 Hitler was lukewarm about the operation, in case the Italian navy left down German airborne forces but the capture of Tobruk in mid-June made it appear that the invasion was unnecessary.Hitler and Mussolini agreed to pursuing the British into Egypt for the rest of June and into July, which meant cancelling Hercules.After the success of Operation Crusader (18 November – 30 December 1941), the Eighth Army advanced west to El Agheila in Libya, capturing airfields and landing grounds useful for air cover for Malta convoys.