More than 10,000 people, including US and former Soviet veterans, gathered Saturday in northern German town of Torgau to mark the famous and symbolic meeting of the two forces 60 years ago.

The gathering came two days before the commemoration of 60th anniversary of the first hand shaking of American and Soviet soldiers on a ruined bridge crossing the Elbe River at Torgau.

The scene of the hand shaking between US Army soldier William Robertson and Belarussian soldier Alexander Silwaschko on April 25,1945 has become a historical moment in World War II. Silwaschko was present on Saturday's gathering.

Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered on May 8,1945.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2005)