Elbe Day 1945: U.S. and Soviet Forces Meet

Today is the 70th anniversary of Elbe Day, April 25, 1945. On that day, U.S. Army Lt. Albert Kotzebue and three other men in his reconnaissance platoon crossed the Riber Elbe. There, they met forward elements of the Red Army under the command of Lt. Col. Alexander Gardiev. The arranged photo shown above was taken shortly thereafter, and shows Lt. William Robertson of the U.S. Army and Lt. Alexander Silvashko of the Red Army.