Soviet and American soldiers show each other their pistols while relaxing on the banks of the Elbe River.

Soviet and American soldiers show each other their pistols while relaxing on the banks of the Elbe River.

Original caption reads: "U.S AND RUSSIAN FORCES LINK UP
A linkup between the First U.S. Army and the Russian First Ukrainian Army was made on the Elbe River at the town of Torgau, approximately 60 miles south of Berlin, at 4:30 P.M. April 25, 1945. The historic joining was effected by patrols of the 273rd Infantry Regiment of the 69th Division of General Courtney Hodges' First U.S. Army and infantrymen of the 173rd Regiment of the 58th Guards Division of Marshal Ivan Stopanovich Koniev's First Ukrainian Army. A U.S. patrol of four men and met Russian infantrymen and brought back four Russian officers to 69th Division headquarters. The following day, April 26, formal meetings were held between the high Soviet and U.S. officers near the Elbe at Tergau. To facilitate the linkup and to clearly mark the area held by the First U.S. Army., General Hodges' troops advanced to the line of the Huldo River, where they awaited the Red Army forces. The choice of such an easily recognized natural feature eliminated the chances of tragic cases of mistaken identity by either of the allies.

THIS PHOTO SHOWS; Russian and American soldiers examine each other's weapons following the historic linkup. From left to right: Thomas Federovitch Alexander Paualov of Newgrad, Ukraine: Lieutenant Ralph Phillips of Union, South Carolina; Lieutenant Dwight Brooks of Los Angeles, California, and Captain Michael Organez of Dubnel. In the foreground, the blasted bridge over the Elbe may be seen.
CWI Staff Photo by George Greb."