Operation Compass with French pressure from the west

The historical Operation Compass began on 9 December 1940, took roughly 130,000 prisoners, and cost Italy most of its deployed tanks, aircraft, and artillery. Wavell held the regional command, while Lieutenant-General Richard O'Connor's Western Desert Force exploited Italian weaknesses in equipment, logistics, and official support. In this scenario the offensive might start earlier because the Allies would not need to resolve the status of French forces at Alexandria. If French North and West African territories join the Free French side, Italian troops must guard their western frontier or attack toward Tunisia and Algeria before moving east. Dividing the force leaves it still more exposed to the Western Desert Force and to French pressure from the rear. French naval interdiction would also make reinforcement and retreat harder. An earlier collapse in Libya could finish the North African campaign before the historical diversion to Greece and leave more Allied forces available for the Greek campaign.