European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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and I was aware of how the Germans were not particularly fond of communists.
and I was aware of how the Germans were not particularly fond of communists.
und ich wusste, wie die Deutschen nicht gut auf Kommunisten zu sprechen waren. -
One night, the Germans needed thirty people and came over to our shack.
One night, the Germans needed thirty people and came over to our shack.
Eines Nachts brauchten die Deutschen 30 Leute und kamen zu unserer Hütte. -
The two officers had been entitled to bunk beds, so they were sleeping in a corner of the shack.
The two officers had been entitled to bunk beds, so they were sleeping in a corner of the shack.
Die zwei Offiziere hatten Recht auf Etagenbett bekommen
und schliefen in einer Ecke der Hütte. -
We slept on straw on the floor, and I managed to get into the group that was leaving.
We slept on straw on the floor, and I managed to get into the group that was leaving.
Wir schliefen auf Stroh auf dem Boden.
Ich schaffte es in die Gruppe zu kommen, die losging. -
I never knew anything about them afterwards, and maybe I shouldn’t have done this,
I never knew anything about them afterwards, and maybe I shouldn’t have done this,
Ich hörte später nichts mehr von ihnen
und vielleicht hätte ich es nicht tun sollen, -
but I was afraid they would hand my documents to a guard. The guards were brutal there.
but I was afraid they would hand my documents to a guard. The guards were brutal there.
aber ich hatte Angst, dass sie meine Dokumente an die Wachen aushändigen würden.
Die Wachen dort waren brutal. -
They used to come inside in the morning, screaming the word “Aufstehn”,
They used to come inside in the morning, screaming the word “Aufstehn”,
Sie kamen morgens rein und schrien „Aufstehn!“. -
At first, we wondered what we were supposed to do – maybe get some coffee! –
At first, we wondered what we were supposed to do – maybe get some coffee! –
Anfangs wussten wir nicht, was wir tun sollten –
vielleicht Kaffee holen! - -
then four or five of them came inside and started acting rough.
then four or five of them came inside and started acting rough.
dann kamen vier oder fünf rein und verhielten sich grob. -
We immediately understood that we had to get up, even if we couldn’t understand the word.
We immediately understood that we had to get up, even if we couldn’t understand the word.
Wir verstanden dass wir aufstehen sollten,
auch wenn wir das Wort nicht kannten. -
They were really mean there, so I left and went to this other camp,
They were really mean there, so I left and went to this other camp,
Sie waren richtig gemein. Ich ging also zu diesem anderen Lager -
by a large river that had just been bombed, where we started to work.
by a large river that had just been bombed, where we started to work.
bei einem großen Fluss, der bombardiert worden war und wir begannen dort zu arbeiten. -
I lost all contact with the two officers afterwards, since that place was basically a marshalling camp,
I lost all contact with the two officers afterwards, since that place was basically a marshalling camp,
Ich verlor den Kontakt zu den beiden Offizieren.
Das Lager war im Prinzip ein Durchgangslager -
where 100-200 prisoners arrived by train every day.
where 100-200 prisoners arrived by train every day.
wo täglich 100-200 Personen mit dem Zug ankamen. -
I’ve been in four different German internment camps.
I’ve been in four different German internment camps.
Ich war in vier verschiedenen deutschen Konzentrationslagern. -
The last one I was in, where we were finally set free, was called Wickede and was in Westfalia, near Dortmund.
The last one I was in, where we were finally set free, was called Wickede and was in Westfalia, near Dortmund.
Das letzte, von dem wir schließlich befreit wurden,
hieß Wickede und war in Westfalen bei Dortmund. -
Normally people used to go to sleep immediately.
Normally people used to go to sleep immediately.
Normalerweise gingen die Leute sofort schlafen. -
The camp I’ve been in for the longest period was in Hagen, again in Westfalia, near Dortmund, which was a very big city.
The camp I’ve been in for the longest period was in Hagen, again in Westfalia, near Dortmund, which was a very big city.
Am längsten war ich in Hagen. -
In Wickede, I had to get up at 5 in the morning, walk 2 km to the station,
In Wickede, I had to get up at 5 in the morning, walk 2 km to the station,
In Wickede musste ich um fünf Uhr morgens aufstehen, 2km zum Bahnhof laufen, -
travel by train for 70 km, then walk to the job I had,
travel by train for 70 km, then walk to the job I had,
70km mit dem Zug fahren und dann zur Arbeit laufen.