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ON THIS DAY

May 1, 2008 by

ON THIS DAY

27 April 1945: Russians and Americans link at Elbe. Russian and American troops have joined hands at the River Elbe in Germany, bringing the end of the war a step closer. Statements have been released simultaneously in London, Moscow and Washington this evening reaffirming the determination of the three Allied powers to complete the destruction of the Third Reich. According to a statement issued by Downing Street, the commanders of a United States division and of a Russian Guards division met at Torgau, south of Berlin on 26 April at 1600 hours local time. In fact the first contact was made between patrols on 25 April when a first lieutenant and three men of an intelligence and reconnaissance platoon of the US division met forward elements of the Russian Guards division. First Lieutenant Albert Kotzebue of the 3rd Battalion, 273rd Infantry, 69th Infantry Division took his men in a boat across the Elbe to be greeted by Lt Col Alexander Gardiev, Commander of the 175th Rifle Regiment of the 58th Guards Division, 34th Corps. They made arrangements for the formal handshake in front of photographers at Torgau the following day. By joining forces at Elbe, the American and Soviet troops have successfully cut the Germany army in two. However, The Times correspondent warns of the possibility of “a protracted period of mountain warfare”. The American and Russian military leaders have paid tribute to their troops. In Moscow 324 guns fired a 24 salvo in honour of “victory of the freedom-loving peoples over Germany”. General Omar Bradley, commander of the US 12th Army Group, praised the Soviet troops for their determination in forcing the Germans to abandon Russia and push them back to the Elbe River. He went on to pay tribute to the American forces: “In 10 months you have advanced 1,120km (696 miles) from the invasion beaches. All this has been attained thanks to your courage, your spirit and initiative and thanks to your comrades who died in order to achieve this.” The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, said: “We meet in true and victorious comradeship and with inflexible resolve to fulfil our purpose and our duty. Let all march forward upon the foe.” President Harry S. Truman welcomed the news: “This is not the hour of final victory in Europe, but the hour draws near, the hour for which all the American people, all the British people and all the Soviet people have toiled and prayed so long.” Marshal Joseph Stalin spoke of the war still ahead: “Our task and our duty are to complete the destruction of the enemy to force him to lay down his arms and surrender unconditionally.”The Red Army will fulfil to the end this task and this duty to our people and to all freedom-loving peoples.” (Source: BBC)

25 April 1982: Marines land in South Georgia. Britain has re-established its presence in the Falkland Islands after a two-hour assault by Royal Marines on the remote island of South Georgia. The victory was signalled to London by the commanding officer with a brief but dramatic message: “Be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the White Ensign flies alongside the Union Jack in South Georgia. God Save the Queen.” There were no British casualties reported in the operation, which was announced by the Defence Secretary, John Nott, and the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, outside 10 Downing Street. “Just rejoice at that news.” Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In the statement, Mr Nott said Argentine forces surrendered to the British troops with “only limited resistance”. Following the announcement, Mrs Thatcher’s only comment was to rebuke questioning journalists with the remark, “Just rejoice at that news and congratulate our forces and the marines.” In the first phase of the attack, announced in London at 1200 BST (1100 GMT), helicopters attacked the Argentine submarine, Santa Fe, close to the harbour of the island’s capital, Grytviken. It was the first indication the attempt to re-capture South Georgia had begun. The subma

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