# Joseph Polowsky > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joseph_Polowsky > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joseph_Polowsky.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Polowsky > Source revision: 1345129231 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Joseph Polowsky** (October 2, 1916 – October 17, 1983) was an American soldier who with others [met Soviet troops on the banks of Elbe River](/source/Elbe_Day) on April 25, 1945, and later became an anti-war activist.[1] ## Early life Polowsky was the youngest son of [Jewish](/source/Jew) immigrants who had [immigrated](/source/Immigration_to_the_United_States) from the [Kiev](/source/Kiev) area in the [Russian Empire](/source/Russian_Empire) to the United States and worked first as a conductor and bus driver for the [Chicago Transit Authority](/source/Chicago_Transit_Authority), then as a taxi driver for the [Checker Cab Company](/source/Checker_Taxi) in [Chicago](/source/Chicago). ## World War II During [World War II](/source/World_War_II), he was conscripted and served in the [69th Infantry Division](/source/69th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)). He belonged to a scouting party which crossed the [Elbe](/source/Elbe) in [Torgau](/source/Torgau) on April 25, 1945, and met Soviet troops on the other bank.[2] Polowsky, who knew the [Russian language](/source/Russian_language), served to translate between the two groups. The Americans and the Soviets saw bodies of German civilians killed by stray artillery fire near the river. To his horror, Polowsky saw a dead girl, about five or six years old, clutching a doll in one hand and clinging to her dead mother with her other hand. The soldiers of both armies swore to do everything to prevent a new war.[3] ## Post-World War II In 1946, Polowsky was discharged from the Army. Back in the U.S., he unsuccessfully asked the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations) to declare 25 April a World Day of Peace. Each year he commemorated the [Elbe Day](/source/Elbe_Day) on the [Michigan Avenue Bridge](/source/Michigan_Avenue_Bridge) in Chicago and held a vigil. He continued to work as a taxi driver.[4] In 1959, he met Soviet Prime Minister [Nikita Khrushchev](/source/Nikita_Khrushchev) who visited the United States. A short time later, he was invited to visit the [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union) where he again met Khrushchev in the [Kremlin](/source/Kremlin). Then he visited [East Germany](/source/East_Germany) and met [Walter Ulbricht](/source/Walter_Ulbricht). Already ill with cancer, Polowsky held his last vigil on Michigan Avenue Bridge on April 25, 1983. He died in Chicago on October 17, 1983. In his will he asked to be buried in Torgau, and was buried there with military honors on November 26, 1983.[5] ## Legacy In 1995, a high school in Torgau was named after him. He was memorialized in the [Fred Small](/source/Fred_Small_(singer-songwriter)) song "At The Elbe". A new [rose](/source/Rose) variety was dedicated to Joe Polowsky in Torgau in 2006. ## See also - [List of peace activists](/source/List_of_peace_activists) - [Charles Thau](/source/Charles_Thau) ## References 1. ["HUNTINGTON BEACH : A Man Who Sought U.S., Soviet Peace"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-25-me-1063-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. 25 April 1991. Retrieved 10 February 2020. 1. ["Peace Activist Joe Polowsky"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080520093215/http://www.69th-infantry-division.com/joe-polowsky.html). *www.69th-infantry-division.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.69th-infantry-division.com/joe-polowsky.html) on May 20, 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2020. 1. ["Southwest Times 6 May 1985 — Virginia Chronicle: Digital Newspaper Archive"](https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TSWT19850506.1.4&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN--------). *virginiachronicle.com*. Retrieved 2023-12-22. 1. Bettina Broneske: [*Legendäres Foto mit Joe Polowsky kehrte nach 60 Jahren an seine Wurzeln zurück.*](http://www.lr-online.de/regionen/elsterwerda/Legendaeres-Foto-mit-Joe-Polowsky-kehrte-nach-60-Jahren-an-seine-Wurzeln-zurueck;art1059,889544) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150410171216/http://www.lr-online.de/regionen/elsterwerda/Legendaeres-Foto-mit-Joe-Polowsky-kehrte-nach-60-Jahren-an-seine-Wurzeln-zurueck;art1059,889544) 2015-04-10 at the Wayback Machine In: *Lausitzer Rundschau.* 28. April 2005 1. Markham, James M. (27 November 1983). ["Russians and Americans Bury G.i. by the Elbe"](https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/27/world/russians-and-americans-bury-gi-by-the-elbe.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved 10 February 2020. ## External links - [Joseph Polowski](https://web.archive.org/web/20080520093215/http://www.69th-infantry-division.com/joe-polowsky.html) - [DELAWARE STATE SENATE 140th GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 35](http://phoenix.state.de.us/LIS/LIS140.NSF/d46493839e7692a4852565710057706b/5b3d0c72c2b5aaab852568db006b6cb9/%24FILE/9081400041.Doc+Elbe)[dead link] - [The Milwaukee Journal - Apr 24, 1965](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19650424&id=ywIqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nicEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4162,1692084)[dead link] - [At The Elbe Lyrics by Fred Small](http://www.hamienet.com/lyrics72003.html) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joseph Polowsky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Polowsky) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Polowsky?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.