European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I would be Anita for my friends, but I was only known as Laila with the partisans.
I would be Anita for my friends, but I was only known as Laila with the partisans.
anche se eri a Reggio e operavi, come dire... con gli amici ero Anita, ma con i partigiani cioè quelli -
At times with people I didn’t know or whom I met for the first time.
At times with people I didn’t know or whom I met for the first time.
che operavano nella clandestinità, alle volte anche persone che non conoscevi, che vedevi per la prima volta, ti conosceva con il nome di Laila, -
It was my battle name.
It was my battle name.
perché il nome di combattente, -
The names we were given increased our chances of survival.
The names we were given increased our chances of survival.
cioè il soprannome che ti era dato ti permetteva una maggiore salvezza, -
If one was arrested and talked under torture, he handed out the name he knew, not being your real name.
If one was arrested and talked under torture, he handed out the name he knew, not being your real name.
in quanto se uno veniva arrestato, tanti si son salvati in questo modo, e quello sotto tortura parlava, dava il nome che tu gli avevi dato, -
Many saved themselves this way.
Many saved themselves this way.
ma non ti... che non era il tuo nome. -
I had chosen the battle name Laila because I read a lot
I had chosen the battle name Laila because I read a lot
Io avevo scelto il nome di Laila perché io, siccome leggevo molto, -
and had found out about this princess in a book on the Aztecs.
and had found out about this princess in a book on the Aztecs.
avevo letto un libro sugli Aztechi dove una principessa, una donna il cui -
Her husband was an Aztec prince, the commander of a unit fighting the Spanish invaders.
Her husband was an Aztec prince, the commander of a unit fighting the Spanish invaders.
fidanzato o marito era una figura di primo piano, cioè era un principe azteco, era comandante di una formazione che combatteva contro gli spagnoli, -
As he was killed in battle she took his place.
As he was killed in battle she took his place.
era caduto, il re era stato ucciso e lei aveva preso il suo posto; -
Laila was the first name of a woman fighter, so I thought it would be right for me to choose that name.
Laila was the first name of a woman fighter, so I thought it would be right for me to choose that name.
per cui era il primo nome di donna combattente, per me era giusto avere quel nome, -
She was a combatant, and I chose a name that would reflect what I was doing.
She was a combatant, and I chose a name that would reflect what I was doing.
era una combattente... per cui mi ero adeguata col nome a quello che facevo. -
Becoming a partisan: rights, obligations
Becoming a partisan: rights, obligations
Diventare partigiana: diritti, doveri -
After a while of walking, a partisan patrol came towards us.
After a while of walking, a partisan patrol came towards us.
Noi andiamo, dopo poco ci arriva incontro una pattuglia, -
They were from the Rosselli detachment. Rosselli was one of the local partisans. Then we reached the detachment.
They were from the Rosselli detachment. Rosselli was one of the local partisans. Then we reached the detachment.
cioè un gruppo di partigiani del distaccamento Rosselli, lui era già, era uno dei partigiani della zona, ci son venuti incontro e arrivo in distaccamento. -
There, the commander started talking to us. He wanted to know why we went to the mountains.
There, the commander started talking to us. He wanted to know why we went to the mountains.
Come arrivo in distaccamento il comandante parla con noi, vuol sapere perché siamo andate su, -
We explained to him what had happened. And the situation changed again. A different reality hit us.
We explained to him what had happened. And the situation changed again. A different reality hit us.
gli spieghiamo quello che è successo, e anche lì un capovolgimento della situazione, una realtà completamente diversa, -
We didn’t only have to learn to fight, as the commander told us:
We didn’t only have to learn to fight, as the commander told us:
che non è solo che devi imparare a combattere, ma il comandante partigiano dice: -
“From this moment you’re not men or women anymore, you’re partisans.
“From this moment you’re not men or women anymore, you’re partisans.
“Guardate, in questo momento voi non siete più né uomini né donne, siete dei partigiani, -
You’ll do what the others do, share things with us and sleep in the same rooms,
You’ll do what the others do, share things with us and sleep in the same rooms,
fate ciò che fanno gli altri, dividete con noi e dormite nelle stanze con noi,