Booklet 3 Flashcards
Name two new fortifications built by the British in Malta.
: The Victoria Lines and Fort Rinella.
What is the significance of the Victoria Lines?
: The Victoria Lines bisect Malta along the Great Fault and were built to divide northern Malta from the rest of the island, covering 12 kilometers.
What was the defensive value of the Victoria Lines?
: The defensive value of the Victoria Lines was uncertain, as shown by military exercises in
1900. Besides the coastal forts, the lines were eventually abandoned.
Where was Fort Rinella built?
Fort Rinella was built in Kalkara, Malta, between 1878 and 1886.
What type of cannon did Fort Rinella house?
Fort Rinella housed one of two remaining
100-ton Armstrong cannons, with an effective range of around 6.5 km.
Why was Fort Rinella built at its specific location?
It was built at the eastern mouth of the Grand Harbour to counter the threat posed by the Italian battleships Duilio and Dandolo.
What was Fort Rinella used for after the cannon was retired?
: After the cannon was retired, Fort Rinella became an observation post for the guns at Fort Ricasoli and later served as a supply depot during World War II.
When was Fort Cambridge built and what was its purpose?
Fort Cambridge was built between 1878 and 1886 for the same purpose as Fort Rinella, to house a 100-ton Armstrong gun.
Why were the Victoria Lines, Fort Ricasoli, and Fort Cambridge partly hidden when originally built?
They were partly underground, surrounded by low walls, ditches, and casemates to camouflage them with the terrain.
Why did the 100-ton cannons at Fort Rinella and Fort Cambridge become obsolete?
Technological advances like muzzle-loaded guns being replaced by faster-firing breach-loaded guns and the development of airplanes and powerful battleships made them obsolete.
Technological advances like muzzle-loaded guns being replaced by faster-firing breach-loaded guns and the development of airplanes and powerful battleships made them obsolete.
What is the significance of St. Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Valletta?
St. Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral was built on the site of the Auberge d’Allemagne to serve the Anglican Church for the British.
When and where did Neo-Classical
architecture emerge?
Neo-Classical architecture emerged in Italy and France in the mid-18th century as a reaction
against Baroque and Rococo styles.
What inspired Neo-Classical architecture?
Neo-Classical architecture was inspired by the archeological excavations of Roman cities like Pompeii and Herculaneum in the mid-1700s.
What is special about the Mosta Rotunda
Church (Mosta Dome)?
The Mosta Rotunda Church, inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, has the third-largest unsupported dome in the world. It narrowly avoided destruction in World War II when a bomb landed inside but failed to explode.
Who introduced Neo-Gothic architecture to Malta?
Emmanuele Luigi Galizia introduced Neo-Gothic architecture to Malta, and Andrea Vassallo was influenced by him, building Casa Gourgion in this style.
What event triggered the First World War?
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian nationalist triggered the war.
What were the long-term causes of the First World War?
The long-term causes included nationalism, militarism (arms race), and imperialism (countries seeking to expand their empires).
How did the First World War escalate after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
After the assassination, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia supported Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia and France, and Britain joined the war after Germany invaded Belgium.
What type of warfare was commonly used during the First World War?
Trench warfare, where soldiers fought from long, narrow ditches called trenches, was commonly used.
What were some of the major battles of the First World War?
Major battles included the Battle of the Marne, the Battle of Verdun, and the Battle of the Somme.
How did new technology affect the First World War?
New weapons like fighter and bomber aircraft, tanks, machine guns, and poison gas made the war more deadly.
What happened in 1917 during the First World War?
The United States joined the war, strengthening the Allies, while Russia left the war due to the Russian Revolution.
When did the First World War end, and what treaty followed?
The war ended on November 11, 1918, and the peace treaty was the Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919.
What were the political consequences of the First World War?
The war led to the fall of many empires (Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, and German) and the creation of new countries like Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Yugoslavia.
What were the economic effects of the First World War?
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The war caused massive debts and economic problems. The Treaty of Versailles imposed heavy reparations on Germany, leading to resentment and contributing to the rise of Adolf Hitler.
Was Malta attacked during the First World
No, Malta was not attacked during the First World War, but it was an important military and naval base for the Allies.
How did Malta contribute to medical efforts during the First World War?
Malta became the “Nurse of the Mediterranean,” with hospitals, barracks, and schools turned into military hospitals for injured soldiers, and many Maltese served as nurses and attendants.
What was the first trade union in Malta, and when was it established?
The first trade union in Malta, the GGWU (Government General Workers Union), was set up in 1916.
What were the economic impacts of the First World War on Malta?
German submarine warfare caused shortages of essential goods, leading to price hikes, especially in bread, which tripled in price, hurting the lower classes.
What was the Camera del Lavoro, and what did it lead to?
The Camera del Lavoro was a workers’ organization formed during the fear of unemployment. It eventually organized into the Labour Party.
What were the long-term causes of the Second World War?
The Treaty of Versailles, the rise of totalitarian regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan, and the failure of the League of Nations and appeasement policies contributed to the outbreak of the war.
What short-term cause triggered the outbreak of the Second World War?
The invasion of Poland by Germany on September 1, 1939, prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany.
What was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and how did it impact the Second World War?
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was a nonaggression treaty between Germany and the Soviet Union, allowing Germany to invade Poland without fear of Soviet intervention.
What was Blitzkrieg, and how did it affect the Second World War?
Blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) was a rapid expansion of German forces across Europe, quickly overwhelming many countries.
What was Operation Husky, and what was its outcome?
Operation Husky was an amphibious assault on Sicily in 1943 that led to the fall of Mussolini’s regime and Italy’s surrender.
What role did the Mediterranean Theatre play in the Second World War?
The Mediterranean Theatre involved key battles in North Africa and Southern Europe, with significant events like the North African Campaign and the invasion of Italy.
What was “Operation Herkules”?
Operation Herkules was the German plan to invade Malta during the summer of 1941, but it was postponed indefinitely when Germany invaded the USSR (Operation Barbarossa) in July 1941.
What challenges did Malta face during the Second World War, particularly in 1942?
Malta faced incessant raids and attacks, including air raids and convoy disruptions.
Despite this, the island held out due to British reinforcements, the resilience of the Maltese, and key missions like Operation Pedestal.
How did the war affect Malta’s infrastructure and population?
Malta became the most bombed place relative to its size during the war. Thousands of buildings, including 35,000 houses, were destroyed or damaged. Many people migrated to rural areas, and housing shortages persisted post-war.
What were the long-term effects of the bombings on Malta’s urban areas?
The war’s bombings led to significant destruction in towns like Valletta and the Three Cities. Many streets were blocked with rubble, and the population of these towns decreased significantly, never recovering fully after the war.
How did the War Damage Commission of 1945 help the people of Malta?
The War Damage Commission provided £20 million for rebuilding, which was beyond Malta’s financial capacity. People could apply for compensation from the War Damage Fund to help rebuild homes and infrastructure.
What was the effect of food scarcities on the Maltese population during the war?
The food scarcities led to high prices, hunger, and the creation of a black market. Many people were slowly starving due to the lack of food and fuel for cooking.
How did Malta prepare for economic diversification after the war?
Malta prepared for economic diversification by investing in general education and technical training, especially to support manufacturing industries that grew in the 1950s and 60s.
