European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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However, the Germans didn’t give up until the very end.
However, the Germans didn’t give up until the very end.
perché li vedevano così in rotta così… invece i tedeschi non ci hanno mollato fino all’ultimo momento. -
We were told to keep calm.
We were told to keep calm.
Noi avevamo l’ordine di stare il più tranquilli possibile, -
Nobody knew what the situation was.
Nobody knew what the situation was.
perché non si sapeva bene come era la situazione. -
I was at home when I heard a horse coming at full speed.
I was at home when I heard a horse coming at full speed.
Io ero in casa e sentivo un cavallo arrivare a tutta velocità, al galoppo proprio. -
The reins were loose, because he had probably taken the horse from a cart.
The reins were loose, because he had probably taken the horse from a cart.
Aveva i tiranti lasciati andare perché si vede che l’aveva staccato da un carro e non si era dato la briga di togliere i fili. -
I ran outside and it was a German soldier. He was really young.
I ran outside and it was a German soldier. He was really young.
Io sono corsa fuori ed era un tedesco, un giovane tedesco ma giovanissimo, -
Hitler had enlisted even those who were 15 or 16 years old.
Hitler had enlisted even those who were 15 or 16 years old.
perché sapete che Hitler aveva reclutato anche i giovanissimi di 16-15 anni. -
As he saw me, he started to shout that the Americans were coming.
As he saw me, he started to shout that the Americans were coming.
Questo giovane mi ha visto, ha cominciato ad urlare: “Gli americani! Gli americani!”, -
He wanted me to take cover, because he didn’t know I was a partisan.
He wanted me to take cover, because he didn’t know I was a partisan.
cioè voleva che mi mettessi al riparo perché lui non sapeva che io ero una partigiana, -
At that moment we were only a young boy and a young girl who wanted the war to come to an end.
At that moment we were only a young boy and a young girl who wanted the war to come to an end.
però in quel momento eravamo solo due giovani, che avevamo voglia, tutti e due, che la guerra finisse. -
He was about to try to make it home, while I was waiting for my country to be free again.
He was about to try to make it home, while I was waiting for my country to be free again.
Lui era sulla strada per provare ad arrivare a casa e io ero lì che aspettavo proprio che si liberasse il paese. -
At that moment I didn’t feel like I could hate neither the Germans nor that young soldier.
At that moment I didn’t feel like I could hate neither the Germans nor that young soldier.
Quindi io in quel momento non mi sono sentita né di odiare i tedeschi, né di odiare quel giovane -
Maybe he could have harmed me before, but at that point all I wanted was the war to be over and things to change.
Maybe he could have harmed me before, but at that point all I wanted was the war to be over and things to change.
che forse prima mi avrebbe fatto del male, perché in quel momento avevo solo voglia che la guerra finisse e che le cose cambiassero. -
That’s what I did on the 24th. On the 25th all the joy I had inside burst open.
That’s what I did on the 24th. On the 25th all the joy I had inside burst open.
Io il 24 l’ho vissuto così. Il 25 invece che poi è esploso, è esploso tutta la gioia che uno poteva aver dentro. -
War for me had started in 1935, with the campaign in Africa. I was ten then, and on April 25th 1945 I was twenty.
War for me had started in 1935, with the campaign in Africa. I was ten then, and on April 25th 1945 I was twenty.
Perché io la guerra l’ho incominciata nel ’35, con la guerra d’Africa, che avevo 10 anni e il 25 aprile del ’45 avevo 20 anni. -
The first thing I did was to throw our windows open.
The first thing I did was to throw our windows open.
La prima cosa che ho fatto sono andata a spalancare le finestre -
For the previous five years we had covered them with blue paper in order not to let any light into our houses.
For the previous five years we had covered them with blue paper in order not to let any light into our houses.
erano cinque anni che avevamo le finestre tappezzate con la carta blu da zucchero che allora si usava a impacchettare lo zucchero, perché non filtrasse nessuna luce dalle nostre case. -
After that we found a flag and we all lined up to go to Reggio for a triumphant parade.
After that we found a flag and we all lined up to go to Reggio for a triumphant parade.
Poi abbiamo rimediato una bandiera e siamo partite in colonna per andare a Reggio, per manifestare la nostra gioia. -
Along the Via Emilia there were American soldiers on both sides.
Along the Via Emilia there were American soldiers on both sides.
Lungo la Via Emilia, dalle due parti c’erano tutte già… i soldati americani di occupazione. -
It was surprising for me to see blacks, as well as Indians with a turban around their head.
It was surprising for me to see blacks, as well as Indians with a turban around their head.
La mia grande sorpresa perché cominciai a vedere della gente di colore, neri indiani con il turbante