Sunday, April 25, 2021

25 April, 1945: Allies Meet at the Elbe


The Allied Intervention told the Soviets all they needed to know
Their revolution meant they were alone among the world's nations
The USSR saw isolation, the tragedy of civil war, trying to survive
As the new Germany saw a dictator rise up to take absolute power
A time of civil war in Spain allowed each side to take full measure
And from a distance, the Soviet Union knew, soon they'd struggle
Eventually, despite treaty of neutrality, it had became their hour
Invasion by an army of international opponents of Communism
Dive bombers and tanks, foot soldiers and naval bombardment
Saw the early days threaten all of the progress of previous years


The United Kingdom had fought alone, against the Nazi horde
Surviving by the naval strength, defended by their brave air force
And when the United States was drawn into the mass conflict
The sides were fully drawn, Democracy and Socialist states
Against Nazi Germany and her allies, a racist and nationalist foe
FDR had said, our two countries were both born of revolution
Stalin distrusted all of the capitalist states, but had a higher goal
He would face Russia's greatest enemy, even if they fought alone
Nine of every ten Nazi soldiers killed, died from Soviet attack
With additional arms made and sent by Americans workers
The Soviet machine the bristled with weapons, aircraft and tanks


The forces had a goal of meeting, in the center of Germany
Political lines were drawn by the leaders of the various nations
But soldiers were not politicians, and agreed to lines on the maps
US and British allies would assault Fortress Europe in the West
The Soviets and assorted units would pour in from the East
Many casualties taken, the forces of Germany were forsaken
The Allies bombed German industrialized areas, crushing morale
The combined might of Democratic nations and Soviets
Created a vision of Nazi Germany's leaders view of final Hell
When Americans and Soviets met upon the river Elbe
Now the European war was truly over
For the Nazi high tide reached an ebb