April 25, 1945, is a date few remember.
But it was a significant day in the history of the world.
They shook hands, exchanged souvenirs and posed for photographs.
The meeting was historic because it meant that they had successfully cut the Germany army in two.
For years, the Soviet troops had been pushing back the Nazis all along the Eastern Front.
The war in Europe was eventually coming to an end.
American troops had arrived on the Elbe several weeks before the Soviets.
The next day, the unit commanders met for the official handshake in front of photographers.
We meet in true and victorious comradeship and with inflexible resolve to fulfil our purpose and our duty.
Let all march forward upon the foe, British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill said.
Meanwhile the jubilation among the troops would have made you believe that the war was already won.
The soldiers embraced each other, and exchanged buttons, stars and patches from each others uniforms.
Officers exchanged their service weapons.
A staged photo commemorating the meeting of the Soviet and American armies.
William Robertson and Alexander Silvashko meet several years after the war ended.
Elbe Day memorial plaque at Arlington National Cemetery.
Photo: Reinhard Dietrich/Wikimedia Commons
Soviet monument commemorating the meeting of US and Soviet troops in Torgau.
