Breadways and Black-Market Intrigues in 1942 Malta

Noel Buttigieg
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引用次数: 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT When Italy declared war on the Allies on June 10, 1940, Malta’s state of readiness was almost nonexistent. Largely dependent on food imports, the blockaded archipelago struggled to provide the most important item in the Maltese diet: bread. The hand-to-mouth improvisation of the British colonial government until the end of 1941 left Malta precariously exposed to the possibility of an imminent surrender. Uninformed pricing regulations, inadequate administrative staff and lack of finances significantly reduced the powers of the government to enforce regulatory measures. This study explores how the government had to temporarily shelve anti-black-market enforcement to eke out any undeclared foodstuffs, especially grain and flour. Although heavily criticized for its passive attitude towards black-market intrigues, the government’s moral compass temporarily permitted a “new” business order.
1942年马耳他的偷渡和黑市阴谋
摘要1940年6月10日,意大利向盟军宣战时,马耳他的战备状态几乎不存在。这个被封锁的群岛在很大程度上依赖粮食进口,难以提供马耳他饮食中最重要的食物:面包。直到1941年底,英国殖民政府的即兴表演让马耳他岌岌可危地面临着即将投降的可能性。定价法规不一致、行政人员不足和缺乏财政,大大削弱了政府执行监管措施的权力。这项研究探讨了政府如何不得不暂时搁置反黑市执法,以弥补任何未申报的食品,尤其是谷物和面粉。尽管政府对黑市阴谋的消极态度受到了严厉批评,但政府的道德指南针暂时允许了一种“新”的商业秩序。
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CiteScore
1.20
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0.00%
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