European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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In Nanterre, at the place of the current university, there was a camp called “aviation camp”,
In Nanterre, at the place of the current university, there was a camp called “aviation camp”,
In Nanterre, wo heute die Universität ist, gab es ein „Luftfahrtlager“, -
that had been occupied by the Germans.
that had been occupied by the Germans.
das von den Nazis besetzt wurde. -
It was used to recuperate material, like pieces of downed airplanes. Soviet prisoners worked there.
It was used to recuperate material, like pieces of downed airplanes. Soviet prisoners worked there.
Es wurde genutzt, um Material wie z.B. Teile von abgeschossenen Flugzeugen zu sammeln. Sowjetische Kriegsgefangene arbeiteten dort. -
One day a comrade went to visit his wife in the hospital
One day a comrade went to visit his wife in the hospital
Eines Tages ging ein Kamerad ins Krankenhaus, um seine Frau zu besuchen. -
and was approached for a cigarette by a young POW speaking no French.
and was approached for a cigarette by a young POW speaking no French.
Er wurde von einem Kriegsgefangenen, der kein französisch sprach, nach einer Zigarette gefragt. -
Our comrade told him to come back the next day with other clothes and we helped him escape.
Our comrade told him to come back the next day with other clothes and we helped him escape.
Unser Kamerad bat ihn, am nächsten Tag mit anderen Kleidern wieder zu kommen und wir halfen ihm zu fliehen. -
It was risky, but we took risks every day.
It was risky, but we took risks every day.
Es war riskant, aber wir nahmen jeden tag Risiken auf. -
The young man is on that picture I showed you, along with Louis Meunier and me.
The young man is on that picture I showed you, along with Louis Meunier and me.
Der junge Mann auf dem Bild, dass ich Ihnen gezeigt habe, zusammen mit Louis Meunier und mir. -
He joined a ‘maquis’. To our great regret we never found out what happened to him.
He joined a ‘maquis’. To our great regret we never found out what happened to him.
Er schloss sich den Maquisards an. Zu unserem großen Bedauern fanden wir nie heraus, was aus ihm wurde. -
We had the possibility to help him escape, so we did.
We had the possibility to help him escape, so we did.
Wir hatten die Möglichkeit, ihm bei der Flucht zu helfen, also taten wir es. -
Organization, structure, persecution
Organization, structure, persecution
Organisation, Struktur, Verfolgung -
In the beginning, we all knew each other.
In the beginning, we all knew each other.
Am Anfang kannten wir uns alle. -
When the first people were arrested we realized we needed a new form of organization.
When the first people were arrested we realized we needed a new form of organization.
Als es die ersten Verhaftungen gab, stellte sich die Frage nach anderen Organisationsformen. -
This was not specific for Nanterre. We were not used to working or organizing ourselves undercover.
This was not specific for Nanterre. We were not used to working or organizing ourselves undercover.
Das war nichts Spezifisches für Nanterre. Es gab keine Erfahrung mit klandestiner Organisation. -
The instructions we got from the Communist Youth or from the Communist Party were to organize in triangles.
The instructions we got from the Communist Youth or from the Communist Party were to organize in triangles.
Wir bekamen von der Kommunistischen Jugend und dann von der Partei die Anweisung, sich in Dreiecken zu organisieren. -
We were to get together in groups of three comrades.
We were to get together in groups of three comrades.
Man bildete Gruppen von nur drei Kamerad*innen. -
In case of an arrest we could only give away two names under torture.
In case of an arrest we could only give away two names under torture.
Im Falle einer Verhaftung, unter Folter, konnte man nur die Namen von zwei anderen preisgeben. -
One out of the three was responsible.
One out of the three was responsible.
Eine der drei Kamerad*innen war verantwortlich. -
We formed a sort of spider web, with these triangles, on all levels of the organization.
We formed a sort of spider web, with these triangles, on all levels of the organization.
Dies ergab eine Art Spinnennetz mit diesen Dreiecken auf jeder Ebene. -
That was the structure of the clandestine organization of the Communist Party, which then applied to the French snipers and partisans.
That was the structure of the clandestine organization of the Communist Party, which then applied to the French snipers and partisans.
Dies war die Struktur der Kommunistischen Partei im Untergrund, die dann auf die Francs Tireurs und Partisanen übertragen wurde.