Torgau - First Meeting of American and Soviet Troops
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Bernd das Brot Team
N 51° 33.581 E 013° 00.565
33U E 362015 N 5713944
The site of the first meeting of American and Soviet allies in Germany, April 25, 1945
Waymark Code: WM2DNK
Location: Sachsen, Germany
Date Posted: 10/16/2007
Published By:Groundspeak Charter Member The Leprechauns
Views: 213
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Destroyed Bridge in 1945

Remains of the Bridge in 2007

 The remains of the old bridge across River Elbe in Torgau, in the very east of Germany are the site of one of the most decisive moments of World War II - and one of the most emotional ones too. Imagine a group of GIs, starting out in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, traveling to England and then fighting their way through France and western Germany - and then imagine a group of Russian Soldiers, fighting their way all the way from Stalingrad, through Russia, Belarus, Poland and eastern Germany. Battle-weary soldiers both, they have been fighting German troops for two years, but on April 25, 1945, there was no enemy more between them.

The Torgau bridge over Germany's third largest river marks the point where American and Russian troops first met. There were still more battles to come, but only 13 days after this meeting, Germany surrendered.




American and Russian troops meeting
at the bridge
Brothers in Arms

The Russian Army erected a monument at the site. The inscription is in Russian with two plaques, providing German and English translations. The monument is located on the western border of the River. At the time of the meeting, this was the "American" side of the River, but according to the Yalta Conference, Torgau later became part of the Soviet Zone. The monument is crowned by two granite flags, Soviet and American, which makes this probably the only place in the former Eastern Block showing an American flag throughout the entire Cold War.

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Posting a picture(s) of the location would be nice although not required.
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