Operation Pedestal: The Fleet That Battled to Malta, 1942
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- Create Date：2021-06-23 06:52:14
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Max Hastings
- ISBN：0062980157
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Summary
Renowned historian Max Hastings recreates one of the most thrilling events of World War II: Operation Pedestal， the British action to save its troops from starvation on Malta—an action-packed tale of courage， fortitude， loss， and triumph against all odds。
In 1940， Hitler had two choices when it came to the Mediterranean region: stay out， or commit sufficient forces to expel the British from the Middle East。 Against his generals’ advice， the Fuhrer committed a major strategic blunder。 He ordered the Wehrmacht to seize Crete， allowing the longtime British bastion of Malta to remain in Allied hands。 Over the fall of 1941， the Royal Navy and RAF， aided by British intelligence， used the island to launch a punishing campaign against the Germans， sinking more than 75 percent of their supply ships destined for North Africa。
But by spring 1942， the British lost their advantage。 In April and May， the Luftwaffe dropped more bombs on Malta than London received in the blitz。 A succession of British attempts to supply and reinforce the island by convoy during the spring and summer of 1942 failed。 British submarines and surface warships were withdrawn， and the remaining forces were on the brink of starvation。
Operation Pedestal chronicles the ensuing British mission to save those troops。 Over twelve days in August， German and Italian forces faced off against British air and naval fleets in one of the fiercest battles of the war， while ships packed with supplies were painstakingly divided and dispersed。 In the end only a handful of the Allied ships made it， most important among them the SS Ohio， carrying the much-needed fuel to the men on Malta。
As Hastings makes clear， while the Germans claimed victory， it was the British who ultimately prevailed， for Malta remained a crucial asset that helped lead to the Nazis’ eventual defeat。 While the Royal Navy never again attempted an operation on such scale， Hasting argues that without that August convoy the British on Malta would not have survived。 In the cruel accountancy of war， the price was worth paying。
In 1940， Hitler had two choices when it came to the Mediterranean region: stay out， or commit sufficient forces to expel the British from the Middle East。 Against his generals’ advice， the Fuhrer committed a major strategic blunder。 He ordered the Wehrmacht to seize Crete， allowing the longtime British bastion of Malta to remain in Allied hands。 Over the fall of 1941， the Royal Navy and RAF， aided by British intelligence， used the island to launch a punishing campaign against the Germans， sinking more than 75 percent of their supply ships destined for North Africa。
But by spring 1942， the British lost their advantage。 In April and May， the Luftwaffe dropped more bombs on Malta than London received in the blitz。 A succession of British attempts to supply and reinforce the island by convoy during the spring and summer of 1942 failed。 British submarines and surface warships were withdrawn， and the remaining forces were on the brink of starvation。
Operation Pedestal chronicles the ensuing British mission to save those troops。 Over twelve days in August， German and Italian forces faced off against British air and naval fleets in one of the fiercest battles of the war， while ships packed with supplies were painstakingly divided and dispersed。 In the end only a handful of the Allied ships made it， most important among them the SS Ohio， carrying the much-needed fuel to the men on Malta。
As Hastings makes clear， while the Germans claimed victory， it was the British who ultimately prevailed， for Malta remained a crucial asset that helped lead to the Nazis’ eventual defeat。 While the Royal Navy never again attempted an operation on such scale， Hasting argues that without that August convoy the British on Malta would not have survived。 In the cruel accountancy of war， the price was worth paying。
Reviews
Mark Adkins
，
This is another great book by historian Max Hastings。 Talking about the relief column that was sent to Malta with much-needed supplies to the isolated island。
Mam
，
This book is filled with incredible detail， and if war ever looked glamorous， that detail will dispel that notion。
Mark
，
I bought this book because my Grandfather Walter St。 John Caesar Lewis served in this part of the war on the HMS Unbroken commanded by Alistair Mars。 I knew a little from Alistair Mars memoirs but this is the full heroic and shambolic tale of the liberation of Malta。 Seen from a distance this is a balanced review of a little known but important part of WW2 that looks now as the first turning point in the allies favour shortly afterwards Montgomery took Tobruk the terrible decisions， the awful in I bought this book because my Grandfather Walter St。 John Caesar Lewis served in this part of the war on the HMS Unbroken commanded by Alistair Mars。 I knew a little from Alistair Mars memoirs but this is the full heroic and shambolic tale of the liberation of Malta。 Seen from a distance this is a balanced review of a little known but important part of WW2 that looks now as the first turning point in the allies favour shortly afterwards Montgomery took Tobruk the terrible decisions， the awful intensity of a poorly protected poorly armed merchant navy over a few days in August 1942 abandoned by its main support flotilla and under attack from axis bombers， fighters， U and E boats I know I’m biased but more people should know this history and why the Maltese and the British have such a special relationship 。 。。。more
Dan
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