Siege of Malta (World War II) Germans launched Operation Sonnenblume, which reinforced the Italians in North Africa. They then began a counter-offensive and drove the British back into Egypt. But operating overseas in Africa meant most of the supplies to Axis forces would come via the sea. This made Malta a dangerous threat to Axis logistical concerns. In response, the "Oberkommando der Luftwaffe" (OKL or Air Force High Command) sent "Fliegerkorps X" (Flying Corps Ten) to Sicily, which arrived in January 1941, to strike at naval forces in and around Malta, as well as RAF positions on the island to ease the passage of supplies. The
Cornwallis Island (Nunavut) the north end of McDougall Sound, which separates Cornwallis Island from nearby Bathurst Island. Cape Airy is located at the island's southwestern extremity. Also on the southwestern coast, Griffith Island lies directly across from the island's populated hamlet Resolute (Qausuittuq), separated by the wide Resolute Passage. The airport at Resolute acts as a communications hub for the central Arctic islands of Nunavut. This is Canada's second most northerly community. The first European to visit Cornwallis Island was Sir William Edward Parry in 1819, and is named for British Royal Navy admiral Sir William Cornwallis. Cornwallis Island is also home to