Malta’s reconstruction after 1945

Abstract

Numerous authors have justifiably etched a special place in history for the valiant Maltese who braved the arduous trials of the war. Whilst honouring their memory with dignity, it was the survivors of the war who led the country through the difficult path to reconstruction. Due to the extensive documentation available on the post-war decade, several works have critically assessed the period, often within the wider context of Malta’s struggle for political and economic independence. Nevertheless, seldom authors have compounded the multifaceted developments of the reconstruction years, bringing to light their crucial role as a harbinger of later development. For the purpose of this dissertation, newspapers, one of the most important mediums of mass communication, provided a solid background to the post-war years. The Times of Malta, reported extensively on both local and domestic developments, critical to an understanding of the general post-war atmosphere. Columnists painted a realistic picture of life in Malta, whilst Council of Government and Parliamentary debates published in the newspaper contributed unique insight into governmental discussions. Moreover, The Torch, the official newspaper of the General Workers Union (GWU) which centred around the interests of dockyard employees, provided an understanding of the ripple effects of administrative decisions on industrial workers. Pertinent to this work were the Reports of the Workings of Government Departments. Covering an array of subjects such as housing, health, labour and emigration, the yearly reports provided information on every facet of society. Due to the multifaceted approach of this work, the reports provided a solid foundation upon which this dissertation was built. The Statistical Abstract of the Maltese Islands also provided a comprehensive analysis of the island every year. The three economic reports of Wilfred Woods, George Schuster, and Balogh and Dudley Seers, were decisive for an understanding of the economic difficulties of the time, indispensable to Malta’s economic reconstruction.