European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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At fifteen, I can’t say I was aware of what was going on.
At fifteen, I can’t say I was aware of what was going on.
Perché a quindici anni, non voglio dire che ero cosciente di quello che succedeva -
Given my life, however, joining the Communist party was the natural answer.
Given my life, however, joining the Communist party was the natural answer.
magari non sapevo neanche fino in fondo cosa volesse dire, però per me, per quello che avevo vissuto, era lo sbocco naturale aderire al Partito Comunista, -
There was no other solution, no doubts of any sort.
There was no other solution, no doubts of any sort.
non poteva esserci un'altra via, né potevano esserci dei dubbi, non c’era né mi e né mo, era così. -
Education: news in the cattle shed, books
Education: news in the cattle shed, books
Formazione: notizie nella stalla, libri -
In the winter we used the cattle shed as our meeting place.
In the winter we used the cattle shed as our meeting place.
Però all’inverno si apriva il salotto buono che era la stalla. -
Friends could finally spend some time together.
Friends could finally spend some time together.
Tutti quanti noi aspettavamo quel momento perché era il momento in cui gli amici si incontravano. -
Social and political activities took place in the cattle shed,
Social and political activities took place in the cattle shed,
Lì si svolgeva tutta l’attività sociale, politica -
as well as love affairs, since boys and girls met there.
as well as love affairs, since boys and girls met there.
e direi anche amorosa, perché c’erano gli incontri tra i giovani e le ragazze. -
I would sneak in and day by day my curiosity would grow.
I would sneak in and day by day my curiosity would grow.
Io ero piccola e mi intrufolavo in mezzo a tutta questa gente e la mia curiosità si sviluppava giorno per giorno, -
Maybe it was my disposition, but I really had so much fun there. That’s where all the news could be heard.
Maybe it was my disposition, but I really had so much fun there. That’s where all the news could be heard.
forse era anche la mia indole, però mi divertivo un mondo. Lì arrivavano tutte le notizie. -
I was hearing everyday news,
I was hearing everyday news,
Notizie banali di tutti i giorni, -
but especially political discussions which were starting to take place at our house.
but especially political discussions which were starting to take place at our house.
ma particolarmente cominciavano a casa mia, nel nostro salotto delle discussioni politiche. -
I began to hear that a lot of people didn’t agree with fascism.
I began to hear that a lot of people didn’t agree with fascism.
Ho cominciato a sentir parlare che c’era gente che non era d’accordo con il fascismo. -
The tone was always rather timid and veiled though.
The tone was always rather timid and veiled though.
Erano sempre parole molto velate e molto timide -
Even a joke regarding the Duce could have got you in jail then.
Even a joke regarding the Duce could have got you in jail then.
perché allora anche solo una barzelletta contro il duce poteva essere motivo perché tu venissi arrestato. -
I remember a story regarding a young man who was beaten
I remember a story regarding a young man who was beaten
Oppure ricordo benissimo una notizia, che venne un ragazzo che in piazza -
since he hadn’t saluted a fascist with the fascist salute.
since he hadn’t saluted a fascist with the fascist salute.
non aveva salutato romanamente un fascista e lo avevano schiaffeggiato, lo avevano picchiato. -
I was really shocked by the fact that a boy could be beaten for this.
I was really shocked by the fact that a boy could be beaten for this.
Questo lo ricordo perfettamente perché mi fece una grande impressione che un ragazzo venisse picchiato solo perché non salutava romanamente un fascista. -
I found out that many of these young men didn’t want to take part in the “fascist Saturday”
I found out that many of these young men didn’t want to take part in the “fascist Saturday”
Ho cominciato a sentire che molti di questi giovani non volevano più andare al sabato fascista, -
activities as they realised that they were also meant to prepare the youth for war.
activities as they realised that they were also meant to prepare the youth for war.
in piazza, alle esercitazioni perché avevano capito che anche queste avevano una funzione di preparare i giovani alla guerra.