The Quest for Malta

Sacha Molitorisz writes about a documentary that demonstrates why Malta was known by 1942 as 'the most-bombed place on earth'. From The Sydney Morning Herald:

With the frightening might of the Axis of Evil (Mk I) bearing down upon it during World War II, Malta mustered its entire air force. That air force amounted to just three aircraft: a trio of World War I biplanes with holes patched with newspapers. Like Switzerland, Malta would have preferred to bypass the war altogether.

Unfortunately, the British colony had strategic significance. Near Sicily, the island was the key to the battles raging in Europe and Africa. If the Allies controlled Malta, they could launch effective raids on the supply ships feeding Rommel's troops in North Africa via the stretch of the Mediterranean known as Suicide Alley; meanwhile, they could pester Hitler and Mussolini on the Continent. Italy and Germany knew this, with the result that by 1942 Malta was known as the most-bombed place on earth.

This is an eye-opening and well-compiled documentary about a lesser-known theatre of World War II, blending original footage with computer animation and the testimony of German, Italian and Maltese survivors. As one says, it's a classic tale of David versus Goliath.