"Who has ever heard of Torgau," asked the Soviet daily, Pravda. "But now, this place has just gone down in history!" That is because it is the small town on the Elbe River where U.S. forces and the Red Army met for the first time since becoming allies and uniting in the fight against Nazi Germany. The meeting was expected to take place, but the way it happened on April 25, 1945, was not at all planned.
He should not be here. He should have turned around several miles ago. The orders were clear: Patrol the Mulde River; check for refugees who are coming in from the East in large numbers; then return to the command post in Trebsen. Patrol activity was not allowed more than five miles east of the river. But now, Lt. Bill Robertson of the 273th Regiment of the 69th Infantry Division is driving his army jeep further east toward the Elbe River, accompanied by three of his comrades and equipped with only a single machine gun on top.
Robertson's patrol passes through small deserted villages. Outside of Torgau, they hear about a prison camp holding American soldiers. So they head into town, hoping to liberate their comrades - And, hey, why not go down in history? Why not be the first ones to encounter Soviet troops?
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