European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
-
We always had a scarf on our head to cover our hair and protect it from the smell,
We always had a scarf on our head to cover our hair and protect it from the smell,
Avevamo sempre un foulard in testa per evitare che i capelli assorbissero quell'odore. -
the smell which was in Majdanek. After coming back from Majdanek we put our clothes onto the balcony.
the smell which was in Majdanek. After coming back from Majdanek we put our clothes onto the balcony.
Quando tornavamo da Majdanek a Lublino, appendevamo i nostri vestiti fuori sul balcone. -
We lived in barracks, men together with women.
We lived in barracks, men together with women.
C'erano giusto i balconi in quelle barracche in cui stavamo. Era un kolchoz. Uomini, donne - tutti dormivamo nelle stesse stanze. -
Then we saw loads of shoes taken from the people who were going to die.
Then we saw loads of shoes taken from the people who were going to die.
Dopo guardavamo i mucchi di scarpe tolte dalle persone destinate alla morte. -
Little children’s shoes, male and female shoes, some clothes, and we had to write down everything.
Little children’s shoes, male and female shoes, some clothes, and we had to write down everything.
Scarpe dei bambini, scarpe da uomo, da donna, dei vestiti, dovevamo annotare tutto. -
Then we finished going to Majdanek and two or three times went to some forest,
Then we finished going to Majdanek and two or three times went to some forest,
Poi smettemmo di andare a Majdanek e due o tre volte andammo in una foresta, -
I do not remember the name of it,
I do not remember the name of it,
di cui non ricordo il nome, -
but we went to a forest where people were murdered.
but we went to a forest where people were murdered.
dove vennero uccise delle persone. -
They were thrown down into a big ditch and were buried in the way they had fallen down.
They were thrown down into a big ditch and were buried in the way they had fallen down.
Venivano buttate in un grande fosso e sepolte così, com'erano cadute. -
When one of those ditches were dug up,
When one of those ditches were dug up,
Quando uno di questi fossi venne scavato, -
we saw a mother holding her child,
we saw a mother holding her child,
vedemmo una madre che giaceva tenendo il suo bambino, -
or a couple.
or a couple.
vedemmo anche una coppia, c'erano persone in tutte le posizioni -
All documents were taken from their clothes and we were trying to check who was who.
All documents were taken from their clothes and we were trying to check who was who.
Bisognava tirare fuori dai vestiti i loro documenti e cercare di identificarle. -
Liberation
Liberation
Liberazione -
Right after the Soviet army came, Helena went to Vilnius straight away
Right after the Soviet army came, Helena went to Vilnius straight away
Non appena arrivò l'esercito sovietico, Helena partì subito per Vilnius -
and as a doctor she was mobilized. But at the beginning in Vilnius there were still Germans.
and as a doctor she was mobilized. But at the beginning in Vilnius there were still Germans.
e, come medico, venne mobilitata. Ma all'inizio a Vilnius c'erano ancora i tedeschi. -
The Russians occupied all Vilnius and lists of Poles
The Russians occupied all Vilnius and lists of Poles
Poi i russi occuparono la città e venne creata una lista per i polacchi -
were made who could and would like to work in the offices of PKWN in Lublin.
were made who could and would like to work in the offices of PKWN in Lublin.
che avrebbero accettato e voluto lavorare a Lublino negli uffici del Comitato Polacco di Liberazione Nazionale (PKWN). -
I did not want to be in this list, I was proposed to be in this list, nobody offered me that.
I did not want to be in this list, I was proposed to be in this list, nobody offered me that.
Io non mi ero iscritta in questa lista, mi avevano iscritta, non l'avevo fatto io. -
But in fact people in that list were me, the Świezewskis, there was Helena…
But in fact people in that list were me, the Świezewskis, there was Helena…
In questa lista c'ero io, gli Świezewski, Helena…