Germany WW2

Meeting at the Elbe

The history of the Second World War is filled with many events of monumental importance. The meeting of the forces of the United States and the Soviet Union along the Elbe River on the 25th of April 1945 was such a moment. This emotional joining of a few battle-weary soldiers at this historic river in a direct way symbolized the massive and mutual efforts of all the Allied Powers to achieve victory and secure a peaceful world. As American forces steadily advanced eastward after the capture of Leipzig, it was only a matter of time before leading U.S. units and the advancing Soviet Army would meet. As early as April 23, tactical Soviet radio traffic began cutting in on American channels. A Russian-speaking Staff Sergeant in the 6th U.S. Armored Division reported that he had actually talked with Soviet soldiers on his radio. The high commands of the Allied Armies had planned for this moment. Arrangements had been completed for recognition signals -- a red flare for Soviet Troops -- a green flare for the Allied Forces advancing from the West. For the soldiers in the field, however, such procedures had little significance. They had designed their own recognition signals. Lt Kotzebue’s patrol used as its signal a British flag obtained from a group of newly released British prisoners of war they had met as they moved toward the Elbe. Another American patrol made its own U.S. flag from a white bed sheet and red and blue paint. Now at the West bank of the Elbe, shouts of “Americanski” echoed Eastward as Soviet soldiers waved back in friendship. But, there were no green and red flares as the respective higher headquarters had envisioned. Rather, it was hands held high with the universal “V” for victory sign that identified the soldiers of the two Armies as they came together. So from that moment on the American Generals and the Soviet Generals would meet up there to make plans for battle and stuff.

http://www.usmlm.org/home/russians/wwii-torgau.htm