On November 22, the Ambassador of Malta to the Federal Republic of Germany, Vanni Xuereb joined the Maltese-German community and the City of Mülheim an der Ruhr to mark the 60th Anniversary of the military stationing of the 1^st Regiment Royal Malta Artillery in Mülheim an der Ruhr in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. This event was hosted by Lord Mayor of the City of Mülheim an der Ruhr, Marc Buchholz. Also participating were the President of the German-Maltese Association, Christian Launer, Captain Lieutenant Malte Görlitz from the German Navy’s Naval Operations School in Bremerhaven and Lieutenant Colonel (Reserve) Joachim Speck as well as former RMA servicemen who were among those posted in Mülheim an der Ruhr. The Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst also sent a video message for the occasion.

The event paid tribute to the approximately 450 Maltese soldiers, along with 50 civilians who served in Mülheim an der Ruhr from November 1964 to 1970 as part of the British Army of the Rhine. Their deployment as a transport unit was Malta’s largest and longest overseas military mission but also a profound chapter in the nation’s post-independence history. Beyond the military responsibilities, the mission represented Malta’s commitment to international peacekeeping, rebuilding and fostering unity.

Following the unveiling of a memorial plaque on the former guardhouse of Wrexham Barracks by the Lord Mayor and the Ambassador, a commemorative ceremony was held in the Town Hall. In his speech, Ambassador Xuereb emphasised Malta’s unwavering commitment to the values of democracy, justice, and solidarity, exemplified through its peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts. He also spoke of the importance of the shared history, highlighting the profound social and cultural bonds that have developed and pointing out the enduring friendship between Malta and Germany.

Mr Joachim Speck delivered the ceremonial speech. Supported by the National Library of Malta and the Armed Forces of Malta, he will also be publishing a monograph in English entitled ‘From Malta to Muelheim – 1^st Regiment Royal Malta Artillery on the River Ruhr in the Sixties’ which is being printed in Leipzig and will be available in Malta from January 2025.   The Lord Mayor also invited Ambassador Xuereb to sign the Golden Book of the City of Mülheim an der Ruhr.