Operation Herkules

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Operation Herkules
Part of Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre of the Second World War
Type	Invasion
Location	Malta, 80 km (50 mi) south of Sicily 35°53′N 14°30′E / 35.883°N 14.500°E / 35.883; 14.500
Planned by	Generalmajor Kurt Student
Objective	Eliminate Malta as a British air and naval base Secure an uninterrupted flow of supplies across the Mediterranean
Date	Planned for mid-July 1942
Outcome	Cancelled in November 1942

Operation Herkules (German: Unternehmen Herkules; Italian: Operazione C3) was the German code-name given to an abortive plan for the invasion of Malta during the Second World War. Through air and sea landings, the Italians and Germans hoped to eliminate Malta as a British air and naval base and secure an uninterrupted flow of supplies across the Mediterranean Sea to Axis forces in Libya and Egypt.

Extensive preparations were made for the invasion but the success of other Axis operations – including the Battle of Gazala (26 May to 21 June 1942), the Axis capture of Tobruk on 21 June and Operation Aïda, the pursuit of the Allies into Egypt – led to Herkules being postponed and then cancelled in November 1942.