German ww2 strategy: why N. Africa or Crete?

I had always wondered why Germany decided to go into Crete or N. Africa.
What exactly was the point? Just because your enemy is there isn't a
sufficient reason to get involved there is it? It seems to me that Crete and
N. Africa just siphoned off valuable units that could've been used elsewhere
(e.g. Russia).

.

Relevant Pages

  • Niede Guidon
    ... group argues a direct raft or similar device trip from Africa to Crete ... Hand axes excavated on Crete suggest hominids made sea crossings to go ... had used rafts or other seagoing vessels to cross from northern Africa ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Ancient hominids may have been seafarers
    ... group argues a direct raft or similar device trip from Africa to Crete ... Hand axes excavated on Crete suggest hominids made sea crossings to go ... had used rafts or other seagoing vessels to cross from northern Africa ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Niede Guidon
    ... group argues a direct raft or similar device trip from Africa to Crete ... Hand axes excavated on Crete suggest hominids made sea crossings to go ... had used rafts or other seagoing vessels to cross from northern Africa ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Niede Guidon
    ... group argues a direct raft or similar device trip from Africa to Crete ... Hand axes excavated on Crete suggest hominids made sea crossings to go ... had used rafts or other seagoing vessels to cross from northern Africa ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Ancient hominids may have been seafarers
    ... group argues a direct raft or similar device trip from Africa to Crete ... Hand axes excavated on Crete suggest hominids made sea crossings to go ... Stone Age artifacts were excavated from four ...
    (sci.archaeology)