6. Meeting at the Elbe
The 1945 day when the Russian and American troops linked up at the German river of Elbe have reminisced with fond memories as one that brought the end of World War II a step closer. Russians joined hands with the Americans, creating a piece of history that has since been shared in most resources. Statements were simultaneously sent out to London, Washington, and Moscow that evening which reaffirmed the three Allied powers’ determination to see the annihilation of the Third Reich through.
General Simpson was in charge of the American troops at the Elbe, and the Soviet troops were under their two respective field marshals Konev and Zhukov. This show was partly supposed to solidify the part of the Allied agreement meant to prevent the American troops from advancing into Berlin.
Many sources have argued that the Americans would have had an easier time with far less resistance advancing into the ill-fated Berlin. Correctly so, because the Germans viewed the Communist Russia with a deep-seated suspicion that surrendering to them was the last thing they’d have wanted to do. There were so many atrocities on the Eastern Front that made this suspicion even much grimmer.