Kupfurikidza nokudzvinyirira mauto aiva muMalta, Kesselring akakwanisa kutumira zvinhu zvakawanda ku"Afrika Korps" ya"Generaloberst" Erwin Rommel 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
, kurwisa kwepamhepo uye kwegungwa kuMalta neItaly 185 Airborne Division Folgore neGerman Ramcke Parachute Brigade. Kesselring aitarisira kuti nokudaro aizochengetedza nzira yokukurukurirana yeAxis neNorth Africa.