European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I went back inside the airport. The mail had arrived and there were also some letters for me.
I went back inside the airport. The mail had arrived and there were also some letters for me.
[…] Ich ging zurück zum Flughafen. Die Post war angekommen und es gab auch ein paar Briefe für mich. -
I went to my sleeping quarter and was opening a letter when my lieutenant,
I went to my sleeping quarter and was opening a letter when my lieutenant,
Ich ging zum Schlafsaal und als ich einen der Briefe öffnete, kam mein Leutnant, -
a man from Ancona whose name was Santaroni, came over. He was a good man – he gave me a hug later –
a man from Ancona whose name was Santaroni, came over. He was a good man – he gave me a hug later –
ein Mann aus Ancona mit Namen Santaroni.
Er war ein guter Mann – er umarmte mich später – -
who had come to tell me that “somebody needed to speak to me”.
who had come to tell me that “somebody needed to speak to me”.
und er sagte, „diese Herren brauchen dich“. -
It was three policemen.
It was three policemen.
Es waren drei Polizisten. -
The first thing the sergeant did was take the letter I held in my hands.
The first thing the sergeant did was take the letter I held in my hands.
Der Marschall nahm mir zuerst den Brief aus der Hand. -
In the letter, my mother had written the following words:
In the letter, my mother had written the following words:
In dem Brief schrieb meine Mutter die folgenden Worte: -
“You’re lucky to be in the Army, since in the past few days Pattaccini, Boiardi and others were arrested”.
“You’re lucky to be in the Army, since in the past few days Pattaccini, Boiardi and others were arrested”.
„Du hast Glück, dass du in der Armee bist, denn in den letzten Tagen wurden Pattaccini, Boiardi und andere verhaftet“. -
They were all people I used to be implicated with in our activities,
They were all people I used to be implicated with in our activities,
Das waren fünf oder sechs Leute, mit denen ich dort immer zusammengearbeitet hatte. -
and my poor mother was telling me this openly. But that’s exactly why I was arrested.
and my poor mother was telling me this openly. But that’s exactly why I was arrested.
Die Arme erzählte mir diese Dinge ganz offen, weil ich in Rom war. Und stattdessen haben sie mich dort erwischt. -
I never managed to get that letter back. Wherever I was taken, the letter seemed to follow me.
I never managed to get that letter back. Wherever I was taken, the letter seemed to follow me.
Diesen Brief bekam ich nie zurück. Wo immer ich hingebracht wurde, der Brief schien mir zu folgen. -
You see, we all used to deny knowing someone, but I couldn’t, since the names were written on the letter.
You see, we all used to deny knowing someone, but I couldn’t, since the names were written on the letter.
Wir würden immer leugnen, jemanden gekannt zu haben. Ich konnte nicht, denn die Namen standen in diesem Brief geschrieben. -
Then, one morning, we left from the train station.
Then, one morning, we left from the train station.
Eines morgens fuhren wir vom Bahnhof ab. -
I had already been reduced to the ranks:
I had already been reduced to the ranks:
Ich wurde bereits degradiert: -
they had taken everything from me and that day I was slightly shabby and hadn’t shaved.
they had taken everything from me and that day I was slightly shabby and hadn’t shaved.
sie hatten mir alles weggenommen, an dem Tag war ich leicht heruntergekommen, unrasiert und etwas krank. -
As we set off, those who were on the railcar with us were curious.
As we set off, those who were on the railcar with us were curious.
Die anderen Leute auf der Reise waren neugierig. -
On other occasions, such as the day I was interned,
On other occasions, such as the day I was interned,
In anderen Fällen, z.B. als ich verhaftet wurde, waren wir 18 Mann. -
when there were eighteen of us, we had a whole railcar for ourselves, so there was no one else.
when there were eighteen of us, we had a whole railcar for ourselves, so there was no one else.
Wir hatten einen ganzen Wagon für uns und es gab keine anderen Leuten. -
This time, however, the railcar was full, so people began to ask me what I had done,
This time, however, the railcar was full, so people began to ask me what I had done,
Dieses Mal aber, begannen die Leute zu fragen, was ich getan hatte -
and I did what I could to have them do so.
and I did what I could to have them do so.
und ich ließ es zu.