WWII Malta Pillboxes, Bunkers & Bomb Shelters

[Bugme]

My wife and I have been living in the country of Malta for the last 8 months and have opportunity to do a bit of history hunting. In WWII, Malta was the recipient of the most concentrated bombing anywhere on the planet, even worse than the blitz of London. Yet, this island never surrendered. Today, much remains of the war including pillboxes which were built in anticipation of a German invasion that never happened.

[Bugme]

This combined boffer gun / pillbox placement is located in the fishing village of Marsaxlokk not far from Valletta

[Bugme]

Only one shot of this one but, it is located on a bluff near St. Thomas Bay, the Biblical location where the apostle Paul was shipwrecked.

[Bugme]

This pillbox is on the southern side of the island at Qrendi, near the popular Blue Groto.

[Bugme]

Here is a wartime shot of this same pillbox.

[Bugme]

Bomb shelter at Fort Saint Angelo which guarded the entrance of the Grand Harbor

[gwb123]

That's what I love about travel... getting to see the things that are unique to where you are at. Thanks for sharing... keep exploring!

[Bugme]

Very true Gil. In the case of Malta there are literally 1000's of years of history on a very small island. And some of the most decisive battles of history took place there: The first Great Siege in 1565 when the knights of St. John repelled overwhelming numbers of attacking Ottomans and second Siege, 1940-42, when the Axis powers were repelled by a small but determined force of British and Maltese soldiers, sailors and airman.

[gwb123]

And I am going to guess that some of the fortifications served both campaigns.

[Bugme]

You're correct Gil, Fort St. Angelo was built by the knights of St. John. This fort was then also used in WWII by the British. Those are WWII gun mounts behind my bad selfie.

[stratasfan]

Oh . . . . thanks for sharing the super cool pictures! I love it! That must have been some fun stuff to see! Is it very hot in Malta? Looks super sunny. although, for those of us stuck in the always-grey mid-West, anything Sunny immediatley brings "heat" to mind, but I know it doesn't have to be actually hot!

 

I love the pictures of the Bomb shelter. also, the pillbox by St. Thomas Bay! Ever since I started reading about Malta in WWII, I have gone back to read about Paul's journeys and the shipwreck, as it is so cool to relate two historical events and think of them as the same place. Makes it seem very real.

 

Very interesting, your mention of the first great siege. In my desk drawer right now, I have two Malta stamps (I think 1950s), one commemorating the Siege of 1565 showing a memorial and one commemorating a "War Memorial" (Really tall fancy cross/column memorial). Cool! Malta has some amazing history. For anyone who hasn't found it yet . . . if you are interested in WWII and Malta, try Sam Moses' book - "At All Costs". Amazing!

[ScottG]

Looks like an amazing place to explore and just enjoy the history! Of course the weather is an added bonus. Scott

[Bugme]

Stratasfan, Malta in the summer is beyond hot. Business and construction stops from 1200 till 1600 because of the heat and the sun's ability to rip your skin off.

 

Traditionally, St. Paul's Bay is the spot of Paul's shipwreck. However, the only place where two seas meet on a reef(Bible reference) is actually St. Thomas Bay. Also, several decades ago, 4 anchors were located by divers from a Roman ship of the time period of Paul, which also lines up with the Bible reference of cutting their 4 anchors free(the surviving portion is circled below).

 

Thousands of year of incredible history is found on this tiny 18 mile by 11 mile island.

[teamski]

Pretty wild! A far reach from your stateside dwellings!!

 

-Ski

[Bugme]

Pretty wild! A far reach from your stateside dwellings!!

 

-Ski

True, everything is limestone. The Maltese think our houses in the US are weak and rotting because we use wood. Lol

[teamski]

True, everything is limestone. The Maltese think our houses in the US are weak and rotting because we use wood. Lol

 

 

A lot of them are . That is why I own an old brick house! You are a cheesehead aren't you?

 

-Ski

[Bugme]

 

 

A lot of them are . That is why I own an old brick house! You are a cheesehead aren't you?

 

-Ski

Yes, Proud member of the frozen chosen cheesehead club.

[teamski]

Yes, Proud member of the frozen chosen cheesehead club.

 

 

Yep, you look out of place there. Your cheesehead would melt in the sun.

 

-Ski

[Bugme]

 

 

Yep, you look out of place there. Your cheesehead would melt in the sun.

 

-Ski

Lol! Actually, that glaring sun tanned us quick. Couple that with our loose grasp of the Maltese language and the fact that my wife and I are not tall people and it wasn't long before many native Maltese thought we lived there for years. Of course, this all came crashing down when they asked direction from us.