Deleted member 1487
On my other Mediterranean Option thread a point was raised about alternatives to North Africa as the Mediterranean Option and the subject of Turkey was raised. What if instead of going for a North African campaign the Axis, in lieu of Barbarossa, opts instead to put a blocking force to help the Italians hold their lines in Libya, but not attack, instead then focus on Turkey? First it would be pressure to join the Axis as Greece is being conquered in May, but if they refuse, which may or may not happen, then the Axis invades Turkey to open a Middle East campaign. The invasion would happen either in lieu of Crete due to the need to use paratroopers to seize the Dardanelles in case of Turkish resistance or if Turkey opts to join the Axis instead of facing invasion they would then launch Crete while moving through Turkey into Syria.
So what would happen in either case? If the Axis moves through Turkey, which joins the Axis to avoid invasion, to get to Syria and support the Iraqis while invading Crete, or if Turkey resists and in lieu of Crete the Axis invades Turkey to get to Syria and open a Middle East Front?
How does the USSR react? Would there be potential for the Soviets to join the Axis if there is no Barbarossa and a Middle East campaign or would Stalin be freaked out by a Turkish campaign and try to take advantage of the situation by attacking Germany? How do the British react to the invasion of Turkey and how does Turkey do? Istanbul is pretty vulnerable to attack and seizing the Dardanelles isn't really that hard, but invading the mountainous hinterland of Turkey given the infrastructure is going to be tough, as it proved in the 1920s when the Greeks invaded.
Could the Axis troops gets to Syria before the Brits or would they bog down in Turkey? Would a delayed Crete campaign until June or July change the outcome there?
So what would happen in either case? If the Axis moves through Turkey, which joins the Axis to avoid invasion, to get to Syria and support the Iraqis while invading Crete, or if Turkey resists and in lieu of Crete the Axis invades Turkey to get to Syria and open a Middle East Front?
How does the USSR react? Would there be potential for the Soviets to join the Axis if there is no Barbarossa and a Middle East campaign or would Stalin be freaked out by a Turkish campaign and try to take advantage of the situation by attacking Germany? How do the British react to the invasion of Turkey and how does Turkey do? Istanbul is pretty vulnerable to attack and seizing the Dardanelles isn't really that hard, but invading the mountainous hinterland of Turkey given the infrastructure is going to be tough, as it proved in the 1920s when the Greeks invaded.
Could the Axis troops gets to Syria before the Brits or would they bog down in Turkey? Would a delayed Crete campaign until June or July change the outcome there?