European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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When they caught me, they took me to the village called Balakleja and they locked me up in a hen coop.
When they caught me, they took me to the village called Balakleja and they locked me up in a hen coop.
Quando mi hanno preso, mi hanno portato in un villaggio chiamato Balakleja e mi chiusero in un pollaio. -
Perhaps it was two by two meters, or one by one.
Perhaps it was two by two meters, or one by one.
Forse erano due metri per due, o uno per uno. -
I just know that I was locked up for an eternity, at least it seemed that way.
I just know that I was locked up for an eternity, at least it seemed that way.
So solo che sono stato rinchiuso per un'eternità o almeno così sembrava. -
I don’t know whether it was afternoon or the next day, but two soldiers came in and asked me if I’m German or not.
I don’t know whether it was afternoon or the next day, but two soldiers came in and asked me if I’m German or not.
Non so se fosse pomeriggio o il giorno dopo, ma due soldati sono entrati e mi hanno chiesto se fossi tedesco o no. -
No, I’m not, I’m Yugoslavian.
No, I’m not, I’m Yugoslavian.
No, non lo sono, sono jugoslavo. -
They knew nothing of any Yugoslavians.
They knew nothing of any Yugoslavians.
Non sapevano di alcun jugoslavo. -
They tied me up with some wire and shoved me to some headquarters.
They tied me up with some wire and shoved me to some headquarters.
Mi hanno legato con un cavo e mi hanno portato in qualche Quartier generale. -
There was a huge table in a very large room, and the officers were sitting over there.
There was a huge table in a very large room, and the officers were sitting over there.
C'era un enorme tavolo, in una stanza molto grande e gli ufficiali erano seduti lì. -
I don’t know what kind of officers they were. They asked me all sorts of things.
I don’t know what kind of officers they were. They asked me all sorts of things.
Non so che tipo di ufficiali fossero. Mi hanno chiesto di tutto. -
Perhaps I’d been thinking about it in the hen coop, I was asked for my surname.
Perhaps I’d been thinking about it in the hen coop, I was asked for my surname.
Forse ci stavo pensando nel pollaio, mi è stato chiesto il mio cognome. -
I said Ivan Ivanovic Srcnikov.
I said Ivan Ivanovic Srcnikov.
Dissi Ivan Ivanovic Srcnikov. -
That was almost my death, although I didn’t know it.
That was almost my death, although I didn’t know it.
Quella poteva essere la mia morte, anche se non lo sapevo. -
And then one of the officers, he says to me in Russian what’s your surname?!
And then one of the officers, he says to me in Russian what’s your surname?!
E poi uno degli ufficiali, mi dice in russo qual'è il mio cognome?! -
I responded Ivan Ivanovic Srcnikov. He said I’m not Yugoslavian, but rather a Vlach.
I responded Ivan Ivanovic Srcnikov. He said I’m not Yugoslavian, but rather a Vlach.
Risposi Ivan Ivanovic Srcnikov. Disse che non sono jugoslavo, ma valacco piuttosto. -
The Vlachs were Russian soldiers who had gone over to the enemy side, or who had been taken prisoner.
The Vlachs were Russian soldiers who had gone over to the enemy side, or who had been taken prisoner.
I valacchi erano soldati russi passati al nemico o che erano stati fatti prigionieri. -
They had gone over and joined the German army.
They had gone over and joined the German army.
Erano passati e si erano arruolati nell'esercito tedesco. -
Then that officer said sitchas mi vidjot, meaning we’ll see now, if you really are Yugoslavian.
Then that officer said sitchas mi vidjot, meaning we’ll see now, if you really are Yugoslavian.
Poi quell'ufficiale ha detto sitchas mi vidjot, significa vedremo, se sei veramente jugoslavo. -
I wondered how he could figure that out over a thousand kilometers away.
I wondered how he could figure that out over a thousand kilometers away.
Mi chiedevo come facesse a capirlo a più di mille chilometri di distanza. -
They shoved me off again, untied me and locked me back in the hen coop. I was there perhaps a day or perhaps only hours.
They shoved me off again, untied me and locked me back in the hen coop. I was there perhaps a day or perhaps only hours.
Mi hanno spinto via di nuovo, mi hanno slegato e rinchiuso nel pollaio. Ci sono stato forse un giorno o forse poche ore. -
Hours were an eternity.
Hours were an eternity.
Le ore erano un'eternità.