European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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First allied air-drop
First allied air-drop
Erster Fallschirmabwurf der Alliierten -
We heard there was an airplane flying back and forth.
We heard there was an airplane flying back and forth.
Wir hörten, dass ein Flugzeug hin und her flog. -
So we made a triangle with three stacks of fascines.
So we made a triangle with three stacks of fascines.
Wir machten drei Haufen aus Reisigbündeln, die mussten ein Dreieck bilden. -
That was the code word, and we set in on fire.
That was the code word, and we set in on fire.
Das war das Erkennungszeichen. Dann haben wir sie in Brand gesteckt. -
The airplane was flying in a large circle of quite a few kilometres.
The airplane was flying in a large circle of quite a few kilometres.
Das Flugzeug kreiste, das konnte ja nicht so schnell wenden wie ein Auto ... das zieht kilometerlange Kreise. -
When they noticed the triangle they launched the parachute.
When they noticed the triangle they launched the parachute.
Als sie das Dreick bemerkt hatten, haben sie den Fallschirm abgeworfen. -
It was a remarkable air-drop.
It was a remarkable air-drop.
Das war ein hochinteressanter Abwurf. -
Afterwards the comrades from Modena came to us saying they wanted the weapons.
Afterwards the comrades from Modena came to us saying they wanted the weapons.
Später kamen die Genossen aus Modena und forderten die Waffen für sich. -
We shared the guns with them, since there were 130-140 machine guns.
We shared the guns with them, since there were 130-140 machine guns.
Wir haben mit ihnen geteilt, da waren ja schließlich 130-140 Maschinenpistolen. -
We were only around forty or fifty and had more than we needed.
We were only around forty or fifty and had more than we needed.
Damals waren wir nicht mehr als vierzig oder fünzig, hatten also mehr als wir brauchten. -
From that day, the air-drops continued.
From that day, the air-drops continued.
Von da an gingen die Abwürfe weiter. -
Without fear; trust in the partisans
Without fear; trust in the partisans
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Quite frankly, I didn’t feel in danger because I hadn’t been in the military.
Quite frankly, I didn’t feel in danger because I hadn’t been in the military.
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I also had a lot of trust in the partisans.
I also had a lot of trust in the partisans.
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I found myself in that house with this Russian,
I found myself in that house with this Russian,
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who was a captain and was smoking cigarettes with ease.
who was a captain and was smoking cigarettes with ease.
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So I was in no doubt that things would go well.
So I was in no doubt that things would go well.
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I didn’t even think I could be killed, that was the problem:
I didn’t even think I could be killed, that was the problem:
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I trusted the partisans and was really calm.
I trusted the partisans and was really calm.
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Afterwards, by the time things had changed and I also had military functions,
Afterwards, by the time things had changed and I also had military functions,