European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
-
and I remember neatly the day when, in 1923 – I think I was five then –
and I remember neatly the day when, in 1923 –
I think I was five then – -
the consumer cooperative of Gavasseto was burned down.
the consumer cooperative of Gavasseto was burned down.
-
My mother and father had always been working to set up the cooperative.
My mother and father had always been working to set up the cooperative.
-
Then, that night, I remember that people came over to wake them up,
Then, that night, I remember that people came over to wake them up,
-
shouting that “the coop was on fire”: that’s a moment I will never forget.
shouting that “the coop was on fire”: that’s a moment I will never forget.
-
From that day, I’ve never been a member of the Fascist Party.
From that day, I’ve never been a member of the Fascist Party.
-
There were also other reasons which kept me from taking up membership,-.
There were also other reasons which kept me from taking up membership,-.
-
such as the fact that the Fascist youth had to take part in military activities and all kinds of classes every Saturday,
such as the fact that the Fascist youth had to take part in military activities and all kinds of classes every Saturday,
-
an environment which I did not want to be involved in.
an environment which I did not want to be involved in.
-
I went to live in Villa Rivalta and I wasn’t even seventeen when I started working at Officine Reggiane.
I went to live in Villa Rivalta and I wasn’t even seventeen when I started working at Officine Reggiane.
-
Even there, every day was a struggle.
Even there, every day was a struggle.
-
It was unpleasant to have to show a Fascist membership card for everything,
It was unpleasant to have to show a Fascist membership card for everything,
-
and that’s another aspect which had me disagreeing with the fascists.
and that’s another aspect which had me disagreeing with the fascists.
-
Anything you did, or whatever you might have needed,
Anything you did, or whatever you might have needed,
-
you were always expected to have your Fascist membership card with you.
you were always expected to have your Fascist membership card with you.
-
I did not believe in this and didn’t want the card,
I did not believe in this and didn’t want the card,
-
so I was forced to use alternative methods, those I had learned from my family,
so I was forced to use alternative methods, those I had learned from my family,
-
my parents and my two older sisters.
my parents and my two older sisters.
-
During the first three months of school we did writing exercises and we learned to count up to fifty.
During the first three months of school we did writing exercises and we learned to count up to fifty.
-
Our teachers were not like the ones you might find today.
Our teachers were not like the ones you might find today.