Introduction

The introduction presents methodological principles and choices of the study, including the theory of paradigm of mentalité that was the basis of the book. The author proposes a new approach of conducting research of post-war underground and explains why study on emotions, mentality, attitudes and behaviours is important and valuable in historical research. He also presents the current state of research scholarship on the problem that is described in the book. The author characterises the differences between terms “partisan” and “soldier” and clarifies the significance of sociological category named “cohort.” At the end of this part of the book there is a brief presentation of the content of the book.