The German's initial goal of deploying military forces to North Africa was to shore up the Italian forces in Libya which had been routed by the British and keep the British forces away from the southern flank of occupied Europe. Rommel's initial successes fostered a great deal of mission creep in which the Afrika Korps's invasion of Egypt would be a first step to dislodge the British from their position in the Middle East. But OKW never really abandoned its original rationale for German military force in North Africa. Keeping the Italians in the war and preventing the British from attacking Europe via the Mediterranean theater was the major priority for the Germans. Although there were some voices within Germany calling for a resurrection of Germany's colonial empire in Africa and Rommel's successes emboldened them, these individuals and pressure groups had little influence on the Third Reich's leadership who were far more interested in carving a German empire out of eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

I know that Churchill was worried at times if the NAZIs took Egypt and Suez he would have multiple problems. A lot of war supplies and troops came from Egypt and India. It also would of given access to the known oil fields in the Middle East though I don't know how much that was at the time.

In another subject Hitler talked of invading Spain since Franco kept stalling him. He wanted to close the med off and have more control of the English Channel. Hitler's head of Intelligence (who hated Hitler) talked him out of it. He told Hitler that Spain was still ravaged by their civil war and Germany would end up feeding Spain, occupying troops would be needed else where, and giving the English more allies.

I have wondered and even asked the question here what would of changed if Hitler had postponed invading Russia for another year or so and focused on winning in Africa. Would having the Desert Corp, Italians and others that were in Africa and any POWs that liberated would of made a difference in Russia?