During the war years, Leonid Utyosov's orchestra became a remarkable combat unit, whose main weapon was song. They were called Utyosov's "Katyushas," comparing them to the famous rocket launchers. Since 1936, Utyosov and his orchestra, having left Leningrad, settled in Moscow. The collective was taken over by the theater department of the Central House of the Red Army (CDKA), but of course, they performed not only on "departmental" stages. In mid-June 1941, a series of concerts was scheduled on the stage of the "Hermitage" theater. The morning of the 22nd began for the orchestra members with a usual rehearsal before the evening performance. The announcement of the war's start caught the orchestra at work. After brief hesitation, it was decided not to cancel the concert. However, the program had to be urgently changed in the few hours left. Utyosov and his musicians found a solution by turning to favorite songs from the Civil War era. According to the memories of those who were at the "Hermitage" that evening, the most poignant moment of the concert was the song "Farewell," sung by the entire hall, understanding that farewells would soon come to every home. The next day, the entire orchestra expressed their desire to voluntarily join the Red Army. A collective letter was sent to the Political Directorate of the RKKA, which oversaw the work of the CDKA. The response, signed by the USSR's defense commissar, Kliment Voroshilov, came quickly: it stated that the collective would be involved in concert activities in the army units. During the day, Utyosov's "Katyushas" performed at recruitment points, at train stations, and in the locations of units preparing to go to the front.