KEITH Ratcliffe's latest letter (Adver April 24) is even more fevered than usual in that he is replying to comments I never made. In any case, it's a bit rich for him to moan about others rewriting history when he tries to write Russia out of the defeat of Hitler.

For most of the war the Russians fought 70-75 per cent of the German army. When Overlord began (D-Day), Western armies met 27 German divisions while the Russians fought 181.

Mr Ratcliffe quotes US casualties. While the Russians lost 20 million, seven million of them soldiers, the USA lost 405,000.

There is much more to say about the war aims of all the protagonists, but all those who thought they were fighting for peace, justice and democracy have been repeatedly betrayed by governments since.

PETER SMITH

Woodside Avenue

Swindon