SIEGE OF MALTA  June 1940 - October 1942

The history of the Island of Malta is ancient and remarkable and when the valour and endurance of its population in the years 1940-1942 were honoured with the unique award of the George Cross many admirers reflected on the sieges which it had already undergone. In comparatively modern times Malta has changed hands more than once. In the 16th century it was a stronghold of Christianity under the rule of the Knights of St John, under the inspired leadership of Grand Master La Valette, Malta withstood the siege laid by the Turks in 1565. Again at the end of the 18th century the island was blockaded, this time by the British with the aid of the Maltese themselves, who had rebelled against the Napoleonic occupation of their island. By the Treaty of Paris in 1814, Malta was admitted to the British Empire, by the free will of the Maltese people and in its function as a link in the Mediterranean route towards the east, it was strategically one of the most important of British territories. Its value from this point of view was never more significant than in the critical years of the last war, when the battles in the Mediterranean hinged upon supplies. In standing up to ferocious air bombardment Malta became a symbol of high-spirited endurance and finally had the distinction of serving as headquarters for the launching of the first attack upon the home territory of one of the Axis powers - the invasion of Sicily.

The Island’s resistance was the result of combined operations in which the Navy, the Army, the Air Force and the Merchant Navy were all indispensable and inseparable. The story of the air battle for Malta, which follows this account, is largely the story of the Army, the Navy and the Merchant Navy, as well. The greater part of the ground forces was devoted in one way or another to maintaining the Air Force. The Navy and the Mercantile Marine with difficulty maintained the other two services as well as the civil population and between them kept Malta open as an air and naval base. Had Malta surrendered, the removal of this base from the map of the Mediterranean might have spelt the death knell of the Eighth Army then engaged in its desperate struggle with Rommel in North Africa. The defeat of the Eighth Army would have meant also the end of Malta.

Comments (0)

There are no comments posted here yet

Leave your comments

  1. Posting comment as a guest.
Attachments (0 / 3)
Share Your Location
Type the text presented in the image below