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At a rally of war veterans marking the 40th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, Mikhail S. Gorbachev denounced the United States today as the ''forward edge of the war menace to mankind'' and affirmed his fidelity to the ''priceless'' experience of detente.
The Soviet Government's press agency, Tass, denounced Mr. [Reagan]'s speech for failure to mention the Soviet role in World War II and for what a Tass dispatch called ''pseudo-peacemaking 'initiatives.' ''
Mr. Gorbachev addressed a congratulatory message to Mr. Reagan on the anniversary, saying that the lesson of the war required all states and leaders to take a ''responsible approach to preserving peace.'' Mr. Reagan had sent a message calling for the anniversary to become a ''rededication to the task of overcoming the differences between us.''