The Three Cities played a vital role n many a war throughout Malta's :hequered history. Established on the Grand Harbour around Fort St Angelo, the Cities served as Malta's principal harbour. vittoriosa stood as Malta's capital juring the reign of the Knights of St John and played an important role in the resistance against the Ottoman Turks in the Great Siege of 1565.
Four centuries later, war was declared on Malta on June 10 1940 instilling fear in the hearts of the populace. Air raids began the following morning with Cospicua being hit as the city controlling the dockyards. Over the next few years Cospicua as well as Vittoriosa and Senglea were targeted, causing extensive damage and destruction. A bomb fell close to the Cospicua church but by the grace of God failed to detonate, leaving the glorious church still standing and those seeking refuge inside her walls, alive and ready to fight another day.
As in many cities during World War II evacuation ensued and food was rationed. Maltese people faced death on every front -if they survived a day of battle they might starve at night. Still, the devout Catholics believed that God was on their side and kept fighting. They also ensured the protection of their precious statues -that of 'Maria Bambina' of Senglea and 'The Immaculate Conception' of Cospicua. These were taken to a safer spot in Birkirkara just before both churches were hit.
Following the war, a pilgrimage was organised from Birkirkara back to Cospicua and though the people were full of enthusiasm about being back in their hometowns, the damage suffered was too extensive for them to move back permanently. More than 70 per cent of the buildings were completely destroyed or damaged to the point of being uninhabitable. Though repairs were made to the Cities, for many who had lost everything, return was too painful. Thus post-war population was less than half of what it was prior to 1940. Today people. particularly the young and foreigners, are contributing to the trickling back of residents into the Three Cities.