European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

I spent two months in the San Tommaso prison, in Reggio Emilia,

before they were forced to transfer us to make room for new inmates.

We were 18 or 19, all fettered to the same chain.

Our families had been told we would be at the station,

so once we got there they had come to see us, and some of them were crying:

we had to pretend everything was ok and force a smile in order to make it easier for them.

When we arrived in Castelfranco, the warden came over and asked the sergeant, who was in charge of the guards,

where they were supposed to put us, since the prison was also full.

He asked where we came from, and when he was told we were from Reggio Emilia, he said:

“If it was for me, I would just dump them in a cesspit”.

Very funny, isn’t it?

Although we had not done anything to be punished, they ended up putting us in confinement cells.

The prison was full, but they had these special cells where they could fit one or two of us,

There was only a small opening in the door, and a tiny window for some fresh air,

so you never heard or saw anyone aside from the guard who came by to check on us every now and then.

I spent more or less twenty days in Castelfranco.

The old antifascists in Reggio

There weren’t any real dangers, since they rather controlled those who were older than me.

Even inside the Reggiane plant I was always an antifascist,

just like many others who were less fortunate than I was.