Part 10/13:
Some might suggest that Germany should have prioritized invading Turkey and then pushed into the Soviet Union. But this strategy was fraught with difficulties:
Loss of Surprise: Invading Turkey early would have signaled to Stalin Germany's broader ambitions, prompting increased Soviet preparedness.
Risk of Allied Intervention: Turkey’s strategic location meant that the Allies could intervene, possibly supporting resistance efforts or attacking German supply lines.
Military Resistance: The Turkish army was capable of putting up a fight, and direct intervention could have led to prolonged conflict.
Limited Resources and Capacity: Germany simply lacked the troop and supply capacity for such a campaign, especially after committing troops elsewhere in the Soviet Union.