Award of the George Cross to Malta

An invasion threat in July 1941 failed when coast defenders spotted torpedo boats of the Italian Decima MAS special forces.

Whilst people suffered hunger, a final assault to neutralise the island was ordered by the German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring.

Malta's geographic position, between Italy and North Africa, dividing the Mediterranean basin into east and west put the islands in danger.

Fuel was restricted to military action and heavily rationed, the population was on the brink of starvation, and even ammunition was running out, such that Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns could only fire a few rounds per day.

On 15 August 1942 (the feast day of Santa Marija also known as Assumption of Mary Day) a convoy of Royal and Merchant Navy ships finally made port in Convoy of Santa Maria[5] at Valletta's Grand Harbour, after completing what has been considered one of the most heroic maritime episodes in recent history.

Harrods department store[12] flew the Maltese flag to mark Malta's 70th anniversary as a George Cross Island[13] from the 1 to 28 March 2012.