European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Maybe it wasn’t even right to fight back as we did,
Maybe it wasn’t even right to fight back as we did,
Poi forse ripensandoci adesso non era neanche giusto resistere a quella maniera lì, -
since guerrilla means attacking and withdrawing, coming back and so on.
since guerrilla means attacking and withdrawing, coming back and so on.
perché guerriglia voleva dire attaccarli, scappare, attaccarli e scappare e tornare insomma, ecco. -
That time however it was decided to fight back jointly. We suffered many casualties in the end.
That time however it was decided to fight back jointly. We suffered many casualties in the end.
Invece si era voluto quella volta lì, fare un fronte... e poi l’abbiamo anche pagata, perché ci furono molti morti, anche qualche disperso... -
Then the Germans took away more than a thousand men:
Then the Germans took away more than a thousand men:
poi portarono via più di mille uomini, i tedeschi, -
all those who were able to work, and I think also a few women, were sent to Germany.
all those who were able to work, and I think also a few women, were sent to Germany.
tutti quelli che catturavano che erano in condizione di potere lavorare, li portarono in Germania, e anche qualche... credo solo un paio di donne, ma un migliaio di uomini li hanno portati via. -
That time there was a complete disbandment.
That time there was a complete disbandment.
Perciò lì, ci fu lo sbandamento, uno sbandamento completo. -
After that, the Germans left,
After that, the Germans left,
E dopo i tedeschi sono partiti, -
their division withdrew, but the garrisons on road 63 remained until the end of the war.
their division withdrew, but the garrisons on road 63 remained until the end of the war.
però la divisione si è ritirata, ma i presidi sulla Statale 63 sono rimasti, come sempre, sono rimasti fino alla fine della guerra, ecco. -
We slowly recovered, difficultly,
We slowly recovered, difficultly,
E dopo pianino pianino si sono ricomposte le fila, però a fatica, -
and I remember I stayed home around ten days because of this, helping my father,
and I remember I stayed home around ten days because of this, helping my father,
che mi ricordo che sono stato a casa una decina di giorni, che ho aiutato anche mio padre a seminare il grano, proprio perché... -
while my brother had gone away with "Frigio" and the Bedeschi unit. They were faster in getting back together.
while my brother had gone away with "Frigio" and the Bedeschi unit. They were faster in getting back together.
Mio fratello invece era andato con Frigio, col Bedeschi e hanno fatto prima loro a rimettersi assieme. -
Sure, there were moments we were afraid,
Sure, there were moments we were afraid,
Paura, ci sono dei momenti che abbiamo avuto anche paura sì. -
but actually, it was more about being irresponsible than afraid.
but actually, it was more about being irresponsible than afraid.
Però ti dirò che proprio una paura... ho avuto più incoscenza che altro. -
When I think about it now, I realize that we could have done so much more without that much efforts and dangers.
When I think about it now, I realize that we could have done so much more without that much efforts and dangers.
Perché quando ci ripenso si potevan fare tante cose in più, con meno fatica e con meno pericolo. -
I’ve been afraid one night because I had never heard this German machine gun shoot,
I’ve been afraid one night because I had never heard this German machine gun shoot,
Ho avuto paura una sera perché non avevo mai sentito sparare questa mitraglia tedesca, -
they called it “raganella” (tree frog): it could shoot so fast, so many bullets.
they called it “raganella” (tree frog): it could shoot so fast, so many bullets.
la raganella la chiamavano, una mitraglia che sparava moltissimo, molti proiettili. -
That was really the only time my heart was pounding.
That was really the only time my heart was pounding.
Proprio credo che sia l’unica sera che proprio sentivo il cuore che saltava. -
Later I realized it was quite distant, but at the moment I thought it was there, a few steps away,
Later I realized it was quite distant, but at the moment I thought it was there, a few steps away,
Perché dopo ho capito che era lontana, però mi sembrava lì, a pochi passi insomma, -
this nasty sound in the silence of the night.
this nasty sound in the silence of the night.
no, proprio questo rumore cattivo di notte, nel silenzio. -
I felt fear that night, at least for a short time.
I felt fear that night, at least for a short time.
E quella sera lì ho avuto un po’ paura, per un po’ insomma.