Rare and little-known episodes of world war ii in memory of descendants its participants: statement of the question

The article substantiates the relevance, methodological foundations and plan of the research project dedicated to the collection, compilation and publication of the memoirs of descendants of the Great Patriotic War about rare and little-known episodes. Analyzed the existing historiographical approaches to the study of collective memory of the war of modern Russians, representations of war in the historical policy of the second half of XX - beginning of XXI century. Based on the work of historians and sociologists, the authors show main place of War of 1941-1945 for the construction of the images of the past of contemporaries and its role for the national identity of the post-war generations. The experience of creating similar collections of memories in Russia and in the world was described. The special attention is given to the question of importance of including in the activities to establish a database of memories of one of the brightest and most dramatic events of national history undergraduate and graduate students of pedagogical high school as future parents, teachers, researchers. Phased implementation plan, expected results, the methods of gathering information proposed in conclusion.