"The key to our position in the whole Mediterranean lay in Malta."
(Tedder)
Two of the greatest strategic mistakes by Hitler involved failure to
take control of two key locations, Gibraltar and Malta; between them
these two were able to influence, and at times dominate, the Western
Mediterranean area, and surrounding land masses. Malta, with its
strategic partner, Alexandria (and Egypt) likewise dominated the Eastern
Mediterranean and surrounding land masses.
Malta only existed strategically for its ability to attack the enemy
Lines of Communication between European bases (now stretching from
France to Crete) and North Africa. Every piece of equipment, every man
and all supplies had to move from Europe to North Africa, the majority
by surface vessel, and had to be gathered at a limited number of port
facilities in both locations, which made those locations key choke
points and targets. Once in North Africa, everything had to move along
the main coastal road from the supply ports to dumps and to units. Every
campaign is to a greater or lesser extent one of logistics, the Desert
War more so than most. It has often been called a 'war of airfields' but
it is more accurately described as a 'war of logistics', with airfields
playing a major role in defending one's own supply lines whilst striking
at the enemy's lines. If Malta could not attack, then it was a drain on
resources; but in order to attack it had to protect the infrastructure
and equipment needed for attack.
The ability to take a pounding, shake it off and fight back was the key
to survival. The Island required determined leadership, external support
dedicated to supplying the Island, and the committed resilience of all
those on the Island to ensure success. This is the story of how Malta
rose to meet the challenges facing its defenses during the Second World
War; how it struck back and survived one of its darkest eras.
