Italian irredentism in Malta

This commemoration (official since 1986) is in remembrance of the riots of 1919 when the Maltese population organized marches to obtain some form of representative government.

They made overtures to a minority who not only loved Italy's language but also saw Malta as a geographical extension of the Italian mainland.

The battle, however, was still being fought in largely cultural terms, as the "Language Question" on the role of Italian in education.

This led to the revoking (the second) of the Maltese Constitution in 1934 over the Government's budgetary vote for the teaching of Italian in elementary schools.

Italian ceased to be taught at all levels of education and the language of instruction at the University of Malta and the Law Courts.

The colonial authorities however took precautions; in 1940 they interned and eventually deported 49 Italophile Maltese to Uganda including the leader of the Nationalist Party, Enrico Mizzi.

[8] A number of Maltese living in Italy participated in fascist organizations and joined the Italian military forces during World War II.

Carmelo Borg Pisani attempted to enter Malta during the war (Operation Herkules), but was captured and executed as an alleged spy in November 1942.