On June 22, 1941, Annenkov was on tour with his theatre troupe in Kovel
in Western Ukraine. The advancing Nazi troops invaded Ukraine and the
Soviet Union on that day in the Second World War. Annenkov and other
actors performed for the Soviet Army troops, then were evacuated. In
1942, Annenkov was evacuated from Moscow, but soon returned, and from
1942-1945 he was in Moscow. Annenkov was decorated for his courage in
the defense of Moscow during the Second World War.