Patriotism is founded on the natural human need for lasting interpersonal bonds and is thus anchored in personal identity. Throughout Polish history, there has emerged a specific understanding and experience of patriotism. During World War II, the generation that grew up in the interwar period demonstrated the value of patriotism – being able to prioritize the good of the homeland and being ready to die for one’s country. The egodocuments collected in this book (secret messages and letters, official correspondence, and camp and prison documents) relate to the Koz˙don´ family from Chwałowice and the Kupiec brothers from Poronin and serve as a representative sample of the significance of Polish patriotism under the challenging circumstances of World War II. These two families are emblematic of the sacrifice of individuals who fought for Poland’s independence and displayed an uncompromising attitude towards the Nazi occupier.

Series edited by: Barbara Klich-Kluczewska