European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I spent three years in Turin with the Engineer Corps
I spent three years in Turin with the Engineer Corps
Abbiamo fatto tre anni, io ho fatto tre anni nel Genio a Torino, -
and then we were transferred to Bardonecchia where we stayed another three years.
and then we were transferred to Bardonecchia where we stayed another three years.
poi ci siamo trasferiti, ci hanno trasferiti a Bardonecchia e siamo rimasti lì per tre anni. -
On the 8th of September 1943,
On the 8th of September 1943,
L’8 settembre siamo stati... eh diciamo... -
General Vercellino ordered us to mine the Frejus tunnel,
General Vercellino ordered us to mine the Frejus tunnel,
prima di partire c’era arrivato l’ordine dal generale Vercellino di minare la galleria del Frejus -
since the Germans were coming through with tanks and army crews loaded on freight trains.
since the Germans were coming through with tanks and army crews loaded on freight trains.
perché i tedeschi venivano dentro con i carriarmati e... il treno merci con tutto l’equipaggio. -
We carried 14 hundred kilograms of explosives inside the tunnel and blew it up.
We carried 14 hundred kilograms of explosives inside the tunnel and blew it up.
Abbiamo portato dentro, allora dicevano 14 quintali di esplosivo da far saltare la galleria del Frejus. Infatti è stata fatta saltare. -
But the Germans kept coming along the road across the mountains and were shooting at us.
But the Germans kept coming along the road across the mountains and were shooting at us.
Ma loro entravano dalla strada varcando le montagne e sparando. -
We were ordered to withdraw towards Turin. We reached the city walking in the countryside for 100 km.
We were ordered to withdraw towards Turin. We reached the city walking in the countryside for 100 km.
Di lì è arrivato l’ordine di scappare verso Torino e siamo andati, cento chilometri e siamo arrivati a Torino, a piedi, attraverso le campagne. -
In Turin, we were already surrounded by the Germans. They had followed the road on motor vehicles.
In Turin, we were already surrounded by the Germans. They had followed the road on motor vehicles.
Ma però a Torino eravamo circondati dai tedeschi perché loro erano entrati dalla strada e avevano già camminati con gli automezzi ed erano arrivati a Torino. -
Many of us were captured there.
Many of us were captured there.
E di lì la buona parte ci hanno fatto prigionieri -
Then we were put on freight trains, around seventy of us in each box car.
Then we were put on freight trains, around seventy of us in each box car.
e ci hanno fatto salire sul treno merci e ci mettevano una settantina ogni carro merce, -
They had unloaded cattle before and the straw was still there.
They had unloaded cattle before and the straw was still there.
che avevano scaricato del bestiame prima, c’era la paglia e così... settanta ogni... -
They were told us that we would be going to Germany.
They were told us that we would be going to Germany.
in attesa di partire, che poi siamo andati... siamo andati sulla ferrovia e ci hanno portato... dicevano che andavamo in Germania. -
The train had to stop in Codoglio di Piacenza,
The train had to stop in Codoglio di Piacenza,
Lì è successo che a Codoglio di Piacenza si è fermato il treno, perché -
in order to let through another train coming in the opposite direction.
in order to let through another train coming in the opposite direction.
era un treno a carbone eh... cioè non era elettrico... un treno... allora erano quasi tutti a vapore, a carbone. -
Trains at the time were not electric, they were powered with coal.
Trains at the time were not electric, they were powered with coal.
Lì il treno si è fermato perché aspettava la coincidenza di un altro treno che veniva dall’opposto. -
We stopped for quite a long time.
We stopped for quite a long time.
E lì siamo stati fermi un bel pochino. -
Since the wagons were full of people, it was hot inside. There wasn’t enough ventilation.
Since the wagons were full of people, it was hot inside. There wasn’t enough ventilation.
E nel mentre dato che eravamo tanti ogni vagone, c’era caldo non c’era aria che circolava, qualcuno sveniva... -
Some passed out, so the Germans opened the sliding doors slightly to let some air in.
Some passed out, so the Germans opened the sliding doors slightly to let some air in.
allora hanno aperto i portoni scorrevoli, due palmi non di più, per aver la possibilità di respirare. -
At that point there were four Germans, while we were four thousand.
At that point there were four Germans, while we were four thousand.
In quel tempo lì i tedeschi erano quattro, noi eravamo più di quattromila, sul treno.