The Nurse and the Thorn of the Mediterranean

While visiting the Islands of Malta and Gozo today, you will find a mix of Middle Eastern and Western cultures living together. The small Island nation of 316 square kilometres, you might not think much of this dot of three islands as they appear on World Maps. In fact, in most cases, the Capital of Valletta is often all you can make out on a Map. The small nation is 96 km south of Sicily, and 290 km North of Northern Africa, putter her right smack in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.  

Throughout history, Malta was an important trading post for the Mediterranean, ships from all over would come and trade goods. from around the known world. The island became known for its massive limestone fortifications under the Knights Templar, who later became known as the Knights of Malta, and it was from the Capital of Valletta, that the Knights defeated the Turks in 1565. 

Like many other areas of the world Malta has succumb to the interests of many world powers, due to her strategic positioning. In 1800 it became part of the British Empire, and Britain would largely use the Island as a coaling depot for its growing Navy, and base of its Mediterranean fleet. 

It would become a major player, for very different reasons during the two World Wars. 

Rev'd Albert Mackinnon, appropriately titled Malta, the Nurse of the Mediterranean in his 1916 work that described what he witnessed while in Malta during World War One. (The Book can be viewed online, or PDF here:  https://archive.org/details/maltanurseofmedi00mackuoft) 

During World War One, twenty seven hospitals and medical camps were established on the small island - and when there were only four military hospitals at the outset of the war in 1914, that is a massive number. 

Casualties started  to arrive on May 4th 1915 - from the Battle of Gallipoli, when 600 casualties arrived. The men were unloaded onto barges and brought through the quayside outside Valletta's ancient Sacra Infirmaria hospital (which was established by the Knights of St. John in the early 1500s - and can still be visited today) The Sacra Infirmaria was the longest hospital ward in Europe until the nineteenth century. 

Over the course of the next two years, more than 64,500 casualties were sent and treated in Malta, the vast majority of these recieved in the summer and autumn of 1916.  Post-war estimates are as follows: 

Casualties treated between May 1915-1919 from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force: 58,000

Casualties treated between May 1916-1919 from the Solonika Expeditionary Force: 78,000 

* Not all patients survived treatment or injuries 

War dead, nurses and doctors who died of diseases while treating causalities are buried at the Pieta Military Cemetery in Malta. 

The Second World War 

During World War Two - Malta's roll was different - she again played a small part in nursing war casualties, but she became know as the Thorn in the side of Rommel in his War in North Africa. 

Convoys were being shipped across the Mediterranean from Greece and Italy to support the Nazi March across Africa, and for a while went unchecked by the Allies. Britain choose to base a handful of outdated Hawker Hurricane aircraft on the island for defence from Nazi bombers, and as a very small 'deterrent' for invading the island. These Hurricanes, quickly became useful in attacking the Nazi supply convoys reaching North Africa. 

Nazi Germany began to understand the strategic importance of Malta, and began constant bombing of the island, and for a period, it became the most bombed place on Earth between June of 1940 and November of 1942. More than 15,000 tonnes of explosives were dropped over that period and close to 11,000 buildings destroyed or extensively damaged. King George awarded the Islands of Malta for "bear[ing] witness to the heroism and devotion of its people during the great siege it underwent in the early parts of World War Two'

By the end of the campaign, the handful of Hurricanes, numbered in the hundreds and nearly completely destroyed the convoys to North Africa, cutting Rommel off from his supplies, and allowing the Allies a victory in Africa. 

Following the African campaign the Larscaris War Rooms (Which can be visited today), located underneath the Lascaris Battery in Valletta, which were dig into the Limestone during the bombings were used to plan, and coordinate the Allied Invasion of Sicily 1943. The complex is located 150 feet bellow the surface. 

Remembering History - Giving Malta the credit which is due - as a Nurse to our Allies, and a Thorn to our Enemies. 

The little war that wasn't so little - The "Little War in Hungary"

Just like a book, you cannot judge a war by the name history has given it. This is especially true with the Little War in Hungary, taking place between 1530 and 1552.

The war was a series of conflicts between the Habsburgs and their close allies against the Ottoman Empire.

Belligerents:

• Habsburg Austria
• Holy Roman Empire
• Spain
• Papal States
• Bohemia
• Kingdom of Croatia
• Hungarian Kingdom of Ferdinand's

Against

• The Ottoman Empire
• Moldavia
• Hungarian Kingdom of Szapolyai's
• Wallachia Serbain Despotate
• France

The war is considered to have begun following the Ottoman Siege of Vienna in 1529, where Suleiman the Magnificent attempted to capture the city. The siege took place between September 27 and October 15, 1529, and left more than 15,000 dead or wounded. The Ottoman's failed to capture Vienna, and the tides turned against them, and after almost a century of unchecked conquest, the Ottoman Empire began to loose its gained territory.  It marked the maximum extent of the Ottoman Empire's control and expansion in Central Europe.

Wood Engraving of the clash between the Austrians and Ottoman's outside of Vienna in 1529 (PD-OLD)

Following the failed siege, Austria launched a counter attack against the Ottoman in 1530, not an easy feat when facing an defending army of 120,000. Ferdinand of Austria would in the end be successful in capturing the fort at Esztergom along the Danube River, which as a geographical strategic point.

The Austrian success in Hungary frustrated Suleiman to the point that he would attempt to conquer Vienna again in 1532, with an attacking army of approximately 150,000. Ferdinand, realising how massive Suleiman's force was, withdrew his army from the boarder city of Koszeg, and left fewer than 700 men to defend the city, without any canons. The Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, Ibrahim Pasha, did not understand how poorly defended the city of Koszeg was, and placed the city under siege for more than four weeks. With the arrival of the August rains, the Ottoman army withdrew and returned home.

Despite the second failed attempt at capturing Vienna, the Ottoman's and Austrians signed a peace treaty, which recognised the Kingdom of Hungary as an Ottoman vassal, as long as the Ottoman's respected the regions of Hungary that had recognised Habsburg rule.

This peace deal did not end the war between the two rivals. The war would turn bloody again at the Siege of Osijek (1537), where Ferdinand and his massive Austrian army, which was well trained and equipped thanks to the success of his defending force at Koszeg, planned a massive blow to the Ottoman strong hold of Osijek. This attack would directly violate the treaty. At the Battle of Dakovo, the Austrian attempt would be futile, and faced a crushing defeat, leaving more than 25,000 Austrians dead or wounded and minimal loses to the Ottoman defencive force. Less than a year later at the Battle of Preveza, in 1538, the Ottoman army would again crush the Habsburg led coalition.

Looking to make up for the humiliating defeats of the previous two years, the Austrians would attempt to capture Buda in 1541. The Habsburg's luck was still no where to be found. After the humiliating defeat at the Siege of Buda, the Hungarian King (Disputed) John Szapolyai  died in 1540, and an appeal by his widdow to end the war went unanswered.

By 1543, it was clear the Ottoman Empire would win this war. Their alliance with France was stronger than ever, and France even agreed to aid the Ottoman army during the Campaign of Suleiman in 1543, supplying troops,  and artillery units. These played a direct role in the success of the Ottomans at the Siege of Esztergom and the capture of Hungarian cities Szekesfehervar, Siklos, and Szged, and the protection of another Austrian attack on the city of Buda.

The Siege of Esztergom in 1595 (Bridgeman Art Library / Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France / Archives Charmet)

At the end of 1543, the Ottoman's and Austrians came to another peace agreement, which would last until 1552 when Suleiman decided he required the city of Eger to be within the limits of the Ottoman Empire. It was a humiliating defeat, where a professional army was defeated by the citizens of Eger withstanding the annexation.

While other conflicts between the Ottoman Empire, Austria, and Hungary would arise, this ended the Little War in Hungary. Especially as this was just one of the many Ottoman-Habsburg Wars

For more information on this subject, please read:

• The Ottoman Empire 1326-1699 by Stephen R. Turnbull (2003)
• The Enemy at the Gate: Habsburg, Ottomans, and the Battle for Europe by Andre Wheatcroft (2010)
• Plus all the other great books on Ottoman and Austrian history

Remembering History - The Little War in Hungary 1530-1552