European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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The Germans were heading for the Po River,
The Germans were heading for the Po River,
Die Deutschen waren auf dem Weg zum Po Fluss, -
but there were a few groups of partisans in the lowlands, the SAPs, trying to disarm them.
but there were a few groups of partisans in the lowlands, the SAPs, trying to disarm them.
aber es gab ein paar Partisanengruppen im Flachland, die SAPs, die versuchten sie zu entwaffnen. -
However, the Germans didn’t give up until the very end.
However, the Germans didn’t give up until the very end.
Trotzdem, die Deutschen gaben sich bis zum Ende nicht geschlagen. -
We were told to keep calm.
We were told to keep calm.
Wir hatten den Befehl, uns ruhig zu verhalten. -
Nobody knew what the situation was.
Nobody knew what the situation was.
Denn niemand wusste, wie die Situation war. -
I was at home when I heard a horse coming at full speed.
I was at home when I heard a horse coming at full speed.
Ich war zu Hause, als ich ein Pferde in vollem Gallop heranreiten hörte. -
The reins were loose, because he had probably taken the horse from a cart.
The reins were loose, because he had probably taken the horse from a cart.
Die Riemen hingen noch herab, wahrscheinlich weil er das Pferd von einem Wagen abgemacht hatte. -
I ran outside and it was a German soldier. He was really young.
I ran outside and it was a German soldier. He was really young.
Ich rannte hinaus und da war ein Deutscher. Ein richtig junger Deutscher. -
Hitler had enlisted even those who were 15 or 16 years old.
Hitler had enlisted even those who were 15 or 16 years old.
Hitler hat ja auch 15 und 16 jährige eingezogen. -
As he saw me, he started to shout that the Americans were coming.
As he saw me, he started to shout that the Americans were coming.
Als er mich sah, begann er zu schreien: "Die Amerikaner! Die Amerikaner!". -
He wanted me to take cover, because he didn’t know I was a partisan.
He wanted me to take cover, because he didn’t know I was a partisan.
Er wollte, dass ich mich verstecke, denn er wusste nicht, dass ich eine Partisanin war. -
At that moment we were only a young boy and a young girl who wanted the war to come to an end.
At that moment we were only a young boy and a young girl who wanted the war to come to an end.
In diesem Moment aber waren wir einfach zwei Jugendliche, die sich beide wüschten, dass der Krieg aufhört. -
He was about to try to make it home, while I was waiting for my country to be free again.
He was about to try to make it home, while I was waiting for my country to be free again.
Er versuchte nach Hause zu kommen, während ich darauf wartete, dass das Land befreit wurde. -
At that moment I didn’t feel like I could hate neither the Germans nor that young soldier.
At that moment I didn’t feel like I could hate neither the Germans nor that young soldier.
In dem Moment konnte ich weder die Deutschen, noch diesen jungen Soldaten hassen. -
Maybe he could have harmed me before, but at that point all I wanted was the war to be over and things to change.
Maybe he could have harmed me before, but at that point all I wanted was the war to be over and things to change.
Vorher hätte der mir vielleicht etwas angetan. Doch in dem Moment wollte ich nur, dass der Krieg aufhört und sich die Dinge ändern. -
That’s what I did on the 24th. On the 25th all the joy I had inside burst open.
That’s what I did on the 24th. On the 25th all the joy I had inside burst open.
So habe ich den 24. April erlebt. Am 25. ist dann eine riesige Freude aus uns herausgeplatzt. -
War for me had started in 1935, with the campaign in Africa. I was ten then, and on April 25th 1945 I was twenty.
War for me had started in 1935, with the campaign in Africa. I was ten then, and on April 25th 1945 I was twenty.
Der Krieg hatte für mich 1935 begonnen, mit dem Feldzug in Afrika. Da war ich 10 Jahre alt. Am 25. April 1945 war ich 20. -
The first thing I did was to throw our windows open.
The first thing I did was to throw our windows open.
Als erstes habe ich alle Fensterläden weit aufgerissen. -
For the previous five years we had covered them with blue paper in order not to let any light into our houses.
For the previous five years we had covered them with blue paper in order not to let any light into our houses.
Seit fünf Jahren waren unsere Fenster mit blauem Papier zugeklebt, mit dem Zucker eingepackt wurde. Damit im Dunkeln kein Licht aus den Häusern nach aussen dringt. -
After that we found a flag and we all lined up to go to Reggio for a triumphant parade.
After that we found a flag and we all lined up to go to Reggio for a triumphant parade.
Dann haben wir eine Fahne aufgetrieben und sind als Kolonne voller Freude Richtung Reggio gezogen.