European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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After my youth consecration, when I left school, I took part in my first Marxist seminar.
After my youth consecration, when I left school, I took part in my first Marxist seminar.
Ich hatte nach meiner Jugendweihe, als ich aus der Schule kam, mein erstes marxistisches Seminar. Das ging dann natürlich weiter -
There, young people who were interested,
There, young people who were interested,
und da wurde den jungen Menschen, die sich dafür interessierten -
learned all the basics if they wanted to become a functionary of the labour movement.
learned all the basics if they wanted to become a functionary of the labour movement.
das Grundsätzliche beigebracht, was jemanden der in der Arbeiterbewegung Funktionär werden will, wissen muss. -
So they were not only practical experiences that were being reflected,
So they were not only practical experiences that were being reflected,
Also insofern waren das nicht nur praktische Erfahrungen, die reflektiert wurden, -
but we also had seminars learning to deal with the political opponent.
but we also had seminars learning to deal with the political opponent.
sondern wir hatten auch Seminare mit denen wir lernten uns mit dem politischen Gegner auseinander zu setzen. -
For example, it was obligatory for a functionary of the socialist youth
For example, it was obligatory for a functionary of the socialist youth
Es war zum Beispiel damals Pflicht für einen Funktionär der sozialistischen Jugend, -
to have read Hitler’s book ‚Mein Kampf’.
to have read Hitler’s book ‚Mein Kampf’.
Hitlers ‚Mein Kampf’ gelesen zu haben. Warum? -
We could tell the Nazi officials, who didn’t know as well as we did, what the real aims were.
We could tell the Nazi officials, who didn’t know as well as we did, what the real aims were.
Damit wir den Nazifunktionären, die das nicht so gut kannten wie wir sagen konnten, was sind die eigentlichen Ziele. -
They did not believe that Hitler wanted war.
They did not believe that Hitler wanted war.
Die glaubten uns ja nicht, dass Hitler Krieg will. -
We kept hearing again and again: „They will not be so stupid to go against the whole world on their own.”
We kept hearing again and again: „They will not be so stupid to go against the whole world on their own.”
Wir hörten immer wieder: „Die sind doch nicht so blöd, dass sie allein gegen die ganze Welt gehen.“ -
But we were able to quote from ‚Mein Kampf’ that the annexation of new living space in the east
But we were able to quote from ‚Mein Kampf’ that the annexation of new living space in the east
Aber wir konnten zitieren aus ‚Mein Kampf’, dass Eroberung neuen Lebensraumes im Osten -
was one main issue of the Nazis’ fight.
was one main issue of the Nazis’ fight.
ein Hauptpunkt des nazistischen Programms ist. -
If we were able to bring the better arguments into discussions with the Nazis,
If we were able to bring the better arguments into discussions with the Nazis,
Also wenn wir in der Auseinandersetzung mit den Nazis in Betrieben, in den Schulen, wo auch immer -
in the companies, in the schools or wherever, it would have an effect on the undecided.
in the companies, in the schools or wherever, it would have an effect on the undecided.
die besseren Argumente hatten, dann hatte es auf die Unentschiedenen auch schon eine Wirkung gehabt. -
But still the Nazis became stronger and stronger;
But still the Nazis became stronger and stronger;
Trotzdem wurden die Nazis stärker und stärker. -
for one, because of the social problems and for two,
for one, because of the social problems and for two,
Einmal durch die Sozialprobleme und andererseits -
because the imperial German broadcasting service had an immense influence.
because the imperial German broadcasting service had an immense influence.
weil der deutsche, der reichs deutsche Rundfunk, einen ungeheueren Einfluss hatte. -
Many Germans did not speak Czech,
Many Germans did not speak Czech,
Viele Deutsche konnten nicht tschechisch, -
but you could hear the broadcast stations Königs Wusterhausen and Seesen, the two Nazi stations, well.
but you could hear the broadcast stations Königs Wusterhausen and Seesen, the two Nazi stations, well.
aber die Sender Königs Wusterhausen und Zeesen, die beiden Nazisender, die hörte man sehr gut -
This influence, in which social problems were misleadingly passed off as national problems, were surely effective.
This influence, in which social problems were misleadingly passed off as national problems, were surely effective.
und diese Einflussnahme in der soziale Probleme als nationale Probleme, fälschlicherweise ausgegeben wurden, haben natürlich gewirkt. Besonders als die Massenarbeitslosigkeit in den deutschen Gebieten wirksam war.