"WHILE THE MEETING WAS EXPECTED, IT WAS NOT PLANNED"

AMERICAN & RUSSIAN TROOPS MEET AT TORGAU 

Torgau, Germany (JFK+50) On April 25, 1945, 80 years ago today, soldiers of the United States Army and of the Red Army of the Soviet Union met at the Elbe River near Torgau in Germany.  While the meeting was expected, it was not planned.

The 273rd Regiment, 69th Infantry led by Lt. Bill Robertson arrived in Torgau finding that the Germans had evacuated just a few hours earlier.  Cautious Russian troops approached the Elbe River and observed four American soldiers "coming up the bridge."

Lt. Alexander Sylvashko met Lt. Robertson on the bridge and the two officers "patted each other's shoulders."

The language barrier was no  impediment to an impromptu celebration just days before the fall of the Third Reich.

SOURCES

"East Meets West At The Elbe," JFK+50, April 25, 2018, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

"Treat them nicely, 60 years ago U.S. forces and the Red Army met in Torgau, Germany," by Martin Herzog, The Atlantic Times, April 2005, www.atlantic-times.com/

"William D. Robertson tells the story of his meeting with Alexander Silvashko on April 25, 1945 on the Elbe near Torgau," by Patrik Tschdin, July 31, 1989, www.archive.org/

After-the-fact Photo

Robertson Greets Silvashko

by Wm. E. Poulson

April 27 1945

NARA Photo

WILLIAM WESTMORELAND

WESTMORELAND NAMED HEAD OF MACV BY LBJ 50 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty years ago today, April 25, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed General William Westmoreland as head of the Military Assistance Command in South Vietnam.

General Westmoreland replaced General Paul Harkins on June 20, 1964 and held the postition until March 3, 1968 when LBJ announced his appointment to Army Chief of Staff.

Westmoreland Awards Diploma

 to Roy F. Busdiecker

TRUMAN OPENS FIRST WHITE HOUSE BOWLING ALLEY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 67 years ago today, April 25, 1947, President Harry S Truman opened the first bowling alley in the West Wing of the White House.

The two lane bowling alley was presented to the President as a gift from some fellow Missourians.

Mr. Truman's first ball knocked down 7 of 10 pins.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, an avid golfer, had little use for the bowling alley and had it turned into a copy room in 1955.  

When Richard M. Nixon became President, he had a single lane bowling alley installed.

Truman's White House Bowling Alley 


EAST MEETS WEST AT THE ELBE 

Soviet and American soldiers met each other 69 years ago today, April 25, 1945, at the Elbe River in Germany.

The Americans were from the US 1st Army patrol.

The meeting took place on the west bank of the Elbe and was followed by another meeting at Torgau.

In attendance at the event was Soviet Marshal Georgi K. Zhukov.

       Historic Marker for Elbe Day