How World War II affected Carmelite life all over the world [Malta]

Abstract

Malta's participation in the Second World War was intrinsically linked to Italy's declaration of war against the Allies on June 10, 1940, until its surrender on September 8, 1943. The darkest period has become known as the "Siege of Malta" in which a ruthless military assault by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany was launched, especially between 1940 and 1942, which was intended to bomb and starve the people of Malta into submission and thereby take control of the strategically important island. At this point, the Maltese Province had four priories (in Valletta, the capital, St Julian's in the greater harbour area, Santa Venera a bit farther out, and Mdina the farthest from the capital and, hence, the safest). During the war, many residents from the harbour area migrated up north toward Santa Venera and Mamrun, even as far as Mosta, Mdina, Rabat, and Dingli. The Carmelite communities in Mdina and Santa Venera thus served as a refuge not only for friars from Valletta and St Julian's, who came to find shelter from the heavily bombarded Great Harbour area, but also for entire families in the extensive tunnels and shelters carved deep into the rocks, built in order to host hundreds of people at a time. Having said that, no part of the island was really safe. [excerpt]