BlairWitch749
Banned
So Barbarossa is delayed till early 1942?
this is a potential outcome
Hitler was VERY sensitive about any possible threat to Ploesti
in OTL even with Crete and the Crimea in German hands Hitler still kept over 100 fighter aircraft; a full strength flak division AND a full strength mechanized infantry division (in case of allied parachute assault to sabotage the fields) at Ploesti
if there where British bombers within range at Crete; he would want to do something to contain the threat; even if renewed invasion was out of the question; he might open up Malta or greater levels of bombardment on the island to keep it beaten down
supplying crete sucks for the british... there are massive german air bases less than 100 miles away; and all the good ports where you can load the infrastructure material and fuel for a 4 engine bombing force are on the north side of the island; so they would take VERY heavy shipping losses and tie up lots of escorts to provide close cover