European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Then a big boat passed by and the Yugoslavians used megaphones
Then a big boat passed by and the Yugoslavians used megaphones
Dopo è passato un barcone, l’hanno chiamato con i megafoni questi jugoslavi, -
to call them to come and get us,
to call them to come and get us,
che o non aveva sentito o non voleva venire verso la spiaggia, -
they even shot at it to make the boat come to the beach.
they even shot at it to make the boat come to the beach.
gli hanno sparato delle cannonate per spaventarli e sono arrivati. -
We were more than 600 and we entered the boat just like all these Moroccans do today.
We were more than 600 and we entered the boat just like all these Moroccans do today.
Dopo è arrivato questo barcone e siamo saliti in più di 600, come fanno adesso quei marocchini, quei tribolati che arrivano; -
We went to sea through the Velebit which is what the place is called there.
We went to sea through the Velebit which is what the place is called there.
abbiamo preso il mare e tutte le isole del Canale della Morlacca si chiama lì della terra lì, -
We went into the villages with the megaphones but the Italian Army didn't want us, no-one would take us,
We went into the villages with the megaphones but the Italian Army didn't want us, no-one would take us,
e si andava in un paese con i megafoni, e l’esercito italiano nessuno ci voleva, nessuno ci prendeva, -
so we didn't know what to do.
so we didn't know what to do.
si diceva cosa facciamo? -
They told us that the Germans were out there and that the land was mined because they didn't want night attacks,
They told us that the Germans were out there and that the land was mined because they didn't want night attacks,
Anzi dicevano ci sono fuori i militi tedeschi, lì c’è minato, perché non volevano attacchi notturni e così… -
so the Commander said to us we could go to Ancona and we all immediately agreed.
so the Commander said to us we could go to Ancona and we all immediately agreed.
E allora il comandante dice “Guardate se volete puntiamo su Ancona” e sentire Ancona è stato un plebiscito abbiamo detto sì sì… -
Then I fell asleep on a pile of ropes, starving, and when I woke up I saw Ancona on the coast.
Then I fell asleep on a pile of ropes, starving, and when I woke up I saw Ancona on the coast.
Poi io mi sono addormentato su delle cime sfinito dalla fame e tribolato mi sono svegliato che vedevo Ancona a due chilometri dalle coste. -
We got off there and they brought us to an old factory that was full of people.
We got off there and they brought us to an old factory that was full of people.
Lì siamo scesi e ci han portato in una vecchia fabbrica piena così -
They put sergeants there as guards, and I was a sergeant, they wouldn't let anyone pass.
They put sergeants there as guards, and I was a sergeant, they wouldn't let anyone pass.
e di guardia lì invece dei soldati ci hanno messo i sottufficiali, io ero sergente e sono stati lì a non far passare nessuno, uscire nessuno, -
I had no Lira in my pocket, only Kunas, the Croatian currency.
I had no Lira in my pocket, only Kunas, the Croatian currency.
solo che non avevo neanche una lira in tasca, solo la Cuna, la moneta del loro. -
There was a greengrocer there and I wanted grapes
There was a greengrocer there and I wanted grapes
C’era una fruttivendola, avevo una voglia di un grappolo d’uva -
so I went there to take a look and the lady said:
so I went there to take a look and the lady said:
e sono andato lì a guardare, la signora dice -
“Do you want grapes?” and I said “Yes madam, but I have no money”.
“Do you want grapes?” and I said “Yes madam, but I have no money”.
“Vuoi un grappolo d’uva?” e io dico “Vorrei signora, ma non ho i soldi” -
So she gave me the grapes for free.
So she gave me the grapes for free.
e allora me l’ha dato, era una donna anziana -
She was like a mother, she asked me where I came from
She was like a mother, she asked me where I came from
poteva essere come una mamma: mi ha chiesto da dove venivo, qua e là, -
and she said that the Germans were coming up from Jesi, from Ancona,
and she said that the Germans were coming up from Jesi, from Ancona,
mi ha spiegato che i tedeschi venivano su da Jesi, da Ancona, -
and that they were seizing the soldiers.
and that they were seizing the soldiers.
che prendevano i soldati.