European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
-
Around 10:30 or 11, I was in the highest position in Cerrè Sologno,
Around 10:30 or 11, I was in the highest position in Cerrè Sologno,
Cos’è successo: lì, verso mi sembra le dieci e mezzo-undici, che io ero in testa al Cerré Sologno, -
right in front of the spot where today you can find the monument of our fallen.
right in front of the spot where today you can find the monument of our fallen.
proprio di fronte dove c’è la lapide adesso di quei nostri caduti, quella casa lì, che adesso è nuova ma è stata bombardata e ricostruita. -
I was with Viktor, a Russian who had a machine gun
I was with Viktor, a Russian who had a machine gun
C'ero io, c’era Viktor, che era russo che aveva un mitra, -
that had been taken from a fascist by the women in Montecavolo.
that had been taken from a fascist by the women in Montecavolo.
che era un mitra che era stato, che veniva da Montecavolo, che era di un fascista che è stato disarmato dalle donne di Montecavolo. -
That was the only machine gun we had.
That was the only machine gun we had.
L’unico mitra che avevamo era quello lì, quello di coso… che l’aveva il russo. -
Then there was also one of my comrades from Cella. It was four of us there.
Then there was also one of my comrades from Cella. It was four of us there.
Poi un mio compagno di Cella. Praticamente eravamo in quattro lì, -
I could overlook the whole main street of Cerrè Sologno.
I could overlook the whole main street of Cerrè Sologno.
dominavo proprio tutta la strada centrale di Cerré Sologno. -
This young man was walking towards us with a gun.
This young man was walking towards us with a gun.
Arriva un giovane che veniva avanti col fucile, -
As he realized he had 3 or 4 guns aimed at him, he raised his hands and dropped his gun.
As he realized he had 3 or 4 guns aimed at him, he raised his hands and dropped his gun.
quando ha visto che aveva puntato tre o quattro fucili ha alzato le mani, ha lasciato andare il fucile, noi gli abbiamo detto: -
We told him to come forward,
We told him to come forward,
“Vieni avanti col fucile in mano”, -
then we arrested him, questioned him for some news, and took him to the command.
then we arrested him, questioned him for some news, and took him to the command.
e l’abbiamo arrestato e poi gli abbiamo chiesto notizie, e l’abbiamo portato al comando. -
There we saw Barbolini’s sister, Sonia, who was desperate.
There we saw Barbolini’s sister, Sonia, who was desperate.
Al comando c’era ancora la sorella di Barbolini, Sonia, disperata: -
Our wounded men had already been taken there.
Our wounded men had already been taken there.
lì c’erano già i feriti, i nostri. -
She told us that a German unit from Cinque Cerri was on its way.
She told us that a German unit from Cinque Cerri was on its way.
E ha detto che c’era in arrivo un… diciamo una compagnia tedesca, che veniva da Cinque Cerri; -
If that company made it over there, it would have been a slaughtering for us.
If that company made it over there, it would have been a slaughtering for us.
se fosse arrivata quella compagnia lì, sarebbe stato per noi una carneficina, -
We didn’t have enough cover to draw back since the mountain behind us had more than a meter of snow.
We didn’t have enough cover to draw back since the mountain behind us had more than a meter of snow.
perchè noi non avevamo la copertura per ritirarci, perchè alle nostre spalle c’era la montagna dove c’era la neve, ma c’era più di un metro di neve. -
If we withdrew like that they would have shot us.
If we withdrew like that they would have shot us.
Se noi ci fossimo ritirati in quel modo loro ci avrebbero sparato, non c’era niente da fare. -
It was almost noon at that point,
It was almost noon at that point,
E allora siamo arrivati a circa mezzogiorno che ancora -
and it wasn’t clear if we were winning or losing the battle.
and it wasn’t clear if we were winning or losing the battle.
non si sapeva la sorte della battaglia, se pendeva a nostro favore o sfavore. -
Then the fascists started singing “Battaglione”.
Then the fascists started singing “Battaglione”.
Un bel momento i fascisti cantano “Battaglione”;