What if Rommel stopped after his stunning victory at Marsa Matruh, in accordance with Kesselring's advice and prepared a mobile defence allowing Kesselring to gather his forces to attack Malta in July or August of 1942?

At this time Malta was under pressure from Kesselring's planes anyway and a combined Italian and German assault on the island would have succeeded. So suppose the island is now under Axis control. What happens in the desert campaign?

The Eighth Army would have been chased back to Egypt with its tail between its legs, thoroughly demoralised and with a large part of its experienced troops casualties or prisoners. However reinforcements from Mesopotamia and England quickly brought it up to strength again, as evidenced in the historical Alamein battles.

The Panzerarmee Afrika would now have a supply route that is a lot more secure, furthermore air support would be much easier to give to Rommel.

What happens?

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„Solange man nicht mit dem Kopf unterm Arm rumläuft geht es doch noch!" Erwin Rommel