European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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It was just natural to me.
It was just natural to me.
Es kam mir ganz natürlich vor. -
After all I had suffered, joining the Communist party meant
After all I had suffered, joining the Communist party meant
Nach allem was ich erlitten habe, der Kommunistischen Partei beizutreten bedeutete -
doing something for the vision I had developed.
doing something for the vision I had developed.
etwas für die Vision zu tun, die ich entwickelt habe. -
I would also be doing something for my brother and to grant people a chance to live better.
I would also be doing something for my brother and to grant people a chance to live better.
Ich würde zudem etwas für meinen Bruder tun, und Menschen eine Chance auf ein besseres Leben geben. -
I became a communist day by day, taking in the atmosphere around me.
I became a communist day by day, taking in the atmosphere around me.
Ich wurde Tag für Tag mehr Kommunist, dadurch, dass ich die Atmosphäre um mich herum verinnerlichte. -
At fifteen, I can’t say I was aware of what was going on.
At fifteen, I can’t say I was aware of what was going on.
Ich kann nicht sagen, dass mir mit fünfzehn klar war, was um mich herum geschah. -
Given my life, however, joining the Communist party was the natural answer.
Given my life, however, joining the Communist party was the natural answer.
Durch mein Leben war aber der Beitritt zur Kommunistischen Partei die natürliche Antwort. -
There was no other solution, no doubts of any sort.
There was no other solution, no doubts of any sort.
Es gab keine andere Lösung, ohne irgendwie gearteten Zweifel. -
Education: news in the cattle shed, books
Education: news in the cattle shed, books
Bildung: Neuigkeiten im Kuhstall, Bücher -
In the winter we used the cattle shed as our meeting place.
In the winter we used the cattle shed as our meeting place.
Im Winter war der Kuhstall unser Treffpunkt. -
Friends could finally spend some time together.
Friends could finally spend some time together.
Freunde konnten endlich etwas Zeit miteinander verbringen. -
Social and political activities took place in the cattle shed,
Social and political activities took place in the cattle shed,
Soziale und politische Aktivitäten fanden im Kuhstall statt, -
as well as love affairs, since boys and girls met there.
as well as love affairs, since boys and girls met there.
genau so wie Liebesaffären, weil Jungen und Mädchen sich dort trafen. -
I would sneak in and day by day my curiosity would grow.
I would sneak in and day by day my curiosity would grow.
Ich schlich mich hinein und Tag um Tag wuchs meine Neugier. -
Maybe it was my disposition, but I really had so much fun there. That’s where all the news could be heard.
Maybe it was my disposition, but I really had so much fun there. That’s where all the news could be heard.
Vielleicht war es Veranlagung, aber ich hab dort viel Spaß gehabt. Man konnte dort alle Neuigkeiten erfahren. -
I was hearing everyday news,
I was hearing everyday news,
Ich hörte die täglichen Nachrichtens, -
but especially political discussions which were starting to take place at our house.
but especially political discussions which were starting to take place at our house.
aber insbesondere auch politische Diskussionen, die zunehmend auch Zuhause stattfanden. -
I began to hear that a lot of people didn’t agree with fascism.
I began to hear that a lot of people didn’t agree with fascism.
Ich lernte, dass viele Leute nicht mit dem Faschismus einverstanden waren. -
The tone was always rather timid and veiled though.
The tone was always rather timid and veiled though.
Der Tonfall war aber immer eher verhalten und hinter vorgehaltener Hand. -
Even a joke regarding the Duce could have got you in jail then.
Even a joke regarding the Duce could have got you in jail then.
Selbst ein Witz über den Duce konnte einen damals ins Gefängnis bringen.