Malta

About the flag

Malta is identified by the small George Cross on its flag, commemorating the collective bravery of the Maltese people during WWII when King George VI awarded the island the George Cross in 1942. The red and white are historic Maltese colors, long linked to the Knights of St. John. Memory tip: Malta’s flag shows a medal (the George Cross), not the eight-pointed “Maltese Cross.” Think “Malta = medal for courage.” Malta is a Mediterranean microstate with a unique Semitic language (Maltese) written in the Latin alphabet and is home to some of the world’s oldest freestanding temples, underscoring its rich and resilient history.