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Originally Posted by Slipdigit  I propose that the Western Desert campaign was far more important than generally accepted. |
I agree with your proposition that it was more important than generally accepted.
Rommel's loss of North Africa IMHO was his inability to take Tobruk in April 1941 and the subsequent attempts to oust the Australian troops and British artillerymen. Rommel was beaten consistently by a better Australian general, Sir Leslie Morshead who out thought Rommel at every turn.
Under Morshead, the Tobruk garrison repulsed Rommel and the AK not just by defence but purposeful offence outside the wire which demoralised the AK.
This eight months that they held Tobruk, denied Rommel Cairo and the Suez whilst allowing the Allies to build up and put all the errors right in men and equipment.
Even when the Australians were pulled out in November and Rommel was eventually successful in taking Tobruk in 1942, he failed to use that port effectively to improve his logistical situation.
"If" Hitler had supplied Rommel better, things may have been different.
"If" Churchill had not taken the British, Australian & NZ divisions out of North Africa (60-70% of the entire allied force) and sent them to Greece, which subsequently halted the overpowering route of the Axis by General O'Connor, Rommel may have not even landed in Tripoli.