Young woman volunteer pilots tractor in ploughing, unknown wartime date.  The Women's Land Army ("Land Girls")  made a huge contribution to the British war effort by replacing male agricultural workers to the colours, or into vital industrial work (not that women were absent there, either).  As for the tractor - since agriculture in England, and in the south of Scotland and Wales, was conducted on an "industrial" scale to a greater extent than was generally the case on the Continent, it was relatively highly mechanized by 1939.  By 21st century standards, however, there was still significant reliance on (literally) horse power.  Propaganda/"public information" images, from both the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Food, subtly emphasized the presence of advanced agricultural machinery (mainly tractors) in British agricultural production.  This (naturally) extended to wartime "piggyback" advertising by private firms involved in what is now called "agribusiness".  I recall posting an advertisement for "Bovril" beef stock paste reflecting this.  Best regards, JR.

Women's Land Army - ploughgirl ...

Russian composer and pianist Dmitry Shostakovich in the uniform of Leningrad Conservatory's auxiliary firefighter unit, October, 1941.  When Germany invaded, he had attempted to join the Red Army, but was refused because of his poor eyesight.  He uniformed up for the auxiliary fire service instead.  This photo would have been made for laudatory news/propaganda publication.

Although he became something of an "establishment" figure in the Soviet Union later in life, his relationship with the Stalinist regime was rather bumpy over time. especially in the early years. This resulted from the nature of his "public" music; his early symphonic word was heavily criticized for not conforming with the criteria of "Socialist Realism" (whatever that may have meant for music).  He had been officially denounced in 1936; his subsequent 5th Symphony was billed as a response to his critics.  Its more traditional character found favour with the authorities and was widely praised; Dmitry was thus "rehabilitated".  The truth is that his subsequent symphonic compositions had a deeply ambiguous streak, doing enough to conform with official norms while having another life, so to speak, underneath.

This applies not least to his most famous work, the 7th Symphony, "Leningrad".  Shostakovich composed the first three movements in Leningrad, the fourth following his family's evacuation.  The 7th was hailed publicly as a monument to the heroic defenders of Leningrad when first performed while the city was still under siege.  It certainly lends itself to that interpretation.   Best regards, JR.

Auxiliary firefighter, Leningrad, 1941.

Soviet militiaman (policeman) inspects corpses of comrades less well fed, siege of Leningrad.  A small number of good breaks (Finland's refusal to take part in the investment of the city, the preservation of limited rail communication between the southern Soviet Union and the area east of the city, communication across Lake Ladoga) ensured that the city did not starve completely.  However, the ability of the Soviet authorities to supply the city with food during the siege fell well, well short of what was required.  Many people literally starved to death, and the city authorities had to take precautions against the all-too-real phenomenon of cannibalism.  Best regards, JR.