European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I’ve been afraid one night because I had never heard this German machine gun shoot,
I’ve been afraid one night because I had never heard this German machine gun shoot,
An einem Abend hatte ich Angst, denn nie zuvor hatte ich dieses deutsche Maschinengewehr feuern gehört, -
they called it “raganella” (tree frog): it could shoot so fast, so many bullets.
they called it “raganella” (tree frog): it could shoot so fast, so many bullets.
es wurde “raganella” (Ratsche) genannt: ein Gewehr, dass sehr schnell schoss, so viele Patronen. -
That was really the only time my heart was pounding.
That was really the only time my heart was pounding.
Ich glaube es war das einzige Mal, dass mein Herz so wummerte. -
Later I realized it was quite distant, but at the moment I thought it was there, a few steps away,
Later I realized it was quite distant, but at the moment I thought it was there, a few steps away,
Später habe ich festestellt, dass es weit weg war, aber es schien nah zu sein, wenige Schritte entfernt, -
this nasty sound in the silence of the night.
this nasty sound in the silence of the night.
nein wirklich, dieser häßliche Klang in der Stille der Nacht. -
I felt fear that night, at least for a short time.
I felt fear that night, at least for a short time.
An jenem Abend hatte ich ein wenig Angst, für eine Weile. -
Massacre at Bettola, June 1944
Massacre at Bettola, June 1944
Massaker an der Bettola, Juni 1944 -
Then there was this episode in La Bettola.
Then there was this episode in La Bettola.
Es ereignete sich diese Geschichte an der Bettola, -
It was a shocking event for our province.
It was a shocking event for our province.
was ein traumatisches Ereignis für unsere Gegend war. -
They had killed many people before, even elderly people, but always adults.
They had killed many people before, even elderly people, but always adults.
Sie hatten vorher größtenteils erwachsene Menschen getötet, auch Alte, aber jedenfalls Erwachsene. -
This time however they made fun of those who were dead, and also killed some children.
This time however they made fun of those who were dead, and also killed some children.
Hier hingegen verhöhnten sie die Toten und töteten Kinder. -
Everybody started to become conscious that it was “time to get rid of them”.
Everybody started to become conscious that it was “time to get rid of them”.
Gerade daraus ist das Bewusstsein geboren zu sagen: "Mit ihnen muss man Schluss machen." -
A really large group of people took up arms against them.
A really large group of people took up arms against them.
Eine ganze Menge Leute griff darum zu den Waffen. -
1940 beginning of the war; 1943 Mussolini arrested
1940 beginning of the war; 1943 Mussolini arrested
1940 Kriegsbeginn; 1943 nach der Inhaftierung Mussolinis -
They took us to Busana as there was a radio there, and I remember that
They took us to Busana as there was a radio there, and I remember that
Da es in Busana ein Radio gab, brachte man uns nach Busana und ich erinnere mich, -
we listened to Mussolini’s speech from Palazzo Venezia.
we listened to Mussolini’s speech from Palazzo Venezia.
dass wir die Rede des "Duce" (Mussolini) aus dem Palazzo Venezia hörten. -
Afterwards I saw it on TV over and over, that big head at the window, on that balcony in Palazzo Venezia…
Afterwards I saw it on TV over and over, that big head at the window, on that balcony in Palazzo Venezia…
Später habe ich ihn tausenfach im Fernsehen gesehen, diesen Dickkopf am Fenster, auf dem Balkon des Palazzo Venezia... -
and everybody clapping below.
and everybody clapping below.
und die ganzen Leute, die unten applaudierten. -
I thought that the war had started. You didn’t contemplate things too much at that age.
I thought that the war had started. You didn’t contemplate things too much at that age.
[Und was dachtest du?] Ich dachte, dass der Krieg ausgebrochen ist... Es war nicht so, dass du viel nachgedacht hast in diesem Alter. -
That was June 1940, I was thirteen and a half, so what can you be concerned about?
That was June 1940, I was thirteen and a half, so what can you be concerned about?
[Wie alt warst du?] Es geschah im Juni 1940, also war ich 13 1/2. Was für Gedanken solltest du dir da schon gemacht haben?