This paper discusses how the events of World War II affected people's sense of identity and how the war changed their outlook on life. The war decided the fates of multitudes, forcing many to become refugees. Although Masuji Ono, a character created by the British-Japanese writer Kazuo Ishiguro, and Edmunds Valdemars Bunkse come from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds, they are united by a common quest: to find peace of mind and their lost homes. Analysis of Ishiguro's novel and Bunkse's autobiography reveals the feelings of both characters as they face difficulties in finding and understanding their own identity.
In the text, in light of the theoretical assumptions of research on youth's sense of identity, I characterize the conditions of the social functioning of Polish ethnic minorities living in Belarus, Ukraine and the Czech Republic, and I discuss the results of research conducted among the students of schools with Polish as the language of instruction in those countries. Among the members of a national minority double or even triple identities often emerge, but problems with shaping one's identity are not uncommon as well. Among the identification profiles of researched students identification with "Polishness" was dominant. Declarations expressing bonds with the country of residence were also disclosed.
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