MALTA (World War II Series Book 4)

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Would you like to tell us about a lower price? Through sheer determination and with the help of other SOE operatives, she manages to bring together a number of Maquis units in the Auvergne Region to harass and delay German reinforcements attempting to reach Nazi coastal defences.

Aided by an American Army captain on loan to the SOE, the White Mouse finally arranges the escape of a number of Maquis prisoners during a pitched battle. Read more Read less. Thousands of books are eligible, including current and former best sellers. Look for the Kindle MatchBook icon on print and Kindle book detail pages of qualifying books. Print edition must be purchased new and sold by Amazon.

Gifting of the Kindle edition at the Kindle MatchBook price is not available. Learn more about Kindle MatchBook. Kindle Cloud Reader Read instantly in your browser. Customers who bought this item also bought. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1. A Novel of Spies. Spies of the Midnight Sun: Product details File Size: Cloud 9 Press January 28, Publication Date: January 28, Sold by: Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review.

Read reviews that mention white mouse nancy wake world war historical fiction jack duarte wake fiocca real life operations executive special operations french resistance well researched second world escape network grace augusta leading figure british special main character british agent figure in the french recommend this book. Showing of 31 reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. In doing so, we know he has another winner on his hands.

The basic premise is quite simple, Nancy Wake Fiocca, a resident of Paris, spent the first couple of years of the war setting up networks to get shot down fliers out of Europe and back to England. Just when the Nazis think they have her, she escapes. Meantime, out of Europe comes Nancy, who the English authorities want away from the Nazis for a while so she can expand her skills. She not only becomes a master spy, expanding her skills, but she has is known by several names, as well.

Along the way back she works with an American officer sequestered to work with the British; an openly gay man in an era where you didn't announce it this one's hard to believe , as well as a host of specialists and Maquis commanders. DuArte did another fantastic job with this book. His characters are real and the situations they find themselves in are equally as real. With the many personalities DuArte had to work with, he shows he has a remarkable talent for pulling out the wheat and leaving the chaff on the threshing room floor.

The result of DuArte's work a master work.

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It's an interesting look by an excellent writer at a little-known piece of World War II history that really didn't end too long ago because Mrs. Fiocca didn't pass on until two years ago at 99 years old. That said, we think you will like this book and it's one that will remain in the memory of my ereader now that I've finished it. I was more than surprised, for good and bad reasons. I expected his next work to be of a similar vein. As you know thriller writers tend to write similar thriller novels, and romance authors do pretty much the same.

But Akley is clearly far more versatile because this one was totally different. And this one really was way out of the ballpark when it comes to being different. A potpourri of different stories told from very different perspectives yet centered on the theme of pot addiction. Her French husband and she ran a Allied Pilots line to get downed pilots out of France. Eventually her husband was captured, tortured, and ultimately shot. After her husband was captured, she trained in England to be part of the SOE.

She was then dropped back into France to work with the underground, destroying anything that would hurt the Germans. Her code name was the White Mouse. She never found out about what happened to him until after the War. Her real name was Nancy Wake and her married name was Fiocca. This is an exciting book about women spies of World War II.

Being a Spy during that time was a complete role reversal for women. It was very dangerous, and many women were either killed by the Germans or sent to the Death Camps. RAF forces on Malta could not afford to sit idle. They could prevent Rommel's advance, or slow it down, by striking at his supply lines.

Malta was the only place from where British strike aircraft could launch their attacks.

Lloyd's bombers and a small flotilla of submarines were the only forces available to harass Rommel's supply lines into the autumn. Only then did the surface fleets return to Malta to support the offensive. With the exception of coal, fodder, kerosene and essential civilian supplies were such that a reserve of 8—15 months was built up. Operation Substance was particularly successful in July The supplies included spares and aircraft. Around 60 bombers and Hurricanes were now available.

This convoy proved critical to saving Malta, as its supplies were deemed to be essential when the Germans returned in December. In mid, new squadrons—No. Naval carriers flew in a total of 81 more fighters in April—May. By 12 May, there were 50 Hurricanes on the island. On 21 May, No. By early August, Malta now had 75 fighters and anti-aircraft guns. Bristol Blenheim bombers also joined the defenders and began offensive operations.

Besides preparing for offensive operations and reinforcing the RAF on the island, Lloyd also rectified many of the deficiencies. Thousands of Maltese and 3, British Army soldiers were drafted in to better protect the airfields. Even technical staff, clerks and flight crews helped when required. Dispersal strips were built, repair shops were moved underground from dockyards and airfields.

Underground shelters were also created in the belief that the Luftwaffe would soon return. In the attack, 15 men were killed and 18 captured, and most of the boats were lost. The bridge was never restored, and it was only in that a new one was built in its place. Lloyd asked his bombers to attack at mast-height, increasing accuracy but making them easier targets for Italian anti-aircraft defences.

Part of the reason for this favourable outcome in November , was the arrival of Force K of the Royal Navy, which during the Battle of the Duisburg Convoy sank all the ships, which practically blockaded Libyan ports.

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Following the disaster and with a resurgence of the Axis aerial bombardment of Malta, surface ships were withdrawn from the central Mediterranean in January While Italian bombing was again proving successful against the British, the Luftwaffe returned in force in December to renew intensive bombing. Eight Marylands, two other aircraft, three Beaufighters, one Blenheim fighter and many bombers were also lost.

The mounting shipping supply losses affected Geisler's ability to support Erwin Rommel and his forces, which caused tension between the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe. Geisler was to be returned to Sicily with his remaining air strength to solve the issue. However, the Germans backed down over Italian protests. On 6 October Geisler did extend his air sector responsibilities to cover the Tripoli-Naples sea route to curtail losses.

They quickly eliminated Malta's striking force, which was beyond the range of fighter escort while over the Mediterranean. In the first two months, around 20 RAF bombers and reconnaissance aircraft were shot down. The only notable triumph was the sinking of the 13,ton Victoria merchant ship, one of the fastest merchantmen afloat, by a Fairey Albacore of Squadron, flown by Lieutenant Baxter Ellis, on 23 January. Over the island, the defensive arm of the RAF was also put under pressure.

Kesselring began with a raid on New Year's Day. It was the 1,th raid of the war. Of the fighters that had passed through or stayed on the island since the war began, only 28 remained. One-third of all raids were directed against airfields. The usual tactic would involve a sweep ahead of the bombers by German fighters to clear the skies. This worked, and air superiority was maintained.

Under a Maltese Sky: Novel by Irish author set in World War II Malta

Only slight losses were suffered by the bombers. Dobbie and the British naval and air commanders argued for modern aircraft, particularly Spitfires , to be sent to Malta. The pilots told Embry that the Hurricanes were useless and that the Spitfire was their only hope. The squadron leaders argued the inferiority of their aircraft was affecting morale.

Fortress Malta: An Island Under Siege 1940-43

Embry agreed and recommended the Spitfires be sent and the type began arriving in March On 29—30 April , a plan for the invasion of the island was approved by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini during a meeting at Berchtesgaden. It envisaged an airborne assault with one German and one Italian airborne division, under the command of German General Kurt Student.

This would have been followed by a seaborne landing of two or three divisions protected by the Regia Marina. The Italians, in agreement with Kesselring, made the invasion of Malta the priority in the region. However, two major factors stopped Hitler from giving the operation the green light. The first was Erwin Rommel. Due to Kesselring's pounding of the island the supply lines to North Africa had been secured.

He was able to gain the ascendancy in North Africa once again. Although Rommel believed Malta should be invaded, he insisted the conquest of Egypt and the Suez Canal, not Malta, was the priority. The second was Hitler himself. After the Battle of Crete in May—June , Hitler was nervous about using paratroopers to invade the island since the Crete campaign had cost this arm heavy losses and he started to procrastinate in making a decision. Hitler proposed a compromise. He suggested that if the Egyptian border was reached once again in the coming months the fighting at the time was taking place in Libya , the Axis could invade in July or August when a full moon would provide ideal conditions for a landing.

Although frustrated, Kesselring was relieved the operation had seemingly been postponed rather than shelved. Before the Spitfires arrived, other attempts were made to reduce losses. Lloyd had requested a highly experienced combat leader be sent and Turner's experience flying with Douglas Bader over Europe meant he was qualified to lead the unit. All but one reached the island. By 21 April just 27 Spitfires were still airworthy and by evening, that had fallen to The overwhelming Axis bombardments had also substantially eroded Malta's offensive naval and air capabilities.

Often, three to five Italian bombers would fly very low over their targets and drop their bombs with precision, regardless of the RAF attacks and ground fire. Along with the advantage in the air, the Germans soon discovered that British submarines were operating from Manoel Island , not Grand Harbour and exploited their air superiority to eliminate the threat. The base came under attack. The vessels had to spend most of their time submerged, and the surrounding residences where crews had enjoyed brief rest periods were abandoned.

Hitler's strategy of neutralising Malta by siege seemed to be working. The Germans lost aircraft in the operations. The Allies moved to increase the number of Spitfires on the island. On 9 May, the Italians announced 37 Axis losses. On 10 May, the Axis lost 65 aircraft destroyed or damaged in large air battles over the island. The Hurricanes were able to focus on the Axis bombers and dive-bombers at lower heights, while the Spitfires, with their superior rate of climb, engaged enemy aircraft at higher levels. With such a force established, the RAF had the firepower to deal with any Axis attacks.

By the spring of , the Axis air forces ranged against the island were at their maximum strength.

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Bomber units included Junkers Ju 88s of II. After the battles of May and June, the air attacks were much reduced in August and September. The island appeared to the Axis forces to be neutralised as a threat to their convoys. Rommel could now look forward to offensive operations with the support of the Luftwaffe in North Africa.

At the Battle of Gazala he would win a major victory while the Battle of Bir Hakeim was less successful. Even so, he would soon be back in Egypt fighting at El Alamein. Despite the reduction in direct air pressure over Malta itself, the situation on the island was serious. It was running out of all essential commodities, particularly food and water, as the bombing had crippled pumps and distribution pipes.

Clothing was also hard to come by. All livestock had been slaughtered, and the lack of leather meant people were forced to use curtains and used tyres to replace clothing and shoe soles. Although the civilian population was enduring, the threat of starvation was very real. The move was designed to split Axis naval forces attempting to intervene.

Although he could afford this diversion, he could maintain a standing patrol of only four Spitfires over the convoy. If Axis aircraft attacked as they were withdrawing, they had to stay and fight. Bailing out if the pilots ran low on fuel was the only alternative to landing on Malta. The pilots had to hope that they would be picked up by the ships. It was considered insufficient to see them into Malta. The losses of the convoy were heavy. Three destroyers and 11 merchant vessels were also sunk.

Malta did send Bristol Beauforts to engage the Italian fleet and German U-boats attacking the convoy. They torpedoed and sank the heavy cruiser Trento and damaged the battleship Littorio. A further 16 Malta-based pilots were lost in the operations. In August, Operation Pedestal brought vital relief to the besieged island, but at heavy cost. It was attacked from the sea, but also by air. Moreover, the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle , one cruiser and three destroyers were sunk by a combined effort from the Italian Navy, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe.

Nevertheless, the operation though costly in lives and ships, was vital in bringing in much-needed war materials and supplies. Indeed, according to Sadkovich and others, to pretend that the air offensive against Malta had been a purely German affair is misleading. The Italians must thus get some share of the credit for the destruction of British fighters on Malta, and the sinking of 23 of 82 merchantmen dispatched to the island. But the RAF preferred to credit its losses to the Germans, even though the Italians flew more fighter missions over the island, had almost as many fighters on Sicily as the Germans in the whole Mediterranean in November , and seem to have been better pilots, losing one aircraft per 63 sorties, compared to a German loss rate of one per 42 sorties.

The surface fleets were not the only supply line to Malta. British submarines also made a substantial effort. She could not go as deep or dive as quickly as the T- and U-class types, but she still made nine supply missions to Malta, which was more than any other vessel of its type. The ability of the submarine to carry large loads enabled it to be of great value in the campaign to lift the siege.

It was felt that a man with past experience of fighter defence operations was needed. For some reason, the Air Staff did not choose to do this earlier, when the bombing ceased in , and the RAF forces on Malta became primarily fighter-armed while the principal aim changed to one of air defence. Park arrived on 14 July by flying boat. He landed in the midst of a raid despite the fact Lloyd had specifically requested he circle the harbour until it had passed.

Lloyd met Park and admonished him for taking an unnecessary risk.

Park had faced Kesselring before during the Battle of Britain. During that battle, Park had advocated sending small numbers of fighters into battle to meet the enemy. There were three fundamental reasons for this. First, there would always be fighters in the air covering those on the ground if one did not send their entire force to engage at once.

Second, small numbers were quicker to position and easier to move around. Third, the preservation of his force was critical. The fewer fighters he had in the air he advocated 16 at most , the smaller target the numerically superior enemy would have. Over Malta, he reversed these tactics owing to changed circumstances. With plenty of Spitfires to operate, Park sought to intercept the enemy and break up his formations before the bombers reached the island.

Up until this point, the Spitfires had fought defensively. They scrambled and headed south to gain height, then turned around to engage the enemy over the island.

Now, with improved radar and quicker take off times two to three minutes and improved air-sea rescue, more offensive action became possible. Using three squadrons, Park asked the first to engage the escorting fighters by 'bouncing them' out of the sun. The second would strike at the close escort, or, if unescorted, the bombers themselves. The third was to attack the bombers head-on. The impact of Park's methods was instant. His Forward Interception Plan , issued officially on 25 July , forced the Axis to abandon daylight raids within six days.

Kesselring responded by sending in fighter sweeps at even higher altitudes to gain the tactical advantage. The methods would have great effect in October when Kesselring returned. While the RAF and Royal Navy defensive operations dominated for the most part, offensive strikes were still being carried out. The submarines of Simpson's 10th Flotilla were on patrol constantly, except for the period May—July , when Kesselring made a considerable effort against their bases. Their success was not easy to achieve, given most of them were the slow U-class types.

Supported by S- and T-class vessels, they dropped mines. British submarine commanders became aces while operating from Malta. It was one of the few German tankers exporting oil from Romania. The submarine proved to be one of the most potent weapons in the British armoury when combating Axis convoys. Simpson, and George Phillips, who replaced him on 23 January , had much success. The island base, HMS Talbot , supplied 1, torpedoes at that time.

Wing Commander Patrick Gibbs and 39 Squadron , flew their Beauforts against shipping and increased the pressure on Rommel by attacking his supply lines in September. Rommel's position was now critical. He complained to the OKW that he was severely short of ammunition and fuel for offensive action.

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The Axis organised a convoy to relieve the difficulties. Ultra intercepted the Axis communications, and Wellingtons of 69 Squadron confirmed the Axis operation was real. Gibbs's Beauforts sank two ships and one of Simpson's submarines sank a third. Rommel still hoped another tanker, San Andreas , would deliver the 3, tons of fuel needed for the Battle of Alam el Halfa.

Rommel did not wait for it to dock, and launched the offensive before its arrival. The ship was sunk by an attack led by Gibbs. The Beauforts were having a devastating impact on Axis fuel supplies which were now nearly used up. On 1 September, Rommel was forced to retreat. Kesselring handed over Luftwaffe fuel, but this merely denied the German air units the means to protect the ground forces, thereby increasing the effectiveness of British air superiority over the frontline. In August, Malta's strike forces had contributed to the Axis' difficulties in trying to force an advance into Egypt.

Many of these supplies had to be brought in via Tripoli, many kilometres behind the battle front. Two fuel-carrying ships were sunk, and another lost its cargo despite the crew managing to salvage the ship. As the British offensive at El Alamein began on 23 October , Ultra intelligence was gaining a clear picture of the desperate Axis fuel situation.

On 25 October, three tankers and one cargo ship carrying fuel and ammunition were sent under heavy air and sea escort, and were likely to be the last ships to reach Rommel while he was at El Alamein. Ultra intelligence intercepted the planned convoy route, and alerted Malta's air units. The three fuel-carrying vessels were sunk by 28 October.

By August , Spitfires were on hand to defend Malta; were serviceable. Despite the success of Allied convoys in getting through, the month was as bad as any other, combining bombing with food shortages. In response to the threat Malta was now posing to Axis supply lines, the Luftwaffe renewed its attacks on Malta in October RAF losses amounted to 23 Spitfires shot down and 20 crash-landed.

The British lost 12 pilots killed. He called off the offensive. The situation in North Africa required German air support, so the October offensive marked the last major effort by the Luftwaffe against Malta. The losses left the Axis air forces in a depleted state. They could not offer the air support needed at the frontline.

The situation on the island was still stringent going into November, but Park's victory in the air battle was soon followed by news of a major success at the front. At El Alamein in North Africa the British had broken through on land, and by 5 November were advancing rapidly westward. Some 11 days later, news of the Soviet counterattack during the Battle of Stalingrad increased morale even more. The extent to which the success in North Africa benefited Malta was apparent when a convoy Operation Stoneage reached Malta from Alexandria on 20 November virtually unscathed.

This convoy is seen as the end of the two-year siege of Malta. On 6 December, another supply convoy under the codename Operation Portcullis reached Malta without suffering any losses. After that, ships sailed to Malta without joining convoys. The last air raid over Malta occurred on 20 July It was the 3,th alert since 11 June In the densely populated island, 5, private dwellings were destroyed, 9, were damaged but repairable and 14, damaged by bomb blast. In addition churches , 50 hospitals , institutions or colleges , 36 theatres , clubs, government offices, banks , factories, flour mills and other commercial buildings suffered destruction or damage, a total of 30, buildings in all.

Total Axis losses in the Mediterranean were moderate. Human casualties amounted to 17, personnel at sea. In supplies, the Axis lost , tons. This was more than reached Malta. The Allied navies sank Axis ships, totaling , tons. Mines sank another ships of , tons in total. The navies and air forces shared in the destruction of 25 ships for , tons and aircraft sank 1, ships, for a total of 1,, tons. Mines and naval craft shared a further ship destroyed between them, of 1, tons. In all, 2, Axis ships were sunk, with a combined tonnage of 3,, Generally, the Italian Navy had considerable success protecting Axis mostly Italian shipping to North Africa, as shown by the figures below.

Under a Maltese Sky: Novel by Irish author set in World War II Malta - The Malta Independent

The British Navy seemed incapable of preventing this from happening. Table of Axis ships escorted to Libya , June — January In his novel Everyone Brave is Forgiven, Chris Cleave presents the misery and horror of the siege through the eyes of British officers whose experiences are loosely based on those of his grandfather David Hill, who served in the Royal Artillery.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. For other uses, see Siege of Malta disambiguation. Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre. Battle of the Mediterranean. Radius of action of Allied aircraft operating from Malta in relation to Axis shipping routes, summer and autumn, World War II portal. Retrieved 6 July Bradford, Ernle []. United States Naval Institute.

Retrieved 20 March Tactical Success, Operational Failure". Naval War College Review. The Hunters and the Hunted. The German Army —

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