National East Meets West Day

On the 25th anniversary of the Allied forces' Eastern Front's meeting on the River Elbe, the Allied Front of the Allied forces met the Western front on the River Elbe. National East Meets West Day is April 25th. Also known as Elbe Day, this 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. Many events in the last 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 will need both American troops in the East and Soviet armies from the West, which would require a coordinated effort.

Commanders ordered their troops not to talk to each other in any form. While officers from each division formalized their occupation of Berlin, officers from each division officially assumed control of Berlin.

Patrols followed the river in a small boat outside Berlin on the River Elbe on April 25th. First Lieutenant Albert Kotzebue and Soviet Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Gardiev were among the first to contact, along with their orders.

Photographers commemorated the occasion of the Eastern front's meeting the Western front two days later.

#eastmeetswestday is a popular hashtag that has piqued interest in #eastmeetswestday

Find out more about World War II history
The World War II history exhibit on view at the World War II history museum
Learn about World War II's wartime tales
Many who served and those who fought to bring the war to an end are those who fought and those who fought to bring the war to an end
On social media, use the hashtags "EastMeetsWestDay" or #ElbeDay to post

HISTORY OF EAST MEETS WEST DAY HISTORY OF HISTORY. President Barack and Russian presidents released a joint statement on the 65th anniversary of this historic event on Elbe Day. Elbe Day activities are held annually in Torgau, Germany.