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Text | Madman Day
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preface
Britain used its superiority in the Mediterranean and North Africa, using its superiority at sea and in the air to control the course of the war. The British firmly believed in the importance of the island nation and actively took steps to provide supplies and aid to Malta.
background
The island of Malta is a small island country located in the central Mediterranean, covering an area of about 316 square kilometers. It consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. The island of Malta is the largest and the political, economic and cultural centre.
Located close to both Europe and the African continent, this island nation has historically been a very geostrategic location. Its central location in the Mediterranean allows any country that controls it to control traffic and trade on the east and west coasts of the Mediterranean and in the north and south directions, and is therefore constantly contested by other countries.
Malta is a country with a rich history and a rich cultural heritage and natural landscapes. It was ruled by several countries, including Roman, Arab, Byzantine, Normandy, Spain, France, and England.
During World War II, Malta became a British outpost in the Mediterranean, playing an important role in British victories in North Africa and strikes against Germany. The economy of the island of Malta is dominated by tourism, manufacturing and shipping. It has an independent monetary system and government, and is also a member of the European Union and the United Nations.
At the same time, Malta has always been an important centre for international shipping and trade due to its important geographical location.
Malta's geographical location is very important, it is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, connecting Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Because of its location, Malta has historically been a major route for navigation and trade in the Mediterranean, as well as a key point for controlling traffic and trade on the east and west coasts of the Mediterranean and in the north and south directions.
In ancient times, Malta was a famous port city, and during the Roman Empire, it was an important military base and commercial center. In the Middle Ages, Malta became a key point in controlling trade and shipping in the Mediterranean due to its geographical location, and both the Arab and Byzantine empires occupied the island nation.
At the end of the 18th century, the British occupied Malta and built an important military base on it to protect their trade interests in the Mediterranean. During World War II, Malta became a British outpost in the Mediterranean, playing an important role in British victories in North Africa and strikes against Germany.
Overall, Malta's geostrategic location has made it historically strategically important, with several countries vying for the island nation and establishing military bases on it.
siege
Until the outbreak of World War II, Malta remained an important British military base in the Mediterranean, and due to its strategic location, it could monitor shipping lanes on the east and west coasts of the Mediterranean and in the north-south directions, which was essential to protect British trade and military interests in the Mediterranean.
However, the British base in Malta became even more important as it suffered a series of major setbacks in the early stages of the war, such as defeats before the Normandy landings and the loss of colonies such as Singapore and Malaya.
In the early days of the war, the British army stationed in Malta was very limited, with only a few regiments of soldiers and some local troops. In addition, the British were unable to provide Malta with sufficient military supplies and food in the early stages of the war. In this situation, the inhabitants of Malta are forced to face extreme shortages and hunger.
Due to Malta's strategic importance, both Germany and Italy tried to occupy the island nation. After Italy declared war in June 1940, Italy began to blockade and bombard Malta, but the Italian blockade plan ultimately failed because Britain's naval power in the Mediterranean was too strong.
After that, Germany began to participate in the attack on Malta, but the German attack was also not successful due to the strong defense system established by the British on the island nation.
Although the British presence and supplies in Malta were limited, the British firmly believed in the importance of the island nation and actively took steps to provide Malta with supplies and assistance. In addition, the United Kingdom has supported Malta in other ways, such as sending fleet and air force support to the island nation.
These efforts eventually allowed Malta to hold out early in the war and become a key British outpost in the Mediterranean.
Until the outbreak of World War II, the Italian government had been pursuing expansionist policies and trying to expand its sphere of influence by invading North Africa. In 1935-1936, Italy invaded Ethiopia and was victorious.
In 1939, Italy began to establish naval and air bases in Albania, and in September of the same year it invaded Albania, bringing it into Italy's sphere of influence.
These actions alerted countries such as Britain and France, which began to strengthen its military forces in the Mediterranean in order to maintain its interests and position in the region. Britain's main base in the Mediterranean was the island of Malta, which was located between Italy and North Africa and was crucial for controlling the Mediterranean.
In September 1939, Britain sent its first troops to Malta and began to strengthen the island's defenses. After Germany invaded Poland, Italy joined the Axis powers, which made Britain even more threatening in the Mediterranean. Italian troops began operations in North Africa and tried to weaken British power in Malta through air raids and naval blockades.
However, the British firmly defended Malta, using the island as a base, posing a serious threat to Italian operations in the North African region. The British also took advantage of the geographical advantage of the island of Malta to carry out effective attacks and sabotage of German and Italian ships.
This severely disrupted the German and Italian shipping routes and played an important role in the eventual Allied victories in North Africa and the Mediterranean.
On 10 June 1940, Italy began its air raids on Malta, which lasted for two years. This was because Malta was crucial to British control in the Mediterranean, posing a threat to Italian and German military action, which the British acted accordingly to defend Malta.
Italian air strikes caused enormous damage and casualties to Malta's infrastructure, economy and population.
Siege process
In support of Malta, the British began a fleet escort operation in July 1940, transporting supplies and reinforcements from the Strait of Gibraltar to Malta. These fleets suffered air and submarine attacks from Germany and Italy, but the British insisted on escorting the operation.
This also led to the sinking of several British ships and heavy casualties, but these operations succeeded in providing Malta with the necessary supplies and assistance. For two years, from June 1940 to October 1942, the island of Malta was subjected to continuous bombardment and shelling, including air raids, naval blockades and submarine attacks. The siege led to severe damage to Malta's economy, infrastructure and the lives of its inhabitants.
It is estimated that approximately one third of Malta's inhabitants died or were displaced during these two years, causing significant damage and loss. In addition, the British lost a large number of ships and personnel in escort operations, which also made the siege very costly.
However, Malta's perseverance and spirit of resistance in the face of hardship gave great encouragement and support to the British and the Allies, and also became an important symbol in the course of the war.
At the end of 1942, the British fleet repelled German and Italian air and submarine attacks, provided Malta with the necessary assistance and support, and eventually succeeded in turning the tide of the Mediterranean War.
The result of the siege
At the end of 1940, the British began a counteroffensive against the Italian occupation zones in North Africa. In December 1940, the British 8th Army launched an attack on Italy in Tobruk in western Egypt, culminating in the recapture of the city in January 1941. Over the next few months, the British moved westward, forcing the Italians to retreat.
However, in June 1941, Germany sent a North African Army regiment under General Rommel to support the Italian forces and within months pushed the British back to Egypt.
Over the next few months, the two sides fought a series of battles and repeated advances until early 1942, when British forces defeated the Germans at the Battle of El Alamine and reoccupied Tobruk and all of North Africa.
In this war, Britain used its superiority in the Mediterranean and North Africa, using its superiority at sea and air to control the course of the war. In addition, Britain formed corps consisting of troops from India and other Commonwealth countries to participate in the offensive against Italian and German troops.
The victory in this war also strengthened Britain's position in the Mediterranean and provided the necessary support and experience for subsequent attacks on the European continent.
The defence of Malta was arguably an important part of the Mediterranean War in World War II. In this battle, the heroic resistance of the British army and the Maltese people made it impossible for the German and Italian troops to occupy the island during the siege, thus retaining control of the Mediterranean Sea and ensuring British and Allied military operations in the North African theater.
The defense of Malta also resulted in many military victories, shooting down a large number of German and Italian aircraft, preventing the enemy's attack on the British fleet, and forcing the Germans to cancel their plans of military operations in North Africa. Malta also became an important base for the Allied counterattack against Western Europe, providing strong support for the Allied victory.
In addition, the defense of Malta meant that Britain's control of the Mediterranean region was strengthened, which was crucial to Britain's position in the war. By retaining control of Malta, Britain retained control of the Mediterranean and North Africa, which helped Britain to secure its maritime trade and shipping routes during the war.
Impact on history
The Siege of Malta had an important impact on both Britain and Germany. First, British persistence and eventual victory in Malta provided the Allies with a stable rear and an important supply base on the battlefields in North Africa and the Mediterranean, and played an important role in the final Allied victory in the region.
In addition, the British blow to the Italian fleet also weakened Italy's maritime power in the Mediterranean, strengthening British control in the region.
For Germany, the Siege of Malta made it impossible for Germany to control the Mediterranean shipping routes, hindered Germany's contact and supply with the North African battlefield, and further aggravated the plight of the German army in North Africa.
The resistance and courage of the Maltese people were praised by Britain and the world, while the Italian aggression was condemned by the international community. This contrast has also greatly damaged Italy's image in the international community and has had a negative impact on its diplomacy and international relations.
Author's opinion:
Eventually, after the Siege of Malta, Malta became an important rear and supply base for the Allies in the Mediterranean, while Italy was forced to withdraw its troops in Malta. This incident had a profound impact on the relations between the two countries, further deteriorating the relations between the two countries.
Bibliography:
1. Woodman, R. (2003). Fleet of Malta, 1940-1943: Struggle at sea. Naval Academy Press.
2. Cresswell, D. (2005). Malta: The last great siege of 1940-1943. Pen and sword.
3. Netherlands, J. (2004). Malta Fortress: Siege Island, 1940-1943. Phoenix.
4.Playfair， I. S. O.， & Molony， C. J. C. （1959）。 Mediterranean and Middle East: Early victory over Italy (to <> 1941). HM Stationery Office.
5. Smith, D. (2006). Great Siege: Malta 1565. Pen and sword.