Free Republic

April 25, 2020, marks the 75th Anniversary of the historic meeting between American and Soviet troops, who shook hands on the damaged bridge over the Elbe River.  This event heralded the decisive defeat of the Nazi regime.The meeting on the Elbe represented a culmination of tremendous efforts by the many countries and peoples that joined forces under the framework of the United Nations Declaration of 1942.  This common struggle required enormous sacrifice by millions of soldiers, sailors, and citizens in multiple theaters of war.We also recognize the contributions from millions of men and women on the home front, who...

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2010 – President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a joint statement today to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the meeting of Soviet and American troops at Elbe River during World War II. Here is the statement in its entirety: April 25, 2010 marks the 65th anniversary of the legendary meeting of Soviet and American troops at the Elbe River, which became a striking symbol of the brotherhood-in-arms between our nations during World War II. We pay tribute to the courage of those who fought together to liberate Europe from fascism. Their heroic feat will...

This Day in History: The Meeting at the Elbe By E.F. Winslow Posted 4-25-2005 On this day exactly 60 years ago, one of the most dramatic events of history happened which essentially defined the geo-political schema of the world for two generations. On April 25, 1945 eight Russian armies encircling Berlin linked up with the U.S. First Army patrol as the allied armies on the Eastern front and Western front met at the Elbe River in Germany. The immediate result was that Germany was cut in two, and the last remaining Nazi forces were without maneuvering room, or hope of...

Sixty years ago, the US Ninth Army had two bridgeheads across the Elbe River. One was crushed and the other secured. The sixty year old question remains: Should and could we have beaten the Soviets into Berlin?

As a rule, when I write a piece about all the mistakes my newspaper, the L.A. Times, makes, I have to wait a week or even two to compile a selection large enough to make it worth our while. It’s not that they don’t come up with a ready supply on a daily basis. Heck, UPS doesn’t deliver the goods with such regularity. But some of the goofs are simply too boring to mention, as when they get the days and times of certain events wrong or when they simply misspell someone’s name. Sometimes, too, the corrections run even longer...

Germans Flee Elbe River Flooding Fri Aug 16,10:19 PM ET By DAVID McHUGH, Associated Press Writer DRESDEN, Germany (AP) - Dresden residents grabbed what they could and fled for higher ground Friday as the Elbe River rose to record levels, engulfing one neighborhood after another and forcing workers to abandon some efforts to save the city's world-famous cultural landmarks. Fed by high water that struck the Czech capital of Prague earlier this week, the Elbe rose above 29 feet Friday, carrying refrigerators, sofas and cars as its swirling waters engulfed one neighborhood after the other. It was expected to crest...

THE river Elbe has surged to an all-time record high, flooding more districts of the historic city of Dresden as authorities scrambled to evacuate tens of thousands of residents in the worst flooding to hit central Europe in memory. In the Czech Republic, authorities were counting the cost of the massive flooding as people returned to the homes and the Vlava river receded, revealing the full extent of the damage to lives and landmarks. The Danube running through the Slovak capital Bratislava also reached a peak of 9.86 metres overnight, topping the previous record before stabilising, Slovak authorities said. At...