Levant corps instead of Africa corps

[aktarian]

This popped up in discussion on another forum. WI Germany somehow persuades Turkey to join the axis in early 1941 (some land? money?) then instead of sending forces to Libya they are sent to via Turkey to Iraq and/or Syria. Italians are routed but British have to pull forces back to Egypt so that victory is lost. Germany has acess to more oil and another front against SU.

Thoughts?

[Magnum]

why should the italians be routed ?
by what ? a small british force that's fighting in Lybia, Greece, Somalia, and Syria/Iraq. I guess the british would leave tripoli alone.
Oil ? that area was largely desert from what i know, with VERY limited oil extraction facilites.
However, the germans couldn't loose, since they had a secure and short supply line.
Soviet Union would also ba defeated, since theyre oil reserves at Baku would be at least destroyed and/or blockaded, not too mention a probable occupation by the axis
Heck, if they had succesfully invaded Turkey, or persuaded it, germany would have had a much bigger chance of winning, at least in the short term

[Archangel Michael]

why should the italians be routed ?

Because of their performence in Africa in OTL.

by what ? a small british force that's fighting in Lybia, Greece, Somalia, and Syria/Iraq. I guess the british would leave tripoli alone.

What Allied force nearly routed the Italians in OTL?

[luakel]

Because of their performence in Africa in OTL.

What Allied force nearly routed the Italians in OTL?
Of course, the British force that the Italians were fighting wasn't facing an assault in Syria and Iraq at the exact same time...