European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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My sister used to stand in front of the baker’s shop, me at the butcher’s
My sister used to stand in front of the baker’s shop, me at the butcher’s
Da hat meine Schwester vor’m Bäckerladen gestanden, ich beim Fleischer -
and we used to wait until my father came back from work and he had a backpack full of money.
and we used to wait until my father came back from work and he had a backpack full of money.
und haben dann gewartet, bis mein Vater von der Arbeit kam, und der hatte einen Rucksack voller Geld. -
Then he used to give us bundles of it and with them we paid for the bread or a 250 g of sausage or a 500 g of meat.
Then he used to give us bundles of it and with them we paid for the bread or a 250 g of sausage or a 500 g of meat.
Und da hat er uns denn Pakete gegeben, und da haben wir dann Brot bezahlt oder ein halbes Pfund Wurst oder ein Pfund Fleisch -
The money was worthless the next day.
The money was worthless the next day.
das Geld war ja dann am anderen Tag wieder wertlos -
During this time many sank into poverty.
During this time many sank into poverty.
und in dieser Zeit verarmten ja viele. -
A lot of people had paid war bonds
A lot of people had paid war bonds
Viele hatten auch während des Krieges Kriegsanleihe bezahlt, -
and they became invalid – were not worth anything.
and they became invalid – were not worth anything.
und die wurde ungültig – war nichts mehr wert. -
So, whoever had no material goods, lost everything.
So, whoever had no material goods, lost everything.
Also, wer keine Sachgüter hatte, der hat alles verloren. -
1927 I left school.
1927 I left school.
1927 bin ich aus der 8. Klasse oder der 1. Klasse, ich weiß nicht wie damals die Klasse war, entlassen worden, -
Then I tried for an apprenticeship.
Then I tried for an apprenticeship.
Da bemühte ich mich um eine Lehrstelle. -
I didn’t get one, although I had good school reports.
I didn’t get one, although I had good school reports.
Hab keine Lehrstelle 1927 bekommen, obgleich ich auch gute Zeugnisse hatte. -
It was in this time, as well,
It was in this time, as well,
Auch in dieser Zeit war es ja schon so, -
that the grammar school pupils were older.
that the grammar school pupils were older.
Ein vierzehnjähriger oder ein siebzehn-, achtzehnjähriger -
There is a difference between the strength of a fourteen year old boy or a seventeen/eighteen year old young man.
There is a difference between the strength of a fourteen year old boy or a seventeen/eighteen year old young man.
der hat ja andere körperliche Kräfte. -
I wanted to become a type setter.
I wanted to become a type setter.
Also, ich wollte da Schriftsetzer werden. -
My uncle sought for a place – rejected.
My uncle sought for a place – rejected.
Mein Onkel hat sich auch darum bemüht – abgelehnt. -
Then another uncle said: “Well, then you become a bricklayer” – as well, no success.
Then another uncle said: “Well, then you become a bricklayer” – as well, no success.
Dann hat ein anderer Onkel gesagt: „Na, dann wirst du Maurer - auch nichts. -
My father was a metal worker – again, nothing.
My father was a metal worker – again, nothing.
Mein Vater war Schlosser – auch nichts. Also, alle Bemühungen sind sozusagen fehlgeschlagen. -
And then I started at the company ‘Jonas’ as an adolescent employee.
And then I started at the company ‘Jonas’ as an adolescent employee.
Und dann fing ich an bei der Firma 'Jonas' als jugendlicher Angestellter. Ich war dann in der Zeit -
That was in 1927.
That was in 1927.
ein besserer Laufbursche. Für ’ne gewisse Zeit. Das war 1927.