Siege of Malta (World War II)
Axis bombing and blockade failed to subdue Malta.
From June 1940 to November 1942, the fight for the British Crown Colony of Malta pitted Italian and German air and naval forces against the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The island’s strategic importance grew after a new North African front opened in June 1940, allowing British planes and ships based there to strike Axis supply convoys heading from Europe. General Erwin Rommel, commanding the Panzerarmee Afrika, quickly grasped this, warning in May 1941 that without Malta, the Axis would eventually lose control of North Africa.
The Axis tried to bomb or starve Malta into surrender, targeting its ports, towns, and Allied supply ships to soften it for invasion. Over two years, the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica flew 3,000 raids, dropping 6,700 tons of bombs on the Grand Harbour area alone—making Malta one of the most heavily bombed places of the war. A combined German-Italian amphibious assault (Operation Herkules) was planned but never executed. Allied convoys and the RAF managed to supply and defend the island, though at heavy cost in lives and equipment. In turn, Malta-based aircraft and submarines successfully intercepted Axis convoys bound for North Africa, starving Rommel’s forces of supplies.
The siege ended in November 1942 after the Axis lost the Second Battle of El Alamein and the Allies launched Operation Torch in Morocco and Algeria. Axis forces shifted to the Tunisia campaign, reducing attacks on Malta. By December 1942, air and sea units from Malta went on the offensive. In 164 days up to May 1943, they sank 230 Axis ships—the highest Allied sinking rate of the war. The Allied victory in Malta was crucial for the North Africa campaign and later served as a base for the invasion of Sicily.
Malta was a military and naval fortress, the only Allied base between Gibraltar and Alexandria, Egypt. In peacetime, it was a stop on the British trade route to Egypt, the Suez Canal, India, and the Far East. When that route closed, Malta remained a forward base for offensive action against Axis shipping and land targets in the central Mediterranean. Because of its exposed position near Italy, the Royal Navy had moved the Mediterranean Fleet’s headquarters from Valletta to Alexandria in October 1939.
The island measures 27 km by 14 km, with an area under 250 km² and a population of about 250,000 in June 1940, nearly all native Maltese. According to the 19
- Conflict
- World War II
- Location
- Malta, British Crown Colony
- Start
- June 1940
- End
- November 1942
- Belligerents
- Kingdom of Italy and Nazi Germany vs. United Kingdom (RAF and Royal Navy)
- Key Figure
- General Erwin Rommel (de facto field commander of Panzerarmee Afrika)
- Total Bombing Raids
- 3,000 over two years
Lore & Background
Malta was a military and naval fortress, the only Allied base between Gibraltar and Alexandria, Egypt. In peacetime it was a way station along the British trade route to Egypt and the Suez Canal. Owing to its exposed position close to Italy, the British had moved the headquarters of the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet from Valletta to Alexandria in October 1939. The island had hardly any defences because of a pre-war conclusion that it was indefensible. Only six obsolete Gloster Sea Gladiator biplanes were stationed on the island, with another six in crates, when on 10 June 1940 Mussolini declared war on the United Kingdom and France. The first bombs were dropped on Malta within hours.
Reader's Guide
The Siege of Malta was a pivotal campaign in the Mediterranean theatre of World War II. From June 1940 to November 1942, Axis air and naval forces attempted to bomb or starve Malta into submission to enable an invasion. The island's strategic location allowed British air and sea forces to attack Axis supply convoys bound for North Africa, directly threatening General Erwin Rommel's Panzerarmee Afrika. Rommel himself warned in May 1941 that 'Without Malta the Axis will end by losing control of North Africa.' Despite being one of the most intensively bombed areas during the war—with 3,000 raids and 6,700 tons of bombs dropped on the Grand Harbour area alone—Allied convoys and the RAF sustained the island. The siege ended in November 1942 after the Axis lost the Second Battle of El Alamein and diverted forces to the Tunisia campaign. From December 1942, forces operating from Malta went on the offensive, sinking 230 Axis ships in 164 days by May 1943, the highest Allied sinking rate of the war. The Allied victory in Malta played a major role in the eventual Allied victory in North Africa and served as a base for the invasion of Sicily.
Did You Know?
- Malta was bombed with 6,700 tons of bombs on the Grand Harbour area alone over two years.
- General Erwin Rommel warned in May 1941 that without Malta the Axis would lose control of North Africa.
- The defending fighters initially consisted of obsolete Gloster Sea Gladiators, with only three flying at once, nicknamed 'Faith', 'Hope' and 'Charity'.
- By May 1943, Allied forces operating from Malta had sunk 230 Axis ships in 164 days.
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