06/09/2025
IMPORTANT ADDITION: A rare 1930's British Union of Fascists black shirt, cap, belt and armband were added to the Age of Dictatorships display at Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna's Malta at War Museum at Couvre Porte, Birgu.
The British Union of Fascists (BUF) was a British fascist political party formed in 1932 by Oswald Mosley. Mosley changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists in 1936 and, in 1937, to the British Union. In 1939, following the start of the Second World War, the party was proscribed by the British government and in 1940 it was disbanded. A Malta branch was formed in 1933. It remained active until 1935 when it was closed down. A Union of Malta Fascists was later formed by Captain Olof Samut, a Maltese war veteran modelled on the BUF which remained active until 1937. The UMF wore the same political uniform as the BUF except for the arm band which was black with a white fasces.
The BUF uniform has been placed on display along other period fascist uniforms worn by other European political movements namely the National Socialist Party in Germany, the Spanish Falange and the Partito Nationale Fascista (National Fascist Party) of Italy. It stands in the part of the museum dedicated to the pre-war years which includes a display about the political situation in Malta at the time, the Fortress economy and above all the spread of totalitarianism in the Western world until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. More interesting items will be added soon.
The Malta at War Museum is one of eight museums established and run by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna. It is open to the public from Mon to Sat between 10am and 4.30pm including public holidays.
Recommended reading about the Malta Union of Fascists: https://www.wirtartna.org/product-page/marching-on-captain-frederick-oloff-samut-the-union-of-maltese-fascists
