On 2004-05-14, Ami Silberman wrote:

Where? Without Italy, do the Axis bother with Greece or Yugoslavia?

Greece was an Italian venture the Germans pulled them out of, and then
found themselves having to secure; Yugoslavia, however, probably would
have been invaded if Italy was neutral. A pro-Allied Yugoslavia - and it
was certainly havering that way at times - would have been a major
strategic risk to Germany and its allies, tactically and economically.

The importance of holding Yugoslavia late in the war was the reources
flowing through it - Yugoslavia produced significant amounts of bauxite,
lead, and copper as well as chromium and magnesium, and was a conduit
for Turkish imports. (The loss of the Yugoslavian chromium supply - and
the larger Turkish supply that travelled through it - was one of the
final pacing events for the death of German industry in 1945)

--
-Andrew Gray