Rock Gibraltar facts
While investigating facts about Rock Gibraltar, I found out little known, but curios details like:
Operation Tracer was a top-secret WWII mission in which six men were to be buried alive inside the Rock of Gibraltar so they could monitor enemy movements after the Rock's capture. There was no way out and anyone who died within the chamber would have to be embalmed and cemented into the floor.
Operation Tracer: If Nazi's captured Gibraltar a British team would be sealed within the rock to spy on shipping from an underground complex, with supplies for several years (and their burials). After decades of rumours and searching, the cave was rediscovered in 1997.
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 7 of the best facts about Rock Gibraltar I managed to collect.
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During World War II the Allies dug 30 miles of tunnels in the Rock of Gibraltar using diamond-tipped drills - the location became a base for up to 30,000 troops, also housing a hospital and power station
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The British Army began building tunnels throughout the Rock of Gibraltar in 1800s for ammunition storage and quickly relaying artillery orders. By the 20th century it was an underground fortress capable of housing and supplying 16,000 soldiers with food, ammunition, and equipment
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In WWII the British had a secret plan to seal six men within the Rock of Gibraltar should it be captured by the Germans so they could report on ship movements through the strait. Ian Fleming (James Bond author) was part of the team behind it, and the plan's mastermind was the inspiration for M.
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Gibraltar is a Spanish corruption of Jabal Ṭāriq, Mountain of Ṭāriq. The Rock is named in honor of Ṭāriq ibn Ziyād, who conquered it for the Umayyad Caliphate in the 8th century.
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The rock of Gibraltar was actually named after the berber muslim general Tariq Ibn Ziyad. The rock itself was named Jabal Ṭāriq (جبل طارق), meaning "mountain of Tariq''.
