THE FIGHTING 69TH INFANTRY DIVISION
www.69th-infantry-division.com
 



American-Russian Link-Up locations shown as compared to the partition lines agreed a few months
earlier in Yalta by Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill to manage the post-war occupation

Location of patrols of The 69th Infantry Division on 25-April-1945

Lt. Albert Kotzebue Co G 273rd Inf Rgt (Houston TX, pictured in foreground) and
Cpl. Stephen A. Kowalski, Medical Detachment (New York NY, leftmost soldier) met the first
Russian soldier, a cavalryman from Kazakhstan, at this farmhouse near Leckwitz, Germany


 

Search keywords: Photo: This picture of American and Russian soldiers celebrating the Link-Up, arm in arm, was taken shortly after the Link-Up with the Russians. April 25, 1945. Photo: Russian 58th Guards Division and American 69th Infantry Division link up and thus break the German forces in half at the blasted Torgau, Germany Elbe River Bridge on April 25, 1945. VE Day (Victory in Europe) followed rapidly on May 8, 1945. Photo: The three soldiers left to right are: Russian Lt. Alexander Silvashko, Russian Major Anafim Larionov and American 2n Lt. William B. Robertson. Silvashko and Robertson were the leaders of their respective patrols that met on the blasted Torgau, Germany Elbe River Bridge on April 25, 1945. VE Day (Victory in Europe) followed rapidly on May 8, 1945. Lieutenant Albert Kotzebue Co G 273rd Inf Rgt (Houston TX, pictured in foreground) and Cpl. Stephen A. Kowalski, Medical Detachment (New York, NY, leftmost soldier) met the first Russian soldier, a cavalryman from Kazakhstan, at this farmhouse near Leckwitz, Germany. The group of workers pictured were surprised and happy to see Americans. Lt. Kotzebue was the leader of the first 69th Infantry Division patrol to make contact with the Russians, at 1230 on April 25, 1945. Patrols led by Lt. William Robertson and Major Fred W. Craig also met the Russsians that same day but in different places in the same vicinity on or near the Elbe River at 1600 and 1645 respectively. Website: http://www.69th-infantry-division.com/ Photo Source: Niedersen, Dr. Uwe, "Elbe Begegnung Link-Up Photo Report 25-27 April 1945". Der Osten trifft den Western (East Meets West), p.153. 2005: Leckwitz, Germany Demand Society Europe Encounters e.V., 194 pages. Includes credits to Joe Lipsius & Amy Rose.

 

 
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