Patrick Bade has written an insightful musical history of World War II. He recounts the many different meanings and functions that music took on in the face of destruction, death, and violence. During World War II, music played an unprecedented role: whether live or through the new media of radio, film, or records, music underpinned propaganda, aimed at strengthening one's own morale while weakening that of the enemies. Music was openly used as a propaganda tool, but it also served as a 'lifeline' and provided distraction: classical concerts and operas performed under the most dangerous circumstances were well-attended in all countries involved in the war. People danced to swing and popular songs and fell in love—especially because every day could be the last. And Bade vividly tells the stories of those whose calling it was.