Music Wars 1937-1945

Music played an unprecedented role in World War II. Whether live or through the media of radio, film and gramophone records, it was used by all sides for propaganda and morale-boosting. The mightiest musical weapon of the war was Swing, an irresistible force that even the Nazis attempted to harness. Ultimately the music that most potently evokes the emotions and experiences of the war is that of the sentimental songs of loss and separation-Vera Lynn singing `We'll meet again' and Zarah Leander singing `Ich weiss es wird einmal ein Wunder geschehen'.