Swing Goes to War

The first half of the twentieth century marked a time of immense hardship for the United States and many other nations around the world. In just three decades, the world saw two of the most destructive wars in history, the Great Depression, and countless other tragedies which would leave an indelible mark on human history. Surprisingly, this bleak and hopeless era also gave rise to one of the liveliest and most beloved forms of music of the twentieth century – swing. But swing music became much more than just tunes to listen to on the radio or music to dance to at clubs. It became a veritable venue for patriotism, unity, and even revolution – both in times of peace and in times of war, in the United States and even in war-torn Europe.

Swing music – and its predecessor, jazz – is, as famed swing artist Benny Goodman put it, “folk music special to the United States” (Erenberg 65). It is perhaps one of the most “American” genres of music. The very characteristics that define swing music are uniquely “American”; it is lively, promotes freedom of expression (through improvisation), and bursts with seemingly endless optimism. It is energetic, youthful, and most importantly, unifying. As it is formed from a mix of elements from African American, European and American folk music, swing played a crucial part in bringing the issue racial integration to the forefront of the American psyche, especially among the younger population. It is no surprise that swing was so wildly popular – it promised “personal freedom, hope for a better life, and a measure. . . of racial acceptance” (Erenberg 70), which seems an apt remedy for a society suffering from not only widespread unemployment and hardship, but also rampant racism and classism.

Swing...

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... article similar to “Swing Time for Hitler” which focuses mainly on the Swing Youth

and their dedication to the American ideals found in swing music.

U.S War Department. Handbook on German Military Forces. Baton Rouge, Louisiana:

Louisiana State University Press, 1990.

This book contains mountains of information about the World War II German forces, ranging from their daily routine to the very strategies they used. It has a section about music and morale, which should be useful when comparing the American spirit and attitude in song to the German spirit and attitude.

Wilmott, Cross, Messenger. World War II. NYC, New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2004.

This is an intensive World War II encyclopedia, which includes as a feature some popular songs from the major countries involved. It should prove useful when it comes to comparing the German and American music.