ABSTRACT
Memories are a peculiar social construct in which past events that the individual participated in, or was a witness to, become part of his own personal narrative, bricks in the construction of his life story and identity. Individual narrative is also influenced by the phenomenon of collective memory in cases where remembered events are significant for an entire social group this refers to common, shared experiences about which it becomes acceptable to recall and emphasize some facts while keeping silent about others. The narrative identity reconstructed during the process of any recollection undoubtedly possesses a distinct gender dimension. Hegemonic masculinity is feasible only when cultural ideals permit institutionalized power, not just at an individual level, but over an entire community. Military masculinity, meaning that which is tied to the warrior archetype, was at that time already problematic and disputed; the practice of avoiding compulsory military service in various ways was fairly widespread - especially among the intelligentsia.
