Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Nokudzvinyirira masimba eMalta, Kesselring akakwanisa kupa huwandu hwakawedzerwa hwezvinhu ku "Generaloberst" Erwin Rommel's "Afrika Korps" muLibya. MaAxis akarasikirwa nezvikamu zvitatu bedzi muzana zvezvinhu zvawo zvomugungwa uye nzvimbo yepakati peMediterranean yakavharwa, zvekare, kumakungwa eAllied. Nemasimba ake akasimbiswa, Rommel akagadzirira kurwisa nzvimbo dzeBritain dzakapoteredza Gazala, nepo Kesselring akaronga
Operation Herkules, kurwiswa kwemuchadenga uye kwegungwa kuMalta neItaly 185 Airborne Division Folgore neGerman Ramcke Parachute Brigade. Kesselring aitarisira kuti nokudaro aizochengetedza nzira yokukurukurirana yeAxis neNorth Africa.