| Abstract | This article discusses impacts of the First World War on Slovaks. The article analyses the theme of the First World War in collections of oral tradition narratives recorded since the beginning of the 1960 in the framework of collective or individual ethnographic field research throughout Slovakia. The research addresses the concept of historical memory as a part of social memory. The analysis examines similarities and/or differences in memory cultures among Slovak population. Results suggest the existence of multiple layers of historical memories that would give different image of the First World War in Slovakia. Narratives are also analyzed as special information sources on the dramatic and tragic years during 1914-1918. Findings bring additional evidence on how the global catastrophe was perceived by the Slovak population, how it affected people and changed dramatically their lives. Memories of contemporary witnesses are seen as part of popular memory on First World War in the Slovak society in the 20th century.
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