Maltese History

Question 1

When were the Riots of Sette Giugnio held?

Answer 1

1919

Question 2

What happened on Sette Giungio?

Answer 2

In the morning of Saturday 7 June, 1919, an angry crowd went to Valletta to show its support for the National Assembly. Some of the demonstraters resorted to the use of violence against the British. The police was unable to control the crowd and the Acting Givernor called the Marines who opened fire on the crowd. Unfortunately 3 Maltese youths were killed.

Question 3

Why were the riots started?

Answer 3

When the Maltese people revolted against the British administration and demanded some form of representative government for the island.

Question 4

What did the Governor do after theincident of Sette Giungio ?

Answer 4

• The Governor increased the salaries of the Police
• He lowered the price of bread by a Government subsidy.
• He started a program of public works to reduce unemployments.
• Government employees had their salaries increased.

Question 5

What was the Victoria Lines originally known as?

Answer 5

The North West Fort

Question 6

What are the Victoria Lines?

Answer 6

Are a line of fortifications that spans 12 kilometres along the width of Malta, dividing the north of the island from the more heavily populated south.

Question 7

What caused the Second World War?

Answer 7

The major causes of World War II were numerous. They include the impact of the Treaty of Versailles following WWI, the worldwide economic depression, failure of appeasement, the rise of militarism in Germany and Japan, and the failure of the League of Nations.

Question 8

Why was Malta involved in the WWII?

Answer 8

Malta was a base of the British Mediterranean fleet and had one of the best dockyards in the Mediterranean.

Question 9

What could the British attack from Malta?

Answer 9

Italian convoys on their way from Sicily to Italian North Africa.

Question 10

Which dictator and politivcal movement wanted to include Malta in a New Italian Mediterrean Empire?

Answer 10

Mussolini and the Facists

Question 11

How was Malta defended during the war?

Answer 11

At the beginning of the war, Malta’s defences consisted of
anti-aircraft guns, searchlights, four Gladiator fighter
aircraft (named Faith, Hope and Charity) and a radar
station. The Italians air force had 200 aircraft in Sicily with
which to attack Malta. After some months the Royal Air
Force (RAF) brought more fighter planes from Gibraltar and
Egypt to defend Malta.

Question 12

What happened to the convoy ships that were shipped to Malta from Britain or Egypt?

Answer 12

They were attacked as soon as they approached Sardinia and Sicily.

Question 13

Which importanat convoy reached Malta on the 15th of August, 1942?

Answer 13

Convoy of Santa Marija also known as ‘Operation Pedestal’.

Question 14

Why did the Axis powers fail to take Malta?

Answer 14

• The Italian and German commanders did not have a consistent plan: by bombardment, starving the population or by a direct invasion.
• Axis plans against Malta were changed too frequently. This gave the British time to strengthen Malta’s defences.
• The axis powers failed to invade the island in 1941 when Malta’s defences were weakest.
• The Maltese and the British fought on and endured all hardships heroically without losing morale.

Question 15

Who won WWII?

Answer 15

In World War II, the three great Allied powers—Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union—formed a Grand Alliance that was the key to victory.

Question 16

What is Fort Rinella also called?

Answer 16

Rinella Battery

Question 17

What is Fort Rinella?

Answer 17

It is a Victorian battery in Kalkara. It contains one of two
surviving Armstrong 100-ton guns.

Question 18

Name 2 architectural styles in Malta during the British.

Answer 18

• Neo-classical
• Neo-Gothic

Question 19

The arrival of the Neo-Gothic revival in Malta.

Answer 19

The arrival of the Neo-Gothic revival in Malta created a further style by the prominent architect Emmanuele Luigi Galizia . He designed most of Malta’s prominent neo-Gothic buildings in Malta in the late 19th and early 20th century. Andrea Vassallo was another prolific neo-Gothic architect who was influenced by Galizia and is widely known for the neo-Gothic house near the Mdina Cathedral, known
as Casa Gourgion built in the early 1880s.

Question 20

The Neo-Classic architecture in Malta.

Answer 20

In Malta it was introduced in Malta in the late 18th century,
during the final years of the Order’s rule. Early examples include the National Library (1786). However, neoclassical architecture only became popular in Malta following the
establishment of British rule in the early 19th century. In 1814, a neoclassical portico decorated with the British coat of arms was added to the Main Guard building as the symbol of British Malta.