During the 1930s, Ruslanova became extremely popular. She became an artist of the state association of musical, variety and circus enterprises in 1933, and performed all over Russia throughout the rest of the decade. When World War II broke out, she ceaselessly toured from one front to another, helping to boost the soldiers' courage with her patriotic songs. Her signature songs were "Valenki" and "Katyusha", written specially for her. During the Battle of Berlin, she performed on the doorsteps of the smouldering Reichstag.