Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins
This is true, but as Anthony Beevor noted in Stalingrad, a lot of the rationale for the six-week delay in the invasion was due to not just that, but pacifying Yugoslavia, and also difficulties in delivering supplies and waiting for the spring mud season to pass. The diversions south get a lot of publicity, but I don't think they were the entire reason.
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Once Italy brought Greece into the war it couldn't stay unconquered. Having Greece on the Allies side and unconquered means that the allies could land in Greek ports and head up the Adriatic coast into Austria, Hungary, and Bavaria without much resistance. Not a crumbling Italian army or one that the Greeks had already pretty much destroyed could stand in their way.
The British Navy had pretty much already made the Med their own.
No D-Day or invasion of Sicily needed.