Soviet Union in World War II

Press, 3 July 1985, Page 16

Soviet Union in World War II

Sir,—l am surprised H. F. Newman (June 28) did not notice that the Soviets’ view of the war was only printed after complaints that earlier articles on the Allies’ role had omitted it. We should also recall the later Allies’ hostility to the young Soviet State; the Allies’ encouragement of Hitler’s attack on Russia; the Americans delaying the Normandy landing until their dental $

chairs arrived; the sufferings of European communists, Jews, trade unions, gypsies and homosexuals before the Allied. invasion. The Americans’ contribution to the Soviets’ and other allies’ war efforts could have been mentioned, certainly, but the American economy had not been shatteringly destroyed, 20 million were not dying, more millions were not being maimed and, merely to survive, the Americans did not have to clear away bomb damage and corpses daily, to hospitalise urgently thousands daily. Americans did not have to survive on one slice of coarse bread a day, as my Soviet penfriend did. — Yours, etc., SUSAN TAYLOR. June 28, 1985.