European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Then we found out that Birkenau was no holiday resort.
Then we found out that Birkenau was no holiday resort.
Abbiamo subito capito che Birkenau non era un posto di villeggiatura. -
The days were very long: from 4h00 or 5h00 in the morning ‘til 21h00, 22h00 in the evening,
The days were very long: from 4h00 or 5h00 in the morning ‘til 21h00, 22h00 in the evening,
Le giornate erano molto lunghe, dalle 4 o le 5 del mattino, fino anche alle 9 o alle 10 di sera, -
because if one of the 22,300 people was missing during the evening role-call, he had to be found.
because if one of the 22,300 people was missing during the evening role-call, he had to be found.
perché, se uno dei 22.300 mancava all'appello della sera, bisognava ritrovarlo. -
We had to stay standing until this person was found. Sometimes we spent whole nights outside.
We had to stay standing until this person was found. Sometimes we spent whole nights outside.
Finché non lo ritrovavano, stavamo lì in piedi. A volte abbiamo passato la notte lì fuori, -
Some people hid, some escaped and then we had to stand until the following morning, in summer, and winter.
Some people hid, some escaped and then we had to stand until the following morning, in summer, and winter.
perché non avevano trovato quelli si erano nascosti o erano riusciti a evadere… Restavamo in piedi fino al mattino, estate e inverno. -
The winters in Upper Silesia are very cold, terrible. We lost many men there.
The winters in Upper Silesia are very cold, terrible. We lost many men there.
Gli inverni in Alta Slesia sono molto freddi, la neve… Era terribile. Ne abbiamo persi diversi di uomini, così. -
Our days began at 4h00 or 5h00 with a first role-call.
Our days began at 4h00 or 5h00 with a first role-call.
La giornata cominciava alle 4 o alle 5 del mattino con una prima chiamata all'appello. -
They handed out a brew that they called herbata in our mugs,
They handed out a brew that they called herbata in our mugs,
Ci distribuivano un tè, che chiamavano "herbata", -
which we should absolutely not lose, and which we could never wash. Then we left for work.
which we should absolutely not lose, and which we could never wash. Then we left for work.
acqua sporca per le nostre gamelle che non potevamo assolutamente perdere ma neanche lavare. E poi andavamo a lavorare. -
Yes, we thought of it. There were three or four of us. We tried to find ways of fighting, but it was practically impossible.
Yes, we thought of it. There were three or four of us. We tried to find ways of fighting, but it was practically impossible.
Ci trovavamo a discutere, c'era un ragazzo un po' più responsabile che discuteva su come provare a ribellarsi, ma era praticamente impossibile. -
There was a room leader who was to keep control. There also were leaders for each building.
There was a room leader who was to keep control. There also were leaders for each building.
C'era un capo camera ogni 10 persone, messo lì per controllarci. -
And there were also team leaders, themselves being deported prisoners.
And there were also team leaders, themselves being deported prisoners.
C'era anche un capo per ogni baracca e poi, sul lavoro, i capicantiere, i capigruppo, anche loro deportati. -
Often they were Germans, Poles.
Often they were Germans, Poles.
Un certo numero erano tedeschi, molti, moltissimi polacchi. -
It was very difficult, very hard. We got lots of beatings.
It was very difficult, very hard. We got lots of beatings.
Era molto difficile, molto duro… Ci picchiavano. -
In the beginning we thought we shouldn’t take that, but we soon saw that there was no way out, as life there was so terrible.
In the beginning we thought we shouldn’t take that, but we soon saw that there was no way out, as life there was so terrible.
All'inizio non volevamo accettare di prenderle, ma poi ci siamo subito resi conto che non c'era alternativa, perché la vita là era semplicemente terribile. -
It was difficult to form a group.
It was difficult to form a group.
Era molto difficile organizzarci tra di noi -
Those of us that had been arrested as French resistance fighters were scattered.
Those of us that had been arrested as French resistance fighters were scattered.
perché il gruppo di francesi, cioè tutti quelli che erano stati arrestati come partigiani comunisti e militanti politici, era stato disperso. -
They knew exactly who we were.
They knew exactly who we were.
Quando arrivavamo, ovviamente sapevano chi eravamo. -
It was very different from the camp in Compiègne. There we were still active, we resisted, discussed, talked.
It was very different from the camp in Compiègne. There we were still active, we resisted, discussed, talked.
Non aveva niente in comune con il campo di Compiègne: là eravamo attivi, combattevamo, discutevamo. -
But here we were seperated and with all the block leaders, the Vorarbeiter, the team chiefs, the Kapos
But here we were seperated and with all the block leaders, the Vorarbeiter, the team chiefs, the Kapos
Ma a Birkenau non si parlava, eravamo più divisi… E poi con i capi dei blocchi, i capigruppo, i Kapo…