Malta 1941 – After the Germans Left (Malta Air War)

After months of intense Luftwaffe attacks, the siege of Malta entered a new phase in 1941. With Germany preparing to invade the Soviet Union, the Luftwaffe’s X. Fliegerkorps withdrew from Sicily — leaving the Regia Aeronautica to carry on the campaign alone. This episode covers that crucial period when Italy once again took charge of the assault on the island. We’ll explore the changes in strategy, the decline in Axis air strength, and the evolution of RAF defenses. The worn-out Hurricane Mk Is were replaced by the improved Mk IIs, while Malta’s anti-aircraft defenses were significantly boosted. On the Italian side, the Macchi C.200 and Fiat BR.20M led the renewed offensive, later joined by the first Macchi C.202s — Italy’s most advanced fighter of the war. Through this episode, we continue the story of the Battle for Malta — a struggle that defined control over the Mediterranean. Watch earlier Malta episodes if you missed them:    • Are You Ready to Witness the Drama of Malt...      • Dive Bombers and Dogfights: Luftwaffe’s En...      • "Sink the Illustrious!” — The Luftwaffe’s ...      • Messerschmitts Over Malta: The Tide Turns ...      • Bf 109 Supremacy: JG 26's Bloody February ...   Main sources: Ryan K. Noppen - Malta 1940–42: The Axis' air battle for Mediterranean supremacy https://amzn.to/3MB7JTQ Brian Cull - HURRICANES OVER MALTA: June 1940 - April 1942 https://amzn.to/41SyS94 Christopher Shores & Brian Cull - Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-1941 https://amzn.to/3MfZEpU Air Battle of Malta: Aircraft Losses and Crash Sites, 1940–1942 https://amzn.to/49meXFh Malta 1940–42: The Axis' air battle for Mediterranean supremacy https://amzn.to/3YqoGp3 When you purchase these books on Amazon through the links in this description, the channel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. The proceeds help fund new book purchases and support the creation of future videos. Support the channel on Patreon:   / showtime112   Donate via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/showt... Join our Discord server:   / discord   Hitman by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license