European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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We stayed there for a while, under constant air raids.
We stayed there for a while, under constant air raids.
Dopo siamo stati lì un periodo di tempo sempre sotto i bombardamenti: -
The Germans who were in charge of the camp stayed in the first two shacks,
The Germans who were in charge of the camp stayed in the first two shacks,
dentro al campo nelle prime due baracche c’era la direzione dei tedeschi eran tutti loro, -
then there were two shacks of female prisoners – Russian women who worked on the railroad tracks with smaller shovels –
then there were two shacks of female prisoners – Russian women who worked on the railroad tracks with smaller shovels –
poi c’erano due baracche di prigioniere, donne sovietiche che le facevano lavorare con pale piccole sulle ferrovie, -
then the French, and finally us. I don’t know how many thousands prisoners were in the camp.
then the French, and finally us. I don’t know how many thousands prisoners were in the camp.
poi c’erano i francesi e poi c’eravamo noi, non so quante migliaia di prigionieri c’erano. -
I should not forget to say that, at that point, I was still accompanied by two non-commissioned officers
I should not forget to say that, at that point, I was still accompanied by two non-commissioned officers
Siccome che io, questo è quel che conta non voglio mica scordarlo, ero accompagnato da due sottufficiali, -
who had kept my documents since the day we had embarked to leave Albania.
who had kept my documents since the day we had embarked to leave Albania.
cioè i miei documenti partendo dall’Albania li avevano loro due, -
One of them was from Cosenza, the other from Catanzaro, and I think they were supposed to go back to Italy on special leave.
One of them was from Cosenza, the other from Catanzaro, and I think they were supposed to go back to Italy on special leave.
credo che li avessero mandati anche per una licenza premio, non lo so perché erano uno di Cosenza e uno di Catanzaro: -
When everything changed I was slightly worried: the two were beginning to need something to drink,
When everything changed I was slightly worried: the two were beginning to need something to drink,
quando le cose son cambiate che c’era quella situazione lì, a me è venuta anche una paura perché sapevo che i tedeschi con i comunisti con andavano tanto d’accordo, -
and I was aware of how the Germans were not particularly fond of communists.
and I was aware of how the Germans were not particularly fond of communists.
e loro cominciavamo ad aver anche qualche esigenza di una cosa o un’altra. -
One night, the Germans needed thirty people and came over to our shack.
One night, the Germans needed thirty people and came over to our shack.
Una notte hanno cercato trenta, loro erano a dormire in un altro angolo del capannone, -
The two officers had been entitled to bunk beds, so they were sleeping in a corner of the shack.
The two officers had been entitled to bunk beds, so they were sleeping in a corner of the shack.
perché essendo ufficiali gli avevano dato dei letti a castello mentre noi dormivamo sulla paglia lì per terra, -
We slept on straw on the floor, and I managed to get into the group that was leaving.
We slept on straw on the floor, and I managed to get into the group that was leaving.
sono riuscito a sgattaiolare via, che dopo non ho più saputo niente e forse ho fatto male, -
I never knew anything about them afterwards, and maybe I shouldn’t have done this,
I never knew anything about them afterwards, and maybe I shouldn’t have done this,
perché mi era venuta paura se non gli danno -
but I was afraid they would hand my documents to a guard. The guards were brutal there.
but I was afraid they would hand my documents to a guard. The guards were brutal there.
i documenti in mano a una guardia, perché lì erano cattivi, -
They used to come inside in the morning, screaming the word “Aufstehn”,
They used to come inside in the morning, screaming the word “Aufstehn”,
perché passavano al mattino con una parola che ho imparato subito “Aufstehn”, -
At first, we wondered what we were supposed to do – maybe get some coffee! –
At first, we wondered what we were supposed to do – maybe get some coffee! –
abbiamo pensato cosa ci sarà da fare, ci sarà da prendere il caffè… -
then four or five of them came inside and started acting rough.
then four or five of them came inside and started acting rough.
Dopo sono venuti dentro in quattro o cinque con delle manette, -
We immediately understood that we had to get up, even if we couldn’t understand the word.
We immediately understood that we had to get up, even if we couldn’t understand the word.
dovevi alzarti però noi non sapevamo quella parola lì. -
They were really mean there, so I left and went to this other camp,
They were really mean there, so I left and went to this other camp,
Cioè erano già cattivi anche lì, e così io ho abbandonato e sono andato in questo campo, -
by a large river that had just been bombed, where we started to work.
by a large river that had just been bombed, where we started to work.
che avevano bombardato un grosso fiume, abbiamo cominciato a lavorare così;