What strategies did the Allies pursue in Europe and Africa to defeat the Axis powers in World War 2?

Answer 1

(US point of view, as each allied country had it's own plan to some degree)

One of the important early decisions was to stop Hitler before turning to Japan. Germany was more technologically advanced and had a scientific community that could have dropped an A-Bomb by 1950. So despite public outcry, Roosevelt made Europe the focus.

A lot of the initial strategy was simply to contain Hitler so he wouldn't gain the reseources he needed to continue fighting. Germany has little oil, so the Allies just had to prevent them from getting more and the war is over in a couple of years.

Once the German troops were checked, it was simply a meat grinder until Germany gave up. Roosevelt made the blunder of publically calling for the unconditional surrender of Germany. Thinking (and practicing) that would have been fine, but saying it just helped Germany's resolve.

Some people thought that strategic bombing alone could bring Germany to its knees, but that was not the case. The Allies just had to out-produce and out-spend the Axis to win in the end.

Answer 2

In Europe, the Allied powers invaded Normandy in France to gain a foothold in Europe and began to push east against the German Army. In North Africa, US troops landed early there to establish a base from which to attack Sicily and Italy. Also, in North Africa, the British held off attacks by the German Africa Corps that were threatening Cairo.