My mom was born in the 1930's so she lived through WWII, air raids, her school being bombed out, public executions of partysans, Red Army, Red Terror, Soviet occupation in 1968. My father watched as school boy to see his hometown to be bombed, they were at that time evacuated to the mountains in 1944-1945, and when the bombers came, entire city center was burned. The explosions were heard couple miles away. Human remains from front coming through on the streets and backyard. I remember we had photo collection as my grandfather was taking pictures. I also saw pictures of people being executed, and hanged outside city hall in 1945.
My grandparents were born at the turn of the century, and my grandmother lived almost through entire 20th century. My grandpa fought in WWI. People in that generation had so much events, tragedies, and sad stories to say.