European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Now you didn’t always know how somebody thought in 1940 or 42, who had been imprisoned in 1934/35/36.
Now you didn’t always know how somebody thought in 1940 or 42, who had been imprisoned in 1934/35/36.
Nun wußte man ja nun nicht, einer der 34 35 36 eingesperrt war, wie denkt er. Es war 40, 42 -
You did notice and in time you had contact to the political ones.
You did notice and in time you had contact to the political ones.
Man hat mit der Zeit Kontakte zu den Politischen. Man merkte das schon. -
We were all political prisoners.
We were all political prisoners.
Wir waren alle Politische. -
We had made sure of no others joining us.
We had made sure of no others joining us.
Das hatten wir dann schon so’n bisschen arrangiert – nicht – das da kein anderer dazu kam. -
That was important - even there.
That was important - even there.
Das spielte dann ja auch da ’ne Rolle. -
The training: We did not have a pass. Later on, in Belgium, we did.
The training: We did not have a pass. Later on, in Belgium, we did.
Die Ausbildung: Wir hatten doch, wie gesagt, keinen Ausgang. Ausgang hatten wir wohl nachher, als wir nach Belgien kamen. -
There was always a corporal walking along with us (with 3 or 5 men)
There was always a corporal walking along with us (with 3 or 5 men)
Da ist dann ein Unteroffizier mitgelaufen, mit 3 oder 5 Mann, der musste aufpassen, -
who had to make sure that no one started to talk to other people.
who had to make sure that no one started to talk to other people.
wenn einer da oder dort dann wohl mit anderen Leuten dann ins Gespräch kommt. -
But, in Belgium – as we were not the first ones there –
But, in Belgium – as we were not the first ones there –
Aber in Belgien - wir waren ja nicht die ersten, die dort hinkamen -
they knew that in this punishment battalion 999 there were many political prisoners.
they knew that in this punishment battalion 999 there were many political prisoners.
war bekannt, dass bei dieser Strafdivision 999 viele politische Häftlinge bei waren. -
That was known.
That was known.
Das war da schon bekannt. -
After that we went to France and to Italy, as well.
After that we went to France and to Italy, as well.
Das ging auch nachher nach Frankreich und wohl auch nach Italien. -
Military service, murder of a bible scholar
Military service, murder of a bible scholar
Militärdienst, Mord eines Bibelschülers -
I had already been mustered in Aschendorfer Moor.
I had already been mustered in Aschendorfer Moor.
Gemustert wurde ich ja schon in Aschendorfer Moor. -
There we got an army exclusion certificate; we were unworthy for the army.
There we got an army exclusion certificate; we were unworthy for the army.
Und da haben wir einen Wehrausschließungsschein bekommen; waren also wehrunwürdig. -
Convicts and political prisoners were all unworthy for the army.
Convicts and political prisoners were all unworthy for the army.
Zuchthäusler und Politische, die waren alle wehrunwürdig. -
In 1941/42 we were mustered again,
In 1941/42 we were mustered again,
Und 41/42 wurden wir noch mal gemustert, -
due to the massive losses at the eastern front.
due to the massive losses at the eastern front.
Und das hängt ja auch zusammen mit den ungeheuren Verlusten an der Ostfront. -
They needed human material now.
They needed human material now.
Die brauchten ja jetzt Menschenmaterial. -
There may have been a decree of the ‘Fuehrer’– so we were called up.
There may have been a decree of the ‘Fuehrer’– so we were called up.
Und da ist dann so ein Führererlaß – oder was das war – nicht - wurden die eingezogen.