one of my 'what if' books has a chapter on this scenario... in it, Gibralter falls, but the Spanish navy is creamed by the RN.....
Guerrillas can be nasty. But unless you're scared pale by casualties over time per contemporary US in Iraq (which no WW2 nation was), they're a nuisance, not a great military problem.
one of my 'what if' books has a chapter on this scenario... in it, Gibralter falls, but the Spanish navy is creamed by the RN.....
Gilbraltar will likely prove to be more of a problem than some people are projecting.
It is extremely unlikely that any Spainish entry into the war would be a surprise, this would allow the British to reinforce the Rock and provide additional fleet coverage, including carrier support (granted the RN airwings weren't the greatest at the time, but the Spanish would have their hands full without carriers and big gun warship providing support to the defenders).
Hitler can, on paper, use the manpower, but will the Spainish Army be any stronger in Africa or on the Eastern Front than the Italians?
I think it would depend on when Spain entered the Axis. Certainly any time after the invasion of the SU it would have been nothing but a hinderance and likely a handicap.
If it was before France fell (and so unlikely as to be ASB) Franco might have as well committed suicide.
If it was around the same time Italy entered though...it is possible Spain might have actually helped the Axis war effort. If in the short term of course. Long term Spain is likely to become a burden though.