I, serious political and social unrest arose in Malta due to unresolved issues such as high prices, low wages, and new taxes
• Following the end of World War I, the fear of unemployment led to the establishment of the Camera del Lavoro by the working classes in Malta, which later evolved into the Labour Party in 1921
• Dr. Filippo Sciberras made an appeal for self-government for Malta after World War I, leading to the formation of a National Assembly with over 250 delegates in 1919
• The political situation in Malta deteriorated between February and June 1919, with protests against new taxes and public opinion turning against the British
• Between February and June 1919, the political situation in Malta deteriorated due to various developments:

  • Rise in unemployment
  • Increase in foreign trade
  • Meeting of the National Assembly
  • Resignation of the British Governor
  • Anti-British stance in some newspapers
  • Discharges of workers from the dockyard
  • Introduction of new taxes
  • Changes in University degree courses
  • Granting of responsible government
  • Setting up of the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) in 1919
• During the Second World War, Malta underwent a second siege from 1940 to 1943, facing Italian and German bombings that caused hardship and damage to people living close to the Grand Harbour towns
• Reasons why Italy attacked Malta in June 1940:

  • Malta was a base of the British Mediterranean fleet
  • Malta had one of the best dockyards in the Mediterranean
  • From Malta, the British could attack Italian convoys on their way from Sicily to Italian North Africa (Tripoli)
  • Dictator Mussolini and the fascists wanted to include Malta in a new Italian Mediterranean Empire
• Malta's defenses during the war included:

  • Anti-aircraft guns
  • Searchlights
  • Four Gladiator fighter aircraft
  • Radar station
  • The Royal Air Force brought more aircraft to defend Malta, including hurricanes, swordfish planes, flying boats, Wellington bombers, and Spitfires
• Axis powers attacked Malta with:

  • Italian air force with 200 aircraft in Sicily
  • German air force (Luftwaffe) stationed 150 aircraft
  • German bombings caused significant damages, sinking the aircraft carrier Illustrious in Grand Harbour and damaging the Royal Theatre
• In 1942, Malta was raided almost incessantly, with over 200 fighters defending the island by July. Convoy ships carrying essential supplies were attacked as they approached Sardinia and Sicily. The Convoy of Sta Marija (Operation Pedestal) reached Malta on 15th August 1942, crucial for the British to hold the islands
• Malta's contribution to the victory of the Allies in the Mediterranean and North Africa between 1940 and 1943 was significant, as recognized by King George VI awarding the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta for its heroism and devotion
• The war over Malta ended in October 1942 when the Axis air forces lost the battle. The British victory at the Battle of El Alamein in October was decisive. Malta played a crucial role in the invasion of Sicily in 1943. The strategic value of Malta as an air base declined after Sicily was occupied
• Reasons why the Axis powers failed to take Malta:

  • Lack of a consistent plan by Italian and German commanders
  • Frequent changes in Axis plans against Malta
  • Failure to invade the island in 1941 when defenses were weakest
  • Heroic resistance by the Maltese and British without losing morale
• Life for the Maltese during the war was marked by:

  • Heavy bombings and damage to Grand Harbour towns
  • Rock-cut shelters accommodating thousands of people
  • War damage to homes, historical buildings, and shortage of housing post-war
  • Disruption of daily life by enemy air raids, rubble, and commerce disruptions
  • Concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, efforts to stop black market and profiteering
  • Food shortages, opening of Victory Kitchens, and civilian casualties
• Important events in Malta during the war:

  • 1940: Start of the war
  • 1941: Heavy bombing by Axis forces
  • 1942: Award of the George Cross to Malta
  • 1943: The Siege of Malta
• Reasons why Malta was attacked by Axis forces:

  • Strategic location in the Mediterranean
  • British naval base
• Ways Malta was defended by the Allies:

  • Air support
  • Naval convoys
• Ways Axis powers tried to force British surrender of Malta:

  • Intense bombing campaigns
  • Blockades to cut off supplies
• Reasons why Axis powers failed to take Malta:

  • Resilience of Maltese and British forces
  • Allied support and supplies
• Effects of the war on everyday life of the Maltese:

  • Food rationing
  • Blackouts
  • Victory Kitchens
  • Civilian casualties
• Meaning of terms in connection to Malta during the Second World War:

  • Victory Kitchens: Community kitchens providing food during wartime
  • Food rationing: Limited food distribution to manage scarcity
  • Blackout: Mandatory dimming of lights to avoid enemy detection
  • Lascaris War Rooms: Strategic military headquarters
  • Operation Sea Lion: German plan to invade Britain
  • Operation Pedestal: Allied convoy to resupply Malta
  • Convoy: Group of ships traveling together for protection
  • Pill Boxes: Small fortifications for defense
  • Sirene: Air raid siren
  • Black market: Illegal trade of goods in scarcity