The Italians had been an embarrassment to say the least and more of a burden than anything.

Germany would have been SO MUCH better off if Italy didn't join the war and remained neutral. Perhaps their worst crime was delaying the invasion of Russia. Germany had to postpone their plans because Mussolini was a jealous man who wanted to invade Greece to showoff. Mussolini acted so badly that some even go as far as speculating that he was a spy for the British (I think he was just impulsive)