Predecessor of the Central Military Band of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Exemplary Band of the People’s Commissariat for Military and Naval Affairs of the Soviet Unionmet met the beginning of the Great Patriotic War at the Belarus military district where it was staging a series of concerts.
As recollected by N. Zubarevich: “In Lomzha Chernetskiy decided to inspect music bands of the cavalry units. The Narev river was crossing the village right in the middle. On one side there were Russian troops and a cavalry band performing, on the other side Germans were minding their own business and listening carefully to the cavalry musicians performing. The following day the war broke out”.
On June 25, 1941 experiencing great difficulties the band managed to get back to Moscow.