European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Throughout the week, every night a different unit was in charge of this:
Throughout the week, every night a different unit was in charge of this:
Durante la settimana una notte ci andavano gli aviatori, -
one night it was the Air Force, one night the artillerymen, and so on.
one night it was the Air Force, one night the artillerymen, and so on.
una sera gli artiglieri, cioè erano scaglionati così. -
So we went to mount guard, and I remember that a new lieutenant came to pick us up with a van at eight in the morning,
So we went to mount guard, and I remember that a new lieutenant came to pick us up with a van at eight in the morning,
Siamo andati di guardia, mi ricordo che c’era un tenente nuovo che quando è venuto a prenderci al mattino alle 8 con un furgoncino -
and told us we would be visiting Rome for a while since he had never been there before.
and told us we would be visiting Rome for a while since he had never been there before.
ha detto “adesso giriamo un po’ per Roma perché io non l’ho mai vista”. -
I went back inside the airport. The mail had arrived and there were also some letters for me.
I went back inside the airport. The mail had arrived and there were also some letters for me.
Vado dentro all’aeroporto e c’è la posta, e mi danno la posta anche a me, -
I went to my sleeping quarter and was opening a letter when my lieutenant,
I went to my sleeping quarter and was opening a letter when my lieutenant,
vado nella mia camerata e mentre aprivo una lettera viene il mio tenente, -
a man from Ancona whose name was Santaroni, came over. He was a good man – he gave me a hug later –
a man from Ancona whose name was Santaroni, came over. He was a good man – he gave me a hug later –
un certo Santaroni di Ancona, bravissima persona perché mi ha abbracciato dopo quella storia lì -
who had come to tell me that “somebody needed to speak to me”.
who had come to tell me that “somebody needed to speak to me”.
e mi ha detto “questi signori hanno bisogno di te” -
It was three policemen.
It was three policemen.
ed erano tre della polizia. -
The first thing the sergeant did was take the letter I held in my hands.
The first thing the sergeant did was take the letter I held in my hands.
Il maresciallo per prima cosa ha preso la lettera che avevo in mano, -
In the letter, my mother had written the following words:
In the letter, my mother had written the following words:
e in questa lettera mia mamma mi spiegava questa parole -
“You’re lucky to be in the Army, since in the past few days Pattaccini, Boiardi and others were arrested”.
“You’re lucky to be in the Army, since in the past few days Pattaccini, Boiardi and others were arrested”.
“sei fortunato te che sei militare perché in questi giorni hanno messo dentro Pattaccini, Boiardi,ecc.” -
They were all people I used to be implicated with in our activities,
They were all people I used to be implicated with in our activities,
cioè cinque o sei persone con cui lavoravo sempre insieme in quelle cose lì. -
and my poor mother was telling me this openly. But that’s exactly why I was arrested.
and my poor mother was telling me this openly. But that’s exactly why I was arrested.
Lei poveretta mi ha detto queste cose spassionatamente proprio perché mi trovavo a Roma, e invece mi hanno beccato là. -
I never managed to get that letter back. Wherever I was taken, the letter seemed to follow me.
I never managed to get that letter back. Wherever I was taken, the letter seemed to follow me.
Di quella lettera lì non sono mai più rientrato in possesso e sempre dove andavo c’era quella lettera lì: -
You see, we all used to deny knowing someone, but I couldn’t, since the names were written on the letter.
You see, we all used to deny knowing someone, but I couldn’t, since the names were written on the letter.
si aveva tutti l’abitudine di negare che tu questo non lo conoscevi, mentre io non avevo niente da dire perché lì c’erano scritti i nomi. -
Then, one morning, we left from the train station.
Then, one morning, we left from the train station.
Un bel mattino partiamo alla stazione, -
I had already been reduced to the ranks:
I had already been reduced to the ranks:
a me avevano già tolto tutti i gradi, -
they had taken everything from me and that day I was slightly shabby and hadn’t shaved.
they had taken everything from me and that day I was slightly shabby and hadn’t shaved.
mi avevano tolto tutto poi avevo anche un po’ la barba lunga, ero un po’ malmesso. -
As we set off, those who were on the railcar with us were curious.
As we set off, those who were on the railcar with us were curious.
Si parte e durante il percorso, la gente era curiosa: