European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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the Germans used to enjoy watching us cram in line and get into disputes.
the Germans used to enjoy watching us cram in line and get into disputes.
per divertirsi anche loro saltavano tutti la cavalla, -
Forage caps would typically be falling in the soup, something that would drive people out of their minds.
Forage caps would typically be falling in the soup, something that would drive people out of their minds.
tutte le bustine (i berretti) dentro alla minestra, era un modo per cui c’era gente che partiva di testa. -
My Corporal, whose name was Mario Palazzeschi, from Arezzo, was incredibly healthy, a lot healthier than me.
My Corporal, whose name was Mario Palazzeschi, from Arezzo, was incredibly healthy, a lot healthier than me.
Il mio caporal maggiore, un certo Palazzeschi Mario di Arezzo, un ragazzo che non ha mai avuto niente, anzi se io ero sano credevo che gli altri fossero più sani di me, -
One day, however, he began to cry, sobbing “Carlo, I won’t make it, I won’t make it…”.
One day, however, he began to cry, sobbing “Carlo, I won’t make it, I won’t make it…”.
ha cominciato a piangere “non ce la faccio Carlo, non ce la faccio..” “Ma lascia stare…” -
Within three months he was dead.
Within three months he was dead.
in tre mesi è andato. -
You know what I’ve always said?
You know what I’ve always said?
Invece sai cosa ho sempre detto io? -
Mr. Benito Mussolini and Mr. Hitler would have to die before me.
Mr. Benito Mussolini and Mr. Hitler would have to die before me.
Che dovevano morire prima loro due di me, il signor Benito Mussolini e il signor Hitler, -
imagine what they would say if they were to find out that I’m still here, more than eighty years old now!
imagine what they would say if they were to find out that I’m still here, more than eighty years old now!
pensa se loro sapessero che sono ancora qui, che ho più di ottant’anni! -
I say this only to laugh a bit.
I say this only to laugh a bit.
Dico qualcosa anche per ridere un po’… -
Deportation to Germany
Deportation to Germany
Deportazione in Germania -
When I got back home I went to work there,
When I got back home I went to work there,
Dopo quando sono tornato a casa sono andato a lavorare lì, -
but within three months I was called up for the Army again, since I was in the military when I was arrested.
but within three months I was called up for the Army again, since I was in the military when I was arrested.
dopo tre mesi mi chiamano militare ancora, perché io ero militare prima e ho dovuto tornare a fare il militare. -
I did my training for a second time, in Bari, and then I was sent to Albania.
I did my training for a second time, in Bari, and then I was sent to Albania.
Mi han fatto fare il CAR a Bari per la seconda volta e poi ad un bel momento mi hanno mandato in Albania. -
I did not want to go, so I went to speak to my lieutenant colonel.
I did not want to go, so I went to speak to my lieutenant colonel.
Io non ci volevo andare e mi sono messo a rapporto con il colonnello, -
I explained to him how I knew that I was not entitled to use a weapon anymore, since I had lost all my rights by being arrested.
I explained to him how I knew that I was not entitled to use a weapon anymore, since I had lost all my rights by being arrested.
dicendo che io le ragioni le conoscevo, cioè tu non potevi avere un’arma, non avevi più nessun diritto in seguito alla condanna che hai ricevuto. -
He replied that he went to fight in Albania with the Blackshirts although he was in the Army,
He replied that he went to fight in Albania with the Blackshirts although he was in the Army,
Lui mi ha detto “guardi che io son dell’esercito però ho fatto la guerra in Albania con le camicie nere, -
and that if he had to go, then I would definitely go too.
and that if he had to go, then I would definitely go too.
quindi se ci son stato io ci vai anche te”. -
After I had been in Albania, in Durres, for four or five months,
After I had been in Albania, in Durres, for four or five months,
Sono quattro o cinque mesi che sono in Albania, eravamo a Durazzo noi, -
I received a letter from the Government stating that I immediately had to go back to Italy, since I was not supposed to be there.
I received a letter from the Government stating that I immediately had to go back to Italy, since I was not supposed to be there.
arriva un documento del Ministero che io devo rientrare subito in Italia perché non dovevo essere lì: -
I was taken to the port and embarked on a ship whose name was Disentine.
I was taken to the port and embarked on a ship whose name was Disentine.
si va al porto, ci imbarchiamo sulla nave e mi ricorderò sempre si chiamava Disentine quella nave,