Elbe Day 2010 Report
by Joseph Lipsius 272nd Inf Regtl Hq & Cn Co
prepared by Michael McKibben, website engineer, Chairman and Founder of
Leader Technologies® and Leader Phone® and son-in-law of Jerry Hoovler 272nd Inf Reg K Co
Click here for a PDF version of this Report.
Torgau, German (April 23-25, 2010)—Elbe Day 2010 was celebrated on April 23-25, 2010—the 65th Anniversary of the Link-Up between the American 69th Infantry Division and the 58th Soviet Guards Division at the Elbe River on April 25, 1945. This Link-Up split Germany in two and hastended the end of World War II. V-E Day ("Victory in Europe" Day) occured when German surrendered unconditionally to the Allies on May 8, 1945.
Joseph Lipsius 272nd Inf Regtl Hq & Cn Co and his wife Anne along with Don Connelly Hq Co 2nd Bn 271st Inf Reg formally represented the veterans of the 69th Infantry Division.
Click here for Dr. Tilo Lehnert's wonderful video coverage of Elbe Day 2010 posted on YouTube. (Follow links to other videos listed.)
Click here for a link to the Elbe Day 2010 pre-event poster advertising the event.
Click here to view a full range of photographs available by German photograph Frank Liebmann.
Click here for a German Photo Gallery of Elbe Day 2010 (Joe says some of these photos were taken at the 60th Anniversary in 2005). We also include some of those photos below.
Click here for Russian TV-1 coverage of Elbe Day 2010.
Click here for Forum coverage. Brooklyn, New York Russian newspaper Forum writes on Elbefest 2010 (full English translation included).
A translation of this Forum Russian language newspaper article about the Elbe Link-Up on April 25, 1945 follows on pages 2-5. The Forum is printed in Brooklyn, NY for Russians in New York and across the USA. The 65th Anniversary in Torgau named “Elbefest” was celebrated on April 23-25, 2010.
Forum Newspaper Photos:
- Upper left is the famous Bill Robertson/Alexander Silwaschko 1945 linkup photo who were leaders of the patrols that met in Torgau, April 25, 1945;
- Under that photo is Joe Lipsius, Hq 272nd Inf Rgt on the left with Don Connelly, Hq Co 2nd Bn 271st Inf Rgt;
- Under Joe and Don is a WWII Torgau celebration photo;
- Upper right is a Link-Up reenactment;
- Below that photo on the right is a symbolic linkup handshake taken during Elbefest with Silwaschko's granddaughter on the left, followed by Ted Polowsky,son of Kotzebue patrol member and post WWII peace actvist Joe Polowsky, next is the Honorable Andrea Staude, Mayor of Torgau, then Silwaschko's daughter, Larrisa, and
- At the far right, Rick Robertson, son of Bill Robertson;
- The lower right two photos are Joe Lipsius and Don Connelly with reenactors.
Figure 1: (L-R) Joe Lipsius 272nd Inf Regtl Hq & Cn Co, and
Rene Vetter,
Press Secretary, City of Torgau, Germany
Figure 2: American 69th Inf Div Reenactors of the April 25, 1945 Link-up
(click this photo for German language coverage)
Figure 3: American 69th Inf Div & Soviet 58th Guards Div Commander Reenactors
of the April 25, 1945 Link-up
(click this photo for German language coverage)
Figure 4: (L-R) Don Connelly (271st Inf Rgtl Hq Co 1st Bn), American Commander Reenactor,
Joe Lipsius (272nd Inf Regtl Hq & Cn Co), and Soviet Commander Reenactor
Figure 5: (L-R) American Commander Reenactor, Don Connelly (271st Inf Rgtl Hq Co 1st Bn),
Joe Lipsius (272nd Inf Regtl Hq & Cn Co), and Soviet Commander Reenactor
Figure 6: Torgau Newspaper Press Coverage of Elbe Day 2010
Figure 7: Torgau Newspaper Press Coverage of Elbe Day 2010
Figure 8: Elbe Day 2010 Official Ceremonies
Figure 9: Elbe Day 2010 Official Ceremonies
Figure 10: Elbe Day 2010 Official Ceremonies
Figure 11: Elbe Day 2010 Official Ceremonies
Figure 12: Elbe Day 2010 Official Ceremonies
Thanks to Joe, Anne and Don for making the trip... 65 years later!
