"Malta: World War II´s Most Intriguing "What If"?" Topic

"History buffs love to contemplate alternative scenarios. World War II is a particularly rich trove for novices like me to indulge in such debates. Some of the more popular ‘what if?' scenarios include assessing the war's outcome if Hitler kept his tanks rolling to the beaches of Dunkirk in mid-1940, if the Japanese found the American aircraft carriers docked at Pearl Harbor on that infamous December 7, if Hitler focused exclusively on taking out Moscow in late summer 1941 instead of shifting forces to focus on Kiev, if the Germans reacted quicker on D-Day to crush the Allies beachhead, and if America did not have the atomic bomb and attempted an invasion of Japan. Through the years I've consumed countless hours reading about, mulling over, and debating with others such scenarios.

Yet my favorite World War II ‘what if?' scenario is one that does not garner much interest beyond dedicated military history fans and professional historians. It revolves around the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. The question is a simple one: what if Germany invaded Malta in the spring/summer of 1941 instead of Crete and delayed the decision on invading Russia (Germany's Operation Barbarossa kicked off in June of that year)? I believe the answer is that World War II would've ended up very different, and not in a good way…"

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Armand

"What if" both Axis and Allies ignored the Med?
I could never understand why it was so important.
Sure, it led to India, but why was that so important in Europe?

Of course, I'm an anti-imperialist Yank, so maybe I'm prejudiced.

Oh, my! The Empire! 😱

I could never understand why it was so important.

It was a much shorter route, via the Suez, from the Dominions and colonies to the UK and vice versa, compared to going around the Cape or Horn- both of which were submarines' favourite hunting places. The less time at sea, the less chance of running into sub's or raiders. In particular it benefitted shipments of perishables, such as grains and vegetables (which refrigeration didn't help), POL, raw and processed materiel (eg rubber and steel), and mineral ores.

So a WII where the Med isn't a vital strategic front, particularly in the early/mid-war years, assumes the UK fell in 1940 and isn't the WWII that happened.

PS You can see some of the effects on global trade when the Gulf of Arabia and/or Hormuz are closed.