European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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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. -
During this time I joined the trade union, the central association of the employees.
During this time I joined the trade union, the central association of the employees.
Ich bin zu dieser Zeit auch eingetreten in die Gewerkschaft,