Exhibition on wartime Gozo
The island suffered the loss of innocent citizens, demolished buildings, hunger and life in shelters
Gozo during World War II – A glimpse of the grim years 1940-1943 is an exhibition of original documents, photographs and artefacts being held at the Gozo Archive (National Archives of Malta) in Vajringa Street, Victoria.
The nucleus of the exhibition, inaugurated by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, was made available from the collection of Charles Bezzina, author of several books about wartime Gozo, and his father Frank, who during the war years collected artefacts and testimonials from persons who experienced the ravages of the war in Gozo.
The exhibition highlights the role of Gozo during the war which, although far from the centre of combat, suffered the loss of innocent citizens, demolished buildings, hunger and life in shelters. Notwithstanding its own difficulties, Gozo gave its part by providing shelter to Maltese refugee families and providing wheat to quench the famine in Malta.
The exhibition is on until February 7.Items of particular interest include the original plans of the projected Gozo airfield built in Xewkija in 1943, photographs of Gozitan victims of war, artefacts recovered from crashed enemy plane and reconnaissance photos of Gozo taken by enemy planes.
Several scale models of planes which crashed on Gozo were made available by the Gozo Scale Modellers Club.
A catalogue with a description of all the items on show and with colour photographs has been published and may be acquired from the exhibition venue.
The exhibition is open until February 7 on Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 1.30pm, and on Saturdays between 8.30am and 12.30pm. It is closed on Sundays.