Cryhavoc101
Donor
They basically did anyway; by Spring 1943 75% of single engine fighters were outside of the Eastern Front, while even during the 'surge' during Kursk it was still ~65% of single engine fighters outside of the East. Twin engine fighters were 90% outside the East. Plus from November 1942 when Torch happened through May 1943 the Luftwaffe lost about 2400 aircraft fighting for Tunisia, then several hundred more fighting for Sicily. IIRC the Luftwaffe had committed and lost/fielded about 4000 aircraft just for Tunisia and Sicily between November 1942-August 1943. That isn't counting what was in the East or in Germany/Western Europe. So without Torch and pulling the Luftwaffe out of the Mediterranean the Luftwaffe could field an additional 4-5000 aircraft by Summer 1943 in Western Europe. Discounting transports, recon, and other non-combat aircraft, we are still looking at probably 3000 combat aircraft in addition to what was there IOTL as of Summer 1943....but so too do the Allies then have their Torch/Husky forces and potential draw downs of RAF combat aircraft from the Mediterranean to use in France. On the balance the Germans save a ton more, as losses were really lopsided in Tunisia due to the Axis supply situation and how many aircraft were lost when airfield were overrun on the ground in Spring 1943.
If Torch does not happen then the 8th Army simply keeps rolling West - it would take longer but the end result would be the same.
And while the Germans may be far better able to place aircraft in France vs North Africa - the same is true for the allies basing aircraft in the south of England except at a much higher magnitude.