European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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We got to know the so-called “débacle” – the total collapse – during our flight.
We got to know the so-called “débacle” – the total collapse – during our flight.
Wir lernten das sogenannte “débacle” – den totalen Zusammenbruch – während unserer Flucht kennen. -
We left by foot, pushing our suitcases on bikes.
We left by foot, pushing our suitcases on bikes.
Wir gingen zu Fuß los. Wir schoben unsere Koffer auf Fahrrädern. -
In Le Mans the Germans caught up with us.
In Le Mans the Germans caught up with us.
In Le Mans holten uns die Deutschen ein. -
When the Germans got in front of us, we returned to Nanterre.
When the Germans got in front of us, we returned to Nanterre.
Als die Deutschen vor uns waren, kehrten wir nach Nanterre zurück. -
The city was almost empty at the time.
The city was almost empty at the time.
Die Stadt war zu der Zeit fast leer. -
It was July and Nanterre had been occupied on June 14th, 1940.
It was July and Nanterre had been occupied on June 14th, 1940.
Es war Juli, Nanterre wurde am 14. Juni 1940 besetzt. -
There were very few working factories.
There were very few working factories.
Es gab nur sehr wenige funktionierende Fabriken. -
I got back in touch with my comrades from the Communist Youth Movement and we started…
I got back in touch with my comrades from the Communist Youth Movement and we started…
Ich kam wieder in Kontakt mit meinen Kameradinnen der Kommunistischen Jugendbewegung und wir begannen… -
how could I best describe it? The people did not understand anything.
how could I best describe it? The people did not understand anything.
wie kann ich es am besten beschreiben? Die Leute verstanden es nicht. -
They were suddenly imprisoned instead of in a free country.
They were suddenly imprisoned instead of in a free country.
Sie waren auf einmal gefangen, statt in einem freien Land. -
This happened in less than a month.
This happened in less than a month.
Das geschah in weniger als einem Monat. -
The Nazis crossed the French border on May 10th, 1940 and on June 10th they were in Paris.
The Nazis crossed the French border on May 10th, 1940 and on June 10th they were in Paris.
Die Nazis überquerten die französische Grenze am 10. Mai 1940 und am 10. Juni waren sie in Paris. -
Everybody was scared and tried to leave.
Everybody was scared and tried to leave.
Alle hatten Angst und versuchten weg zu gehen. -
We did not understand how in this country of freedom,
We did not understand how in this country of freedom,
Wir konnten nicht verstehen, wie in diesem Land der Freiheit, -
where we had everything we wanted, self-sufficient country
where we had everything we wanted, self-sufficient country
wo wir alles hatten was wir brauchten – ein selbständiges Land -
(its agriculture and its industry), suddenly nothing was left.
(its agriculture and its industry), suddenly nothing was left.
(seine Landwirtschaft und seine Industrie) – plötzlich nichts mehr übrig war. -
Ration tickets,
Ration tickets,
Es gab Rationierung, -
we were hungry, cold.
we were hungry, cold.
Hunger und Kälte. -
So we felt the need to explain to the people why we were in this situation.
So we felt the need to explain to the people why we were in this situation.
Wir fanden es wichtig, den Leuten zu erklären, warum wir in dieser Situation waren. -
With this group of young people we were able to assemble, those who had stayed in Nanterre or had come back,
With this group of young people we were able to assemble, those who had stayed in Nanterre or had come back,
Mit dieser Gruppe von jungen Leuten, die wir aus denen bilden konnten, die in Nanterre geblieben oder nach Nanterre zurückgekommen waren