European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Francesco Bertacchini was born on June 24th, 1926 in Reggio Emilia. As a young apprentice in a radio and gramophone shop he discovered his love for music and his aversion to the fascist regime because of the restrictions he had to suffer from in his daily life. After the armistice of September 8th, 1943,aged 17 he and his best friend went to the mountains looking for the “rebels”. They were willing to become a rebel themselves and eventually succeeded, joining the 144th Garibaldi Brigade. Francesco took part in actions in the area of Succiso and Cerreto, attempting sabotage actions against the German troops on the road number 63. He was part of the “Antifascist” unit and of the “Cervi” unit with the nickname “Volpe” (“Fox”) and by pure chance was not involved in the Legoreccio massacre of November 17th, 1944, in which all his companions were killed. He took part in several actions in the Enza valley and in fights in Bibbiano, Barco and Cavriago. As he found himself surrounded by German troops he crossed the river Enza in October, 1944, and reached the territory of Parma first and Piacenza later. He took part in the Liberation of Parma and reached his home town Reggio Emilia in the night of April, 24th, 1944, when the city had already been liberated.
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Die Partisanen haben wir so geschützt, als Kinder, das waren unsere Freunde und die Deutschen waren unsere Feinde.
Die Partisanen haben wir so geschützt, als Kinder, das waren unsere Freunde und die Deutschen waren unsere Feinde.
We protected the partisans so much when we were kids; they were our friends and the Germans were our enemies. -
Einer sagte: »Du, ich gehe mal sammeln.« Das Geld, was wir dort sammelten, wurde verwendet für die Rote Hilfe.
Einer sagte: »Du, ich gehe mal sammeln.« Das Geld, was wir dort sammelten, wurde verwendet für die Rote Hilfe.
One said: »I´ll do some collecting.« We used the collected money for the ›Rote Hilfe‹ (political help organ). -
Da war also klar, du wirst überlegt Sand ins Getriebe streuen, so gut du kannst und solang du atmen kannst.
Da war also klar, du wirst überlegt Sand ins Getriebe streuen, so gut du kannst und solang du atmen kannst.
You would deliberately throw a spanner in the works, as long as you could and as long as you could breathe. -
Well, did I kill somebody... We did shoot, but then knowing if we killed them for sure is another story.
Well, did I kill somebody... We did shoot, but then knowing if we killed them for sure is another story.
Well, did I kill somebody... We did shoot, but then knowing if we killed them for sure is another story. -
That’s what the partisan struggle was about. Fourteen months more or less, constantly: these actions, these deaths.
That’s what the partisan struggle was about. Fourteen months more or less, constantly: these actions, these deaths.
That’s what the partisan struggle was about. Fourteen months more or less, constantly: these actions, these deaths. -
When you were taken to an investigation, when you could not walk any more, you were brought to the cell.
When you were taken to an investigation, when you could not walk any more, you were brought to the cell.
When you were taken to an investigation, when you could not walk any more, you were brought to the cell. -
I went to a lady that I saw once in my life. It was my contact spot. She said to me: you can save a child.
I went to a lady that I saw once in my life. It was my contact spot. She said to me: you can save a child.
I went to a lady that I saw once in my life. It was my contact spot. She said to me: you can save a child. -
They did not want us in sabotage, we were too young. Our scout authorities made it clear not to get us into sabotage.
They did not want us in sabotage, we were too young. Our scout authorities made it clear not to get us into sabotage.
They did not want us in sabotage, we were too young. Our scout authorities made it clear not to get us into sabotage. -
Es gab keine Perspektive für uns. Dadurch ist man eher gestärkt in den Widerstand gegangen und hat geholfen, wo Not war.
Es gab keine Perspektive für uns. Dadurch ist man eher gestärkt in den Widerstand gegangen und hat geholfen, wo Not war.
There was no real future for us. But that made you stronger to go into the resistance and help wherever you could. -
You are young people. Don’t fight with each other. Be collegial. Be friends because you don’t know what the tomorrow will be like.
You are young people. Don’t fight with each other. Be collegial. Be friends because you don’t know what the tomorrow will be like.
You are young people. Don’t fight with each other. Be collegial. Be friends because you don’t know what the tomorrow will be like. -
The Resistance for me was just like going to university. I learned to feel confident throughout my whole life.
The Resistance for me was just like going to university. I learned to feel confident throughout my whole life.
The Resistance for me was just like going to university. I learned to feel confident throughout my whole life. -
I remember Strozzi saying: »War has never brought anything good for the poor.«
I remember Strozzi saying: »War has never brought anything good for the poor.«
I remember Strozzi saying: »War has never brought anything good for the poor.« -
What did we know about politics? With fascism, you could only read what they gave to you, and you didn’t even have the right to make comments.
What did we know about politics? With fascism, you could only read what they gave to you, and you didn’t even have the right to make comments.
What did we know about politics? With fascism, you could only read what they gave to you, and you didn’t even have the right to make comments. -
I started to run as fast as I could. I was skinny then and 23 years old. The soldier took out his gun and started shooting at me.
I started to run as fast as I could. I was skinny then and 23 years old. The soldier took out his gun and started shooting at me.
I started to run as fast as I could. I was skinny then and 23 years old. The soldier took out his gun and started shooting at me. -
I will join the partisans from Carpineti because i wanted the war to end.
I will join the partisans from Carpineti because i wanted the war to end.
I will join the partisans from Carpineti because i wanted the war to end. -
It was the Italian occupiers who gunned down every liberation movement. They shot so many innocent hostages.
It was the Italian occupiers who gunned down every liberation movement. They shot so many innocent hostages.
It was the Italian occupiers who gunned down every liberation movement. They shot so many innocent hostages. -
Killing, even in the name of great ideals, will ultimately come back to you later in form of a trauma.
Killing, even in the name of great ideals, will ultimately come back to you later in form of a trauma.
Killing, even in the name of great ideals, will ultimately come back to you later in form of a trauma. -
The Tchetniks attacked us from behind and they massacred the Partisans, all from behind our line. We lost 700 men in one night and one day.
The Tchetniks attacked us from behind and they massacred the Partisans, all from behind our line. We lost 700 men in one night and one day.
The Tchetniks attacked us from behind and they massacred the Partisans, all from behind our line. We lost 700 men in one night and one day. -
Ich konnte das nicht mitverantworten und mit denen zusammenarbeiten, die uns ausradieren wollten.
Ich konnte das nicht mitverantworten und mit denen zusammenarbeiten, die uns ausradieren wollten.
I could not share the responsibility to work with the ones that wanted to eliminate us.