WASHINGTON Jun 6 US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during speech on the anniversary of the landing of the allied forces in Normandy called the veterans of the Second World War the saviors of the world, but did not mention the role of the USSR in the victory over Nazism.
«To veterans of World War II: we salute you. You saved the world,» he said.
According to the head of the Pentagon, France and much of Europe 79 years ago lay «under the Nazi boot», but «young people from The United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, France and other countries united for the liberation of suffering humanity.»
In his speech, Austin also touched on the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing the determination «to stand with them to the end for as long as it takes.»
At the same time, throughout his speech, the US Secretary of Defense never mentioned the role of the USSR and the contribution of the Soviet people to the victory over Nazism and the liberation of Europe and the world.
On June 6, 1944, Anglo-American troops landed in Normandy, as a result of which the Second Front was opened (Operation Overlord). Despite the fact that this event played an important role in the overall victory of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, the main front of the Second World War continued to be the Soviet-German, where the main enemy forces were concentrated.
According to many historians, the Allies deliberately delayed the opening of the Second Front and, as a result, launched Operation Overlord only in June 1944 against the background of the successful offensive of the Red Army.