European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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so I was forced to use alternative methods, those I had learned from my family,
so I was forced to use alternative methods, those I had learned from my family,
Ich musste mich so gut wie möglich behelfen, mit Methoden, die ich von meiner Familie gelernt hatte, -
my parents and my two older sisters.
my parents and my two older sisters.
von meinen Eltern und meinen beiden älteren Schwestern. -
During the first three months of school we did writing exercises and we learned to count up to fifty.
During the first three months of school we did writing exercises and we learned to count up to fifty.
In der Schule machten wir in den ersten drei Monaten Schreibübungen und lernten bis 50 zu zählen. -
Our teachers were not like the ones you might find today.
Our teachers were not like the ones you might find today.
Die Lehrerinnen waren nicht so wie heute. -
I remember that my teacher was from Casalgrande and walked all the way to school and back, poor woman.
I remember that my teacher was from Casalgrande and walked all the way to school and back, poor woman.
Ich erinnere mich, dass meine Lehrerin aus Casalgrande kam. Die arme Frau ging den ganzen Weg zur Schule und zurück zu Fuß. -
Going to school was not considered too important.
Going to school was not considered too important.
Zur Schule zu gehen wurde als nicht so wichtig erachtet. -
Just take my case: as soon as I finished primary third grade, after I had failed second grade,
Just take my case: as soon as I finished primary third grade, after I had failed second grade,
Wenn man meinen Fall nimmt: als ich mit der dritten Klasse fertig war, nachdem ich die zweite nicht bestanden hatte, -
I stopped attending school.
I stopped attending school.
ging ich nicht mehr zur Schule. -
It’s not like someone stopped me from going, it’s just that it was enough to learn the basics of reading and writing.
It’s not like someone stopped me from going, it’s just that it was enough to learn the basics of reading and writing.
Es war nicht aus Bosheit, es war nur so, dass es genügte, wenn man Lesen und Schreiben gelernt hatte. -
Later, in the army, I used to write letters for a fellow soldier from Guastalla and two more who were from the mountains.
Later, in the army, I used to write letters for a fellow soldier from Guastalla and two more who were from the mountains.
Später, in der Armee, schrieb ich Briefe für einen Kameraden aus Guastalla und zwei weitere aus den Bergen. -
They were my age but didn’t know how to write: I was not better than them, but I had gone to school until third grade.
They were my age but didn’t know how to write: I was not better than them, but I had gone to school until third grade.
Sie waren in meinem Alter, aber sie konnten nicht schreiben. Ich war nicht besser als sie, außer dass ich bis zur dritten Klasse zur Schule ging. -
Reflecting history
Reflecting history
Nachdenken über die Vergangenheit -
I care about these stories.
I care about these stories.
Mir sind diese Geschichten wichtig. -
Not so much for myself.
Not so much for myself.
Gar nicht so sehr wegen mir selbst. -
Rather for the benefit they convey to those who listen and want to think about them.
Rather for the benefit they convey to those who listen and want to think about them.
Eher wegen des Nutzens, den sie für diejenigen haben, die sie hören und darüber nachdenken möchten. -
It was real life.
It was real life.
Denn es geht dabei um wirkliches Leben. -
I’m not exaggerating things, even those episodes that are quite sensational.
I’m not exaggerating things, even those episodes that are quite sensational.
Ich übertreibe nicht, im Gegenteil, einige markante Episoden gebe ich weniger beeindruckend wieder. -
I rather focus on reflecting on them. It’s all about the 20th century, about the way we lived through it.
I rather focus on reflecting on them. It’s all about the 20th century, about the way we lived through it.
Denn ich halte es für wichtig, über diese Realität nachzudenken. Es geht ums 20. Jahrhundert und wie wir es gelebt haben. Verstehst du? -
Activities after the war
Activities after the war
Aktivitäten nach dem Krieg -
I went back home. I knew I would find the same situation I had left behind.
I went back home. I knew I would find the same situation I had left behind.
Ich kehrte nach Hause zurück und wusste, dass ich das vorfinden würde, was ich zurückgelassen hatte.