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A testament to Maltese resilience, the Lascaris War Rooms offer a fascinating glimpse into World War Two history.
On September 11, 1943, Maltese soldiers, government officials and civilians gathered on the harbour walls at Valetta, to watch the Italian Taranto Battle Fleet make its way to the island, escorted by British warships. After three years of warfare, the Regia Marina had finally been brought to its knees.
That evening, beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Admiral Alberto De Zara was met by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cunningham and invited into the ultra-secret Lascaris War Rooms. Shortly after, a brief telegram was sent to the secretary of the Admiralty in London: “Be pleased to inform Their Lordships that the Italian battlefleet now lies at anchor under the guns of the fortress of Malta.”
Although known for its role in accepting the Regia Marina’s surrender, and famous for coordinating Operation Husky in 1943, the story of the Lascaris War Rooms began three years earlier. At that time, the crown colony of Malta stood as the sole bastion of British power between Gibraltar and Alexandria and was constantly beset by Axis raiders. A series of tunnels known as the Old War Headquarters …
