Generalmajor Bernhard Hermann Ramcke & His Brigade in North Africa
Before the success of Operation Mercury in securing Crete in 1941, preparations were begun to take the British-controlled island of Malta in the Mediterranean. The island acted as a supply port and a base of operations for the RAF that put them in striking distance of North Africa and Italy. Initially Italian and German parachute and air-transported infantry were to take the island's airfield, before a force of Italian seaborne troops would land and secure the rest of the island and subdue the defenders. After the high casualties suffered by the Fallschirmjäger during Crete, and fuel supply problems for the Italian Navy, the assault on Malta was cancelled and a number of Fallschirmjäger troops became available for other operations…
