Link- up on the Elbe

LINK-UP ON THE ELBE.

65 years ago it was held a historic meeting of allies on the Elbe: on April 25, 1945 the units of the 69th Infantry Division,lst U.S. Army and the 58th Infantry Division,lst.Ukrainian Front, met near the German town of Torgau.

the war was coming to the end

The beginning

It was mid-April 1945.The war was coming to the end and the allies were about to meet at the river Elbe.The Americans monitored the movement of the Red Army very closely,and understood that Berlin would fall under its blows.U.S. Marshal Eisenhower,had analyzed what it would cost him to storm the German capital,decided to abandon this,realizing clearly that the Americans would get there in any case.All this was lately discussed with the Russians.But the moment of meeting with them was impossible to miss.

• A common signal for the Soviet side was a red flare and the allied troops-green flare.In addition,both groups were informed about the allies identification sings.The Americans,being very friendly to the Russians,were excitedly waiting for a meeting with them in the third decade of April 1945.

• On the same day another American Patrol met with Soviet soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Alexander Silvashko on the destroyed bridge over the Elbe near Torgau.

• The first meeting took place,when the American patrol under command of First Lieutenant Albert Kotzeyue crossed the Elbe.On the east coast they met Soviet soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Gardiev.

• As Alexander Silvashko,the veteran Red Army,told reporters,a historic meeting took place at 15:30 «Within a few hours picture, when I shook hands with an American, went around the whole world»,he added. «Your soldiers were real heroes,when we met,we were just happy»,said the American veteran Roland Haid.

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.May 5 in 14:00 in the village of Lebusa,40 km from Torgau,a meeting of the Front commander Marshal Konev with the 12th Army Group of the American Army, General Bradly took place.

• .Then Soviet Army Frontal Song and Dance Ensemble gave a concert; Americans were delighted.Bradly announced the decision of the American government to award Marshal Konev by U.S.Order and immediately handed it to him.Konev gave Bradly a banner with the inscription «From the soldiers of the Red Army Ist Ukrainian Front» and a battle horse

The common mood was very friendly: there were fellows in arms,who achieved a complete victory by difficult struggle.

• Russian and U.S.Presidents Vladimir Putin and George W.Bush in a joint statement on the occasion of the 60th anniversary meeting on the Elbe stressed the importance partnership between the two countries in the face of global challenges

• «Our nations will always remember the handshake what made the history on the Elbe,which became one of most vivid symbols that our countries were comrades- in-arms in fighting together against Nazi, tyranny,oppression and aggression», the document noted.

• It became very interesting for us, what do people know in our days about this event of Great Patriotic war about this sighn of friendship between our countries,America and Russia. And we decided to make sure,what people in our days think about this meeting of our troops.

• The next part of our exploration decided to ask people from other countries what do they know about this link-up.

• And what do our teen agers know about this event.

• . When Russia and the United States are building closer partnership,the meeting at the Elbe reminds us of the enormous advantages that we can provide to both our countries and press

A Film «Meeting on Elbe