To what extent can historical instances of mass violence explain individuals' motivations to join armed conflicts? What decisions do former combatants make during periods of rapid political and social transformation in times of uncertainty, such as the pre-war stage? What impact does large-scale historical violence during wartime have on the mobilization of individuals? Recent studies show that violent events have long-lasting effects transmitted across generations, shaping political views, voting behavior, and attitudes. However, research often theorizes long-term legacies without clarifying the underlying transmission mechanisms, such as intergenerational memory and silence. This study empirically tests if communities that experienced past violence are more likely to mobilize for war. Focusing on Bosnia and Herzegovina, I compare how World War II events in two towns severely impacted by violence as evidenced by mortality statistics from death data affected mobilization in the 1990s conflict. The research combines original survey data with extensive fieldwork involving wartime veterans to explore the relationship between secondary victimization during World War II and combat participation in the 1990s. The micro-level analysis reveals how family narratives and local memories of past violence shape individual decisions in times of uncertainty, contributing to the understanding of long-term legacies of violence and mobilization patterns.