In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte’s expeditionary fleet stopped off here en route to Egypt and without a struggle the islands capitulated to the French. After several failed attempts by the Maltese to retake Valletta, the British were asked to assist. Rear Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson decided on a total blockade in 1799 and the French garrison surrendered in 1800. As Malta became a British colony, the following years saw the building and operation of the Malta Railway and the modernisation of the fortifications. During the Second World War, Malta suffered great attacks, being so closely situated to Sicily and the Axis shipping lanes, it was bombarded by the Italian and German air forces day and night. The island was used by the British to launch attacks on the Italian navy from a submarine base. It was also used as a listening post and reading German radio messages.