European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I usually shed tears every time I tell this story, so today I’m lucky: this morning I managed not to cry.
I usually shed tears every time I tell this story, so today I’m lucky: this morning I managed not to cry.
Normalerweise weine ich immer, wenn ich diese Geschichte erzähle.
Heute habe ich Glück, heute morgen habe ich es geschafft nicht zu weinen. -
And that’s the end of the story.
And that’s the end of the story.
Und das ist das Ende der Geschichte. -
I got back in touch with my old contacts and began looking for a job.
I got back in touch with my old contacts and began looking for a job.
Ich nahm wieder Kontakt zu meinen alten Bekannten auf und machte mich auf die Suche nach Arbeit. -
I received many offers that I didn’t accept,
I received many offers that I didn’t accept,
Ich bekam viele Angebote, die ich nicht annahm, -
then I just went on with my new job, at Giglio,
then I just went on with my new job, at Giglio,
dann machte ich einfach mit meinem neuen Job bei Giglio weiter. -
Latterie Cooperative Riunite (the United Dairy Cooperative). I’ve worked there for thirty-six years.
Latterie Cooperative Riunite (the United Dairy Cooperative). I’ve worked there for thirty-six years.
Latterie Cooperative Riunite (Vereinigte Molkereigenossenschaft).
Ich habe sechsunddreißig Jahre dort gearbeitet. -
Trying to stay alive
Trying to stay alive
Am Leben bleiben -
At that point I was determined to come back home,
At that point I was determined to come back home,
Zu diesem Zeitpunkt war ich entschlossen, nach Hause zurückzukehren, -
I could not stand ending up like that anymore.
I could not stand ending up like that anymore.
ich ertrug den Gedanken nicht, hier zu enden. -
I ate just as bad as the others,
I ate just as bad as the others,
Ich aß genau so schlecht wie die anderen, -
although my doctor tells me today that those two years in Germany
although my doctor tells me today that those two years in Germany
obwohl mein Arzt mir später sagte, dass diese zwei Jahre in Deutschland -
were good for my health and helped me to stay alive.
were good for my health and helped me to stay alive.
gut für meine Gesundheit waren und mir halfen am Leben zu bleiben. -
I didn’t do much, but I was never scared of not being able to make it home one day.
I didn’t do much, but I was never scared of not being able to make it home one day.
Ich habe nicht viel gemacht, aber ich habe nie daran gedacht,
es nicht nach Hause zu schaffen. -
Only during the last three months did I let go:
Only during the last three months did I let go:
Nur in den letzten drei Monaten gab ich auf. -
I could not remember my family anymore,
I could not remember my family anymore,
Ich konnte mich nicht mehr an meine Familie erinnern. -
it was as if that notion had vanished,
it was as if that notion had vanished,
Es war als ob der Begriff verschwunden war, -
and it’s something I could not understand back then.
and it’s something I could not understand back then.
ich verstand das damals nicht. -
I was exhausted,
I was exhausted,
Ich war erschöpft, -
the food was terrible for all of us, but I did my best to survive even in those conditions.
the food was terrible for all of us, but I did my best to survive even in those conditions.
die Ernährung war für uns alle schrecklich,
aber ich tat mein Bestes, um trotz dieser Erschöpfung zu überleben. -
Regarding my weight, you hear people say they were thirty-eight or forty kilos, but I never did weigh myself.
Regarding my weight, you hear people say they were thirty-eight or forty kilos, but I never did weigh myself.
Was das Gewicht angeht, hört man die Leute von 38 oder 40 Kilo sprechen,
ich habe mich jedoch nie gewogen.