
UNC Charlotte professor tells the story of how one man helped liberate Ukraine from the Nazis in WWII
From Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins by WFAE
June 2, 2026 · 50 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the story of Moshe Gildenman, a man who helped liberate Ukraine from the Nazis during WWII, as told in a new book by James Grymes.
Moshe Gildenman was a civic leader and musician in a small Ukrainian town until — one day in 1942 — Nazis murdered 2,000 Jews in his village, including his wife and daughter. He escaped with his son, carrying a revolver, a handful of bullets and a Yiddish songbook. His story of resilience, resistance and revenge is told in a new book by UNC Charlotte musicologist James Grymes.
People in this episode
Host: Mike Collins
Guest: James Grymes
Topics covered
- history
- resilience
- World War II
- Ukraine
- musicology
- civic leadership
Keywords
- Moshe Gildenman
- James Grymes
- Ukraine
- Nazis
- WWII
- resilience
- Yiddish songbook
- civic leader
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: UNC Charlotte
Places: Ukraine
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