The aim of the paper is to discuss the specificity of Central and Eastern European cult of heroes. Because of frequent reshaping of political narrations following major historical turning points (the Second World War and the changes of ruling political ideologies), the cult in this region developed in a unique form. Its present form is a result of a multi-layered history of redefining a hero figure as well as the proper commemoration practices. This paper aims to explore this regional specificity, juxtaposing it with Western European memory projects, dominating broad European narrative.
To answer these research questions, I propose an analysis conducted according to the comparative studies methodology, focusing on the main national heroic sites of memory – namely the Tombs of the Unknown Soldier. The first of the monuments has been erected almost hundred years ago; all of them are functioning until this day. Originally erected to commemorate soldiers fallen in the Great War and fights for independence that followed it, they has been redefined multiple times throughout the history of the region. The long duration and frequent reshaping of the cult assures an interesting research material, allowing the analysis of the ideological continuities and discontinuities of the political cult of fallen between the interwar, Second World War, communist and post-communist periods. By studying those developments, it is possible to reconstruct a specifically Eastern European vision of a hero and answer the question of its place both in the context of specific, national narratives throughout the region, as well as broader European discourse.
Central commemorations of Unknown Soldiers in capital of Poland, Hungary and Romania will serve as the main examples for the analysis. This perspective will be supplemented with the reference to Western European Tombs of the Unknown Soldier – a direct inspiration for the Central and Eastern European commemorations.
