National East Meets West Day

On April 25th, the Eastern Front of the Allied forces met the Western front on the River Elbe on the Western front. The Allied Front of the Allied forces met the Western front on the River Elbe on the Western front. This day, also known as Elbe Day, marked a significant step toward ending World War II.

For more than six years, World War II had been raging for more than six years. Several events in the previous year had started turning the tides of the war against the Axis powers. The Allies were marching toward peace in April of 1945. However, it would require a joint effort from both American troops in the East and Soviet armies from the West.

The commanders ordered their troops not to speak to each other in any form. Officers from both sides of the river were expected to remain on their eastern and western banks of the river, while police from each division formalized their occupation of Berlin.

However, patrols flooded the river outside of Berlin on the River Elbe on April 25th, just south of Torgau. American First Lieutenant Albert Kotzebue and Soviet Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Gardiev were among the first to reach contact, along with their orders.

Photographs captured the moment of the Eastern front's meeting the Western front two days later.

How to celebrate #eastmeetswestday. www.eastmeetswestdaycom

Learn more about World War II's past
Visit a World War II history exhibit at the World War II history museum
Read about the war II stories here
Honor those who served and those who fought to bring the war to an end
To post on social media, use #EastMeetsWestDay or #ElbeDay

HISTORY OF EAST MEETS WEST DAY HISTORY OF HISTORY. EAST MEETS WEST DAY HISTORY. HISTORY OF THE DAY HISTORY. On the 65th anniversary of this historic event, US and Russian presidents released a joint statement honoring Elbe Day. Every year in Torgau, Germany, Elbe Day festivities are held.