European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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That was really a great moment for us. We’ve always been proud of it.
That was really a great moment for us. We’ve always been proud of it.
è una cosa molto... è riuscita molto bene ed è stata molto bella. E’ un orgoglio che noi abbiamo sempre tenuto. -
We had a comrade employed as a technician at the Timo offices. He was also our informer.
We had a comrade employed as a technician at the Timo offices. He was also our informer.
Noi allora alla Timo avevamo un informatore, un compagno nostro che era un impiegato lì della Timo era anche un tecnico diciamo. -
When the Germans arrived in Reggio Emilia they took hold of a part of the building
When the Germans arrived in Reggio Emilia they took hold of a part of the building
Però i tedeschi arrivati a Reggio Emilia avevano requisito una parte della Timo -
and set their offices there.
and set their offices there.
e lo avevano adibito a ufficio loro, -
Italians took care of normal Italian work.
Italians took care of normal Italian work.
i nostri amministravano diciamo il lavoro italiano -
They also had to decode messages in cipher coming from Germany.
They also had to decode messages in cipher coming from Germany.
e loro decifravano i cifrati che venivano dalla Germania, era un cifrato segreto che... -
After they were spending the whole day working side by side,
After they were spending the whole day working side by side,
Ma con l’andare del tempo sia i nostri informatori e un altro impiegato stando a lavorare assieme tutto il giorno -
our informer developed a sort of friendship with the Germans.
our informer developed a sort of friendship with the Germans.
andavano a prendere il caffè si creava una certa... una certa amicizia nel senso. -
And sometimes the Germans would even talk about the orders they were receiving.
And sometimes the Germans would even talk about the orders they were receiving.
E lì aveva captato che un cifrato di quelli che i tedeschi stavano, che poi dicevano di cosa si trattava per certe cose, -
Our informer found out about an order sent from the central headquarters in Berlin.
Our informer found out about an order sent from the central headquarters in Berlin.
i tedeschi avevano ricevuto l’ordine dal comando centrale di Berlino di recuperare -
They were to take away Reggio Emilia’s theatre curtain. It had been crafted by the great painter Chierici.
They were to take away Reggio Emilia’s theatre curtain. It had been crafted by the great painter Chierici.
il sipario di Reggio Emilia del grande pittore Chierici e di portarlo a Bologna -
They should take it to Bologna, then to Berlin. It was a specific order, to be carried out urgently.
They should take it to Bologna, then to Berlin. It was a specific order, to be carried out urgently.
che poi veniva trasferito a Berlino. Ordine preciso, al più presto. -
Our informer came to my house. He knew I was involved in the Resistance, and told me about this:
Our informer came to my house. He knew I was involved in the Resistance, and told me about this:
E questo qui veniva a casa mia perché sapeva che io lavorava eccetera e dice: -
“I’m telling you they received an official order to take away Reggio Emilia’s curtain,
“I’m telling you they received an official order to take away Reggio Emilia’s curtain,
“Guarda che ho saputo che vogliono prendere il sipario di Reggio Emilia e portarlo a Bologna -
take it to Bologna and then send it to Berlin”.
take it to Bologna and then send it to Berlin”.
che poi lo portano in Germania a Berlino, c’è l’ordine – -
Fiorello and I decided we had to do something about it.
Fiorello and I decided we had to do something about it.
e dice – io ve l’ho detto”. E io e Fiorello diciamo: “E allora bisogna fare qualcosa”. -
We got together and devised our plan. We had to carry the curtain away.
We got together and devised our plan. We had to carry the curtain away.
Ci siamo riuniti e abbiamo preparato il piano. C’era da portarlo fuori. -
It was more than 20 meters long, so we couldn’t transport it with a car or a small truck.
It was more than 20 meters long, so we couldn’t transport it with a car or a small truck.
Tramite informazioni, il sipario era più di 20 metri, con una macchina non si porta via, con un camioncino nemmeno -
We had to find a suitable vehicle.
We had to find a suitable vehicle.
c’era da studiare di trovare un automezzo da poterlo asportare. -
One of us found a truck in Rubiera, where he also came from, I think.
One of us found a truck in Rubiera, where he also came from, I think.
E poi lì abbiamo trovato uno, infatti ha portato un camion lungo, a Rubiera