A woman wearing a ballgown singing in the snow for returning ski troops; a technician’s tears ruining a master recording of a new wartime song; fresh recruits spontaneously standing and doffing their caps to a new song, thereby creating the new wartime anthem. The Soviet songs of WWII inspired, touched, and comforted citizens and soldiers alike. They also left a cultural legacy which reflected both the hearts of the individuals fighting as well as the narrative of the party and state in bringing the nation to victory. To get an in-depth look at Soviet WWII songs and their importance to the war effort, I turned to Suzanne Ament. Guest: ament.html">Suzanne Ament is Associate Professor of History at Radford University. She’s the author of Sing to Victory! Song in Soviet Society during World War II published by Academic Studies Press. Music: “Temnaia noch'”