The Battle of Greece and the subsequent Fall of Crete resulted in the Allies being driven from Greece by a combined German and Italian force. Greece was brought under German occupation, with the industry and infrastructure of the country being used to support the German North African Campaign. The loss of Crete was a major defeat for the British Empire, which had used the island to support naval activity and to base aircraft. Considerations were made for an actual invasion to recapture the island, but these plans were abandoned as being too risky, and the British efforts to fight in North Africa were already taxing resources. As such, the Allies focused instead on disrupting lines of supply between the Italian colony of Libya and the European mainland to hinder the Axis armies in North Africa. On the opposing side, the Germans knew that Crete was of vital importance to the control of the Aegean Sea, and as such made efforts to defend the island from and Allied counterattack.