Why didn't Germany invade Turkey or try to bring it into the Axis during WW2?

by defcon1959

Turkey's geographic position would make it invaluable for:

a. Outflanking Britain's defense of the Middle East (and the Middle East oil fields). A drive from Turkey into Syria and Iraq would caused Britain's strategic position to collapse and would have succesfully completed a Mediterranean Strategy against Britain (a move favored by Goering and Doenitz).

And

b. Put the Germans within early striking distance of Russia's vulnerable Baku oil fields (the objective of Case Blue in 1942). Baku provided 90% of Russia's oil and its loss would have crippled the Red Army and grounded the Red Airforce due to lack of POL.

Does the road to German victory in WW2 run through Turkey to the Baku and Middle East oil fields?

OldWorldGlory

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