European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Everybody was in the streets, so the parade grew more and more.
Everybody was in the streets, so the parade grew more and more.
La gente era tutta fuori dalle case e quindi il corteo si ingrandiva sempre di più, diventava sempre più numeroso. -
From Castellazzo to Reggio it is seven or eight km.
From Castellazzo to Reggio it is seven or eight km.
Abbiamo fatto, dunque c’erano da Castellazzo a Reggio, c’era circa 7-8 Km. -
A whole group of youths – since the older ones were at war – rode their bicycles all the way to the city.
A whole group of youths – since the older ones were at war – rode their bicycles all the way to the city.
Quindi tutti in bicicletta, tutti giovani, giovanissimi perché gli altri erano militari, e quindi arrivammo a Reggio. -
Mussolini’s writings were everywhere:
Mussolini’s writings were everywhere:
Un po’ dappertutto c’erano le scritte di Mussolini -
“Credere, obbedire, combattere” (Believe, obey, fight);
“Credere, obbedire, combattere” (Believe, obey, fight);
“Credere, obbedire, combattere”, -
“L’aratro traccia il solco e la spada lo difende” (The plough cuts furrows, the sword protects them).
“L’aratro traccia il solco e la spada lo difende” (The plough cuts furrows, the sword protects them).
“Il solco traccia…”, no, “L’aratro traccia il solco e la spada lo difende”. Questo era scritto un po’ dappertutto, -
Some boys managed to find paint and went up the ladders to cover them.
Some boys managed to find paint and went up the ladders to cover them.
allora i ragazzi su per le scale con della vernice, improvvisata non so come, a cancellare queste cose… -
They also tried to pull down some of the monuments, the fasces or Mussolini’s busts.
They also tried to pull down some of the monuments, the fasces or Mussolini’s busts.
e dove c’erano le insegne non so i fasci o i busti del duce, cercavano di tirarli giù. -
Confusion was rather high at that moment.
Confusion was rather high at that moment.
Insomma c’era una gran confusione. -
The situation seemed to turn more complex, since we still had a King.
The situation seemed to turn more complex, since we still had a King.
Man mano che passavano i giorni la situazione diventava sempre un po’ più complicata, perché il re c’era ancora… -
Then September 8th 1943 arrived.
Then September 8th 1943 arrived.
Poi arrivò l’8 settembre. -
That day we didn’t listen to the radio, since nobody had one.
That day we didn’t listen to the radio, since nobody had one.
L’8 settembre mi ricordo ancora che sentimmo no la radio no perché nessuno aveva la radio, -
But the news moved fast, on our bicycles.
But the news moved fast, on our bicycles.
però le notizie, come dicevo prima, circolavano sulle ruote delle biciclette, ma erano rapidissime. -
Within an hour of the announcement the whole town knew that the King had signed the armistice.
Within an hour of the announcement the whole town knew that the King had signed the armistice.
Cioè infatti, io ricordo che l’8 settembre, era verso sera e che dopo un’ora credo, tutto quanto il paese sapeva che era stato firmato l’armistizio. -
We began to see soldiers wandering in the country, going back home.
We began to see soldiers wandering in the country, going back home.
Cominciammo, e c’era… cominciammo a vedere dei soldati sbandati nelle campagne e che venivano a casa. -
I had developed an awareness regarding antifascism.
I had developed an awareness regarding antifascism.
Le donne e io anche, in particolare, perché io avevo poi già una certa cognizione dell’antifascismo, -
I was active together with other women in asking local families to offer hospitality
I was active together with other women in asking local families to offer hospitality
quindi fui fra le prime ad andare presso le famiglie lì nei dintorni di pregarli di ospitare -
and clothes for these young men who were disbanded.
and clothes for these young men who were disbanded.
e vestire questi giovani che erano, che erano allo sbaraglio. -
After the King had fled, the army had no leadership.
After the King had fled, the army had no leadership.
Perché il re era scappato l’esercito era in mano ormai di nessuno. -
Then the Germans occupied the area, on that same day.
Then the Germans occupied the area, on that same day.
E poi ci fu questa entrata. Ci fu l’occupazione direttamente la notte stessa il giorno stesso, dei tedeschi.