European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I ran outside and it was a German soldier. He was really young.
I ran outside and it was a German soldier. He was really young.
Ich rannte hinaus und da war ein Deutscher. Ein richtig junger Deutscher. -
Hitler had enlisted even those who were 15 or 16 years old.
Hitler had enlisted even those who were 15 or 16 years old.
Hitler hat ja auch 15 und 16 jährige eingezogen. -
As he saw me, he started to shout that the Americans were coming.
As he saw me, he started to shout that the Americans were coming.
Als er mich sah, begann er zu schreien: "Die Amerikaner! Die Amerikaner!". -
He wanted me to take cover, because he didn’t know I was a partisan.
He wanted me to take cover, because he didn’t know I was a partisan.
Er wollte, dass ich mich verstecke, denn er wusste nicht, dass ich eine Partisanin war. -
At that moment we were only a young boy and a young girl who wanted the war to come to an end.
At that moment we were only a young boy and a young girl who wanted the war to come to an end.
In diesem Moment aber waren wir einfach zwei Jugendliche, die sich beide wüschten, dass der Krieg aufhört. -
He was about to try to make it home, while I was waiting for my country to be free again.
He was about to try to make it home, while I was waiting for my country to be free again.
Er versuchte nach Hause zu kommen, während ich darauf wartete, dass das Land befreit wurde. -
At that moment I didn’t feel like I could hate neither the Germans nor that young soldier.
At that moment I didn’t feel like I could hate neither the Germans nor that young soldier.
In dem Moment konnte ich weder die Deutschen, noch diesen jungen Soldaten hassen. -
Maybe he could have harmed me before, but at that point all I wanted was the war to be over and things to change.
Maybe he could have harmed me before, but at that point all I wanted was the war to be over and things to change.
Vorher hätte der mir vielleicht etwas angetan. Doch in dem Moment wollte ich nur, dass der Krieg aufhört und sich die Dinge ändern. -
That’s what I did on the 24th. On the 25th all the joy I had inside burst open.
That’s what I did on the 24th. On the 25th all the joy I had inside burst open.
So habe ich den 24. April erlebt. Am 25. ist dann eine riesige Freude aus uns herausgeplatzt. -
War for me had started in 1935, with the campaign in Africa. I was ten then, and on April 25th 1945 I was twenty.
War for me had started in 1935, with the campaign in Africa. I was ten then, and on April 25th 1945 I was twenty.
Der Krieg hatte für mich 1935 begonnen, mit dem Feldzug in Afrika. Da war ich 10 Jahre alt. Am 25. April 1945 war ich 20. -
The first thing I did was to throw our windows open.
The first thing I did was to throw our windows open.
Als erstes habe ich alle Fensterläden weit aufgerissen. -
For the previous five years we had covered them with blue paper in order not to let any light into our houses.
For the previous five years we had covered them with blue paper in order not to let any light into our houses.
Seit fünf Jahren waren unsere Fenster mit blauem Papier zugeklebt, mit dem Zucker eingepackt wurde. Damit im Dunkeln kein Licht aus den Häusern nach aussen dringt. -
After that we found a flag and we all lined up to go to Reggio for a triumphant parade.
After that we found a flag and we all lined up to go to Reggio for a triumphant parade.
Dann haben wir eine Fahne aufgetrieben und sind als Kolonne voller Freude Richtung Reggio gezogen. -
Along the Via Emilia there were American soldiers on both sides.
Along the Via Emilia there were American soldiers on both sides.
Entlang der Via Emilia waren schon auf beiden Seiten amerikanische Besatzungssoldaten. -
It was surprising for me to see blacks, as well as Indians with a turban around their head.
It was surprising for me to see blacks, as well as Indians with a turban around their head.
Ich war sehr überrascht, denn dort begann ich farbige Menschen zu sehen, schwarze, Inder mit Turbanen. -
The infantry had come behind the tanks.
The infantry had come behind the tanks.
Zuerst kamen die Panzer, dahinter die anderen Truppenteile. -
Then they lined up along the Via Emilia, from Rubiera to Reggio.
Then they lined up along the Via Emilia, from Rubiera to Reggio.
Die stauten sich auf der Via Emilia, von Rubiera bis Reggio. -
When we got there, the partisans had already arrived from the mountains, too.
When we got there, the partisans had already arrived from the mountains, too.
Als wir dort hinkamen, waren schon die Partisanen aus den Bergen da. -
As we reached the hospice, the partisan parade was stopped, since it was still dangerous inside the city.
As we reached the hospice, the partisan parade was stopped, since it was still dangerous inside the city.
Als wir nach Ospizio kamen, wurden unsere ganze Partisanenkolonne angehalten, weil es im Stadtzentrum noch zu gefährlich war. -
There were many sniper casualties in the following days.
There were many sniper casualties in the following days.
Da gab es Scharfschützen, die von den Dächern schossen. Es gab viele Tote in den Tagen.