European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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It was a reaction, yes, i had two brothers in the army.
It was a reaction, yes, i had two brothers in the army.
E’ stata una reazione sì però eravamo tre fratelli militari: -
One was in Germany and we didn't know anything about him,
One was in Germany and we didn't know anything about him,
uno era in Germania e non si sapeva niente, -
the other one took a different way but we didn't know anything about him, either.
the other one took a different way but we didn't know anything about him, either.
l’altro era andato da un’altra parte e non si sapeva niente, -
It was just very, very sad.
It was just very, very sad.
insomma c’era tristezza e basta. -
They were happy that I'd come back but they kept thinking about the other two that were missing, too.
They were happy that I'd come back but they kept thinking about the other two that were missing, too.
Erano contenti che ero arrivato io ma avevano il pensiero anche degli altri due che non c’erano. -
Army and war
Army and war
Servizio militare e guerra -
I started military service on March 9th, 1940.
I started military service on March 9th, 1940.
Sono andato a militare il 9 marzo del 1940: -
I went to Trieste and then right off to the Yugoslavian border.
I went to Trieste and then right off to the Yugoslavian border.
sono andato a Trieste poi siamo andati subito ai confini della Jugoslavia -
I stayed there until September 8th, 1943,
I stayed there until September 8th, 1943,
e lì sono stato fino all’8 settembre del ‘43, sempre in questa zona della Jugoslavia a fare la guerra, -
shooting and being shot at and so on.
shooting and being shot at and so on.
prendere delle schioppettate, darle e via via. -
I have been all over Yugoslavia,
I have been all over Yugoslavia,
Io ho fatto un po’ tutta la Jugoslavia, -
I was in the 151st regiment of infantry of the Brigata Sassari.
I was in the 151st regiment of infantry of the Brigata Sassari.
ero nel 151 reggimento fanteria della Brigata Sassari: -
There were only a few people from Emilia and many Sardinians, many from Calabria,
There were only a few people from Emilia and many Sardinians, many from Calabria,
in gran parte erano pochi gli emiliani e molti i sardi, calabresi, -
poor guys with little schooling, mostly illiterates.
poor guys with little schooling, mostly illiterates.
dei poveri ragazzi con poca scuola in gran parte analfabeti, erano dei poverini. -
In fact I became a sergeant because I had gone to elementary school,
In fact I became a sergeant because I had gone to elementary school,
Infatti io ero poi diventato sergente perché avevo fatto la quinta, -
I had some knowledge, I was able to read.
I had some knowledge, I was able to read.
un po’ sapevo, un po’ ho sempre letto, -
I mean, I was a bit more than a poor silly guy like them..
I mean, I was a bit more than a poor silly guy like them..
insomma ero qualcosa di più di un povero sciocco così come erano loro, ecco. -
They were having a hard time; they didn't know how to write.
They were having a hard time; they didn't know how to write.
Niente, tribolavano, non sapevano mai scrivere, -
I wrote home for them, to their girlfriends,
I wrote home for them, to their girlfriends,
io scrivevo anche a casa a loro, scrivevo anche alle fidanzate -
even though I didn't know what to say to a girlfriend, that's the truth.
even though I didn't know what to say to a girlfriend, that's the truth.
però non sapevo cosa dire alla tua fidanzata, è la verità.