> -----Original Message-----
> From Tracy Johnson
>> So either the invasion of the Soviet Union would have
>> been put off by a year due to the shortened campaigning
>> season, or the Afrika Corps would have never been sent
>> to bail out the Italians.  The Balkan invasions would
>> have probably been on a different timeline also.
>> 
>> BT

From: Brice Yokem 
> But, with Gibraltar in the hands of the Axis, the Afrika Corp
> might have had an easier time of it?  Interesting thought
> experiment?

Probably not.  The acquisition of Spain would not necessarily
guarantee the taking of Gibraltar.  Although the Germans had
considered it, and made a plan.  It likely would have held 
out like the Germans did at Brest did in Britanny, maybe even 
longer, since Gibraltar is a rock with few civilians.

The key to British success was supply through Iraq via 
Palestine.  There was a very minor threat from some German 
aircraft deployed to Vichy Syria, and Iraq had to be taken too.  
When these threats were met, it also secured the overland 
supply line to the Persian Gulf and hence to India.  About 
8 millon tons of supplies were delivered via Persian Gulf 
ports from 1941-1945, (90% going to the USSR however,) 
enough to supply 60 divisions.

True, DAK "may" have had an easier supply line.  But it still
would have had to trace the air-harassed overland route at 
least from Tobruk before the Battle of Alam Halfa where Rommel 
was stopped anyway.

Also the occupation of Gibraltar would not have prevented the 
invasion of Morocco by the 1st U.S. Armored Corps in any case,
nor the sinking of the Vichy French flotilla there by the Brits.

BT


Tracy Johnson
MSI Schaevitz Sensors 

* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *