WikiPortallus: Siege of Malta (World War II).html

Malta was one of the most intensively-bombed areas during the war – a total of 3,000 raids occurred during the two years of the siege. During the siege, 1,493 civilians died and 3,674 were wounded^{citation needed}. Between June 1940 and December 1942 the British Royal Air Force (RAF) claimed it shot down some 863 aircraft of the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) and the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). According to the RAF, this was accomplished for the loss of 1,133 aircraft of all types lost in the air and on the ground, including 289 Spitfires and Hurricanes in action.

Background

Due to the strategic position of Malta (see map) it was a key fortress for either the Axis or allied powers – notably, the island is in the middle of the Mediterranean between Libya and Italy. It had been, since 1800, after two years of Napoleonic occupation, a part of the British Empire – and its geographical importance had been noted by Britain for the entirety of the occupation. It was hence used as a significant military and naval fortress during this time – it happened to be the only military base between Gibraltar and Alexandria, Egypt.

Despite its position, the British had moved the headquarters of the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet from Valletta, Malta in the mid-1930s to Alexandria, Egypt. While there were concerns that the island, far from Britain and near Italy, could not be defended, British leadership decided in July 1939 to increase the number of anti-aircraft guns and fighters on Malta. ¹ British leadership had further doubts about whether to hold the island in May 1940 when the French prime minister, Paul Reynaud, reported that the situation in France was dire, but that Italy might be appeased with concessions including Malta. After some discussion, Winston Churchill convinced the British War Cabinet that no concessions should be made. ² However, with Britain itself at risk, Malta was not the highest priority for the British, so Malta was under-resourced when Italy declared war on Britain on 10 June 1940 Only 4,000 soldiers and a few obsolete biplanes were stationed on the island, with 5 weeks' worth of food^{citation needed}. Nevertheless, the island was a strategic threat to Italy and the Axis powers, its anti-shipping squadrons and Royal Navy submarines a potential threat to supply and communications between Europe, Italy and North Africa.

For most of the siege William Dobbie was Governor of Malta. While in Malta, he was criticised for his religious approach to leadership during the siege and for what critics argue to have been an unacceptable delay in the creation of bomb shelters; as well as in implementing efficient food-rationing and creating an effective civil-defence system. Issues surrounding the unloading of ordnance were also a criticism. In May 1942 Field Marshal the Right Hon. John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort replaced Dobbie.

First phase

On 11 June 1940, the day after Italy declared war on Britain and France, aircraft of the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) attacked Malta. Most of its land forces had been committed for the upcoming invasion of Greece, so Italy resorted to aerial bombardment to prevent Malta from being a threat. On the first day, ten Italian Cant bombers dropped bombs on Grand Harbour, Hal Far, and Kalafrana. In seven attacks, 11 civilians and 6 soldiers were killed. In addition, roughly 130 civilians and some soldiers were injured.

At the time, the fighter aircraft on Malta consisted of a few obsolete Gloster Sea Gladiator biplanes. A common legend has it that the air defence consisted of just three such planes, nicknamed 'Faith', 'Hope' and 'Charity', but at least six Gladiators were deployed. These were initially unable to fly from Luqa Airfield as it was not finished, and operated out of Hal Far.[1] Initially, the Italians flew at around 5,500 m; later they dropped to 3,000 m to improve bombing accuracy^{citation needed}. British Major R. I. K. Paine later stated that "[after they dropped down], we bagged one or two every other day, so they started coming in at [6,000 m]. Their bombing was never very accurate. As they flew higher it became quite indiscriminate."^{citation needed}. Journalist Mabel Strickland said "The Italians [pilots] decided they didn't like [the Gladiators and AA guns], so they dropped their bombs [30 km] off Malta and went back."^{citation needed}

Throughout the siege, resupplying the island would be a significant challenge. In addition to routine requirements for food and supplies, Axis attacks destroyed equipment and supplies and British defensive and offensive efforts consumed equipment, fuel, ammunition, and other supplies. Further, the British had limited resources to spread among multiple combat theaters. Allied convoys with naval escorts resupplied the island. Both sides were aware of the strategic importance of Malta, and large naval and air forces were committed with desperate fighting and considerable losses. The British Navy also sent some critical supplies to Malta via submarine.

By the start of July, the Gladiators had been reinforced by Hawker Hurricanes and the defences organised into Number 261 squadron, RAF. Twelve were delivered by HMS Argus in August, the first of several batches ferried to the island by the carrier. During the first five months of combat, the island's aircraft claimed around 37 Italian aircraft destroyed or damaged and resulted in Italian fighter plane pilot Francisco Cavalera saying, "Malta was really a big problem for us— very well defended". 330 people had been killed and 297 seriously wounded on Malta^{citation needed}.

In January 1941, the German Fliegerkorps X arrived in Sicily as the Afrika Korps arrived in Libya. The presence of the German Luftwaffe led to a notable increase in the bombing of Malta. The appearance in February of a staffel of Messerschmidt Bf 109Es fighters (7 Staffel Jagdgeschwader 26) led by 23-kill ace Oberleutnant Joachim Müncheberg quickly led to a sudden and marked increase in Hurricane losses as the experienced Luftwaffe fighter pilots made their presence felt. Over the next four months 7. JG 26 would claim some 42 air victories (half by Müncheberg) without a single operational loss^{citation needed}.

In January 1941, while escorting a convoy to Malta, the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious was seriously damaged by Junkers Ju-87 (Stuka) dive bombers. The attack killed 126 crew members and wounded 91. ³ The carrier docked at Grand Harbour for urgent repairs. While the ship was being repaired, the harbour was subject to heavy aerial bombardment, but the ship survived.

In mid 1941 new squadrons — No. 185 and No. 126 — were formed and the defenders received the first cannon-armed Hurricane Mk II fighters. Naval carriers flew in a total of 81 more fighters during April and May. These months also saw the arrival of the first Bristol Blenheim and Bristol Beaufighter units. On 1 June Air Vice Marshal Forster Maynard, Malta's Air Officer Commanding, was replaced by Air Commodore Hugh Pughe Lloyd.

Axis forces attacking Malta decreased later that year as the limited German resources were diverted to fighting the Red Army on the Eastern Front and bombing operations reverted back to the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica). But in December 1941 successful naval and aerial offensive operations launched from Malta caused German forces to turn their attention back to Malta and renew bombing intensively. Fuel, food, and munitions all had to be imported, and resupply became very difficult and expensive in resources: the island was almost cut off. 31 Allied ships were lost to bombing raids. The defenders had claimed some 191 aircraft shot down from June 1940 to December 1941, while losses were some 94 fighters^{citation needed}.

In February 1942 Squadron Leader Stan Turner arrived to take over 249 Squadron. His experience flying with Douglas Bader over Europe soon meant the adoption of the loose 'finger-four' formation in an attempt to cut RAF losses. However, with the outmoded Hurricanes still struggling against the very latest Bf 109Fs of Jagdgeschwader 53 and the Italian Macchi C.202s, in March 1942 a contingent of 15 Spitfires Mk Vs flew into Malta from aircraft carrier HMS Eagle; the first Spitfires to serve overseas. The reinforcement of Malta by carrier became more frequent through 1942. Spitfires were flown into Malta from the carrier HMS Eagle on the 7 March 1942. No. 601 and 603 Squadron Spitfires arrived on 20 of April, then the US carrier Wasp and HMS Eagle despatched 59 more Spitfires. While the Spitfires were a match for the Axis aircraft, many of the Spitfires delivered in March and April were destroyed on the ground and in the air--where they were outnumbered. For instance, for five days in April there was just one Spitfire available to defend the island; for two days there were none. ⁴ Also, the overwhelming Axis bombardments had substantially eliminated Malta’s naval and aerial offensive capabilities. ⁵

By mid 1942 the Axis Air Forces ranged against the island were at their maximum strength: some 520 Luftwaffe and 300 Regia Aeronautica aircraft. Main adversaries for the Malta defenders were the 140 or so Me 109F fighters of Jagdgeschwader 53 'Pik As' and II/JG 3 'Udet' and the 80 Macchi C.202s of the 4th and 51st Stormo. Bombers units included the Junkers Ju 88s of II./LG 1, II & III./KG 77, I./KG 54, Kgr.606 & Kgr. 806^{citation needed}.

On the occasions where the RAF could not put up a fighter cover, Malta's Fighter Control would transmit a dummy radio communication, aping the scrambling and interception of incoming raids as if fighters were already in the air, knowing the Luftwaffe would be monitoring the conversations.⁶

During May accelerated and more effective deployments of Spitfires allowed the British to obtain air superiority over Malta for the first time since the start of the war. Yet the island appeared to the Axis forces to be neutralised, and they decided that there was no need for such intensive bombing raids and diverted their resources to other areas. For instance, on May 10 Albert Kesselring, Commander-in-Chief South of Axis forces, reported to the German High Command that “There is nothing left to bomb.” ⁷

On 15 April 1942, King George VI awarded Malta the George Cross, the highest civilian award for gallantry in the Commonwealth, normally awarded to individuals: "to honour her brave people, I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history". President Franklin Roosevelt, describing the wartime period, called Malta "one tiny bright flame in the darkness". Some historians argue that the award was in fact a propaganda gesture to justify the huge losses sustained by Britain to prevent Malta from capitulating as Singapore had done in the Battle of Singapore.⁸

In the first six months of 1942, there was only one 24-hour period without air raids. Luftwaffe records indicate that between 20 March and 28 April 1942, Malta was subjected to 11,819 sorties and 6,557 tonnes of bombs.

The siege caused significant hardships for everyone on Malta. Bombs killed many and left even more homeless. Businesses and civil infrastructure were destroyed. The disruption of shipping caused food, fuel, and other commodities to be in very short supply. During the greatest times of starvation it is said that foods were rationed to "three boiled sweets, half a sardine and a spoonful of jam a day". Poor nutrition and sanitation led to the spread of disease.

Second phase

Britain took advantage of the lull in Axis attacks to fly in 61 Spitfire Mk V aircraft from HMS Furious, which immediately improved the aerial defensive situation, although food, ammunition, and aviation fuel remained critically short. Operation Pedestal was a major attempt to resupply Malta with a convoy of 14 merchant ships supported by 44 major warships, including battleships and aircraft carriers, and diversionary naval attacks by the Mediterranean Fleet at the other end of the Mediterranean[2]. The convoy was attacked relentlessly in the early days of August. On 13 August the surviving merchant ships started arriving at Malta, ending on 15 August 1942, the feast of Santa Marija (St Mary), a public holiday on Malta, with the British-crewed U.S. tanker SS Ohio; she had been hit by torpedoes, bombs, and a crashed dive bomber, but survived with her vital aviation fuel. The cost: 5 transports survived out of 14; 1 aircraft carrier, 2 cruisers and a destroyer were sunk, and a carrier and 2 cruisers badly damaged.

Throughout this period of the war Royal Navy submarines, RAF bombers and Fleet Air Arm torpedo planes operating from Malta continued to wreak havoc on Axis shipping, severely curtailing vital supplies and reinforcements to the German and Italian forces in North Africa, thereby limiting Rommel's ability to advance across the western desert towards Alexandria and Cairo.

The Luftwaffe responded with a renewed wave of attacks in October, but the Allied efforts in the Middle East were beginning to have their effect, and supplies were reaching Malta. As the Axis forces were progressively defeated in North Africa, the siege of Malta was lifted. On December 6, 1942 a supply convoy reached Malta without suffering any losses. After that ships sailed to Malta without joining convoys.

The Air Force infrastructure built up on the island in 1942 was later turned to offensive use, as over a dozen Spitfire squadrons based there commenced operations covering the amphibious invasion of Sicily.

The last air raid over Malta occurred on July 20, 1943. It was the 3,340th alert since June 11, 1940.⁹

Siege of Malta (World War II).html

Contents

Background

First phase

Second phase

See also

Notes

References

External links

Further reading