Culture
Real witness accounts: What was it like to live in Malta during WWII?
Heartbreaking stuff.

Melanie Drury
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World War II was declared on 1st September 1939. The siege on Malta began on 11th June 1940, when Mussolini declared war on the behalf of the Axis powers.

At that time, Malta’s defences were minimal: fourteen coastal defence guns, no operational fighter aircraft and less than 5,000 troops. Food supplies were only sufficient for six weeks. The air raids began immediately.

And it did not just begin this way. Although the island’s defences improved as assistance arrived, throughout the siege, the Maltese people faced extreme bombardment and near starvation.

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It may be harsh to remember, but it is quite possible to experience Malta during World War II through many World War II historic attractions as well as numerous narrated and written accounts.

The University of Malta website includes an interesting collection of interviews with World War II survivors in Malta. These personal accounts offer insight into the lives of civilians grappling with poverty, health and shelter during wartime Malta.

Meanwhile, the Malta War Diary offers details about the war almost on a day-to-day. The official and personal accounts shed light on details about air raids, casualties, convoys, operations and even the weather.

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What stands out in the personal accounts of civilians? Vivid in their memories are the fear and panic during air raids; the hunger; the Victory Kitchen being an essential yet unsatisfying part of survival; the lack of hygiene, which bred disease; and prayer.

In the UoM paper, Alex Randon vividly recalls the bomb shelters: the digging by pickaxe; saying the rosary with hismum during an air raid; searching for bomb shells during a lull; the elderly people who lived at the shelter; all-night ‘nuisance raids’ aimed at lowering morale; and…even chatting up girls!

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Grace Callus recalls being sent to sleep, hungry, in the shelter with her three siblings; her mother told her that, at least, that way, they wouldn’t all die together! Then, Joseph Caruana remembers feeling terrified as his mother cried and prayed during an air raid, and, during another air raid, he remembers joining his father and uncle on the roof to watch!

Caruana also remembers the poverty and the scarcity - there was nothing to buy; they made drinking glasses by heating off the top part of a bottle. Antonio Attard recalls singing a special Victory Kitchen song while waiting in the queue with a saucepan in hand; it was fun but the food was never enough to satisfy their hunger. Mollie Zammit Tabone remembers getting the ration booklet stamped by Konslu, the grocery man who blew the corned beef out of its tin.

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Also commonly recalled is the strong solidarity within the communities: sharing food rations and providing immediate assistance of every description. Then there are those memories of exploitation: unequal distribution; fighting over scarce resources; theft; and a black market.

Those living in the Grand Harbour area were the most affected by the devastation and the disruption of their traditional lifestyle. Yet, that backdrop of rubble and stress only serves to highlight the ordinary heroes who lived those days.

4th September 2019


Melanie Drury
Written by
Melanie Drury
Melanie was born and raised in Malta and has spent a large chunk of her life travelling solo around the world. Back on the island with a new outlook, she realised just how much wealth her little island home possesses.

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