Final answer:
The Allied victory in North Africa allowed for secure shipping across the c.)Mediterranean Sea, paving the way for the Allied invasions of Italy and Normandy during World War II.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Allied victory in North Africa was pivotal in securing control over the Mediterranean Sea, thus enabling safer shipping routes and setting the stage for the Allies to advance into Europe. After the North Africa campaign, the Allies focused on the invasion of Italy as the next step, which Churchill referred to as attacking the 'soft underbelly of Europe.' The successful Allied campaigns and the control of the Mediterranean facilitated logistics and troop movements necessary for the eventual D-Day invasion of Normandy, which marked a critical turning point in World War II, allowing the Allies to open up a Western Front against Nazi Germany.