Malta
Today Malta experienced the heaviest attack ever yet made from the air – and it was directed at the civilian population. The 280 tons of high explosives dropped on the tiny peninsula of Valletta this afternoon were not stray bombs intended for Grand Harbour.
Luftwaffe operations reports reveal a deliberate intention to bomb Valletta itself, with targets including the Governor’s Palace and several residential quarters in the City. The enemy employed heavy high explosives for maximum destruction: Berlin radio claimed that many one-ton bombs were used in the raid.
Disregarding the danger to civilians, the bombing was an apparent attempt to destroy the heart of Malta’s government. The Governor and Commander in Chief has now decided to evacuate the administration inland.
Many of the Valletta’s ancient palaces have been badly hit: the Auberge de France is in ruins, the Governor’s Palace and the Market severely damaged. The Auberge d’Aragon and the Auberge d’Italie received direct hits. The King George V Hospital in Floriana is destroyed.
It is estimated that 70 per cent of buildings in Valletta and Floriana have now been destroyed or damaged.
Velletta Heavily Bombed by the Luftwaffe |
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| This Luftwaffe photograph dramatically records the moment at 6.30 p.m. when the Luftwaffe deliberately bombed the length and breadth of Valletta, destroying various monuments and residential buildings, including the Royal Opera House and the railway tunnel (1), Lascaris Ditch (2), the Auberge de France (3), the Governor's Palace (4), the market (5), Victoria Gate (6), and, at Floriana, the scouts headquarters, the government school and part of St Publius parish church (7), and King George V Hospital (8). In the harbour, silhouetted by the setting sun, are the wrecks of various ships, Pampas (A), Talabot (B) and HMS Gallant (C). The patches on the surface are from the oil leaking from the ships of convoy MW10 sunk on March 26. |