European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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so once we got there they had come to see us, and some of them were crying:
so once we got there they had come to see us, and some of them were crying:
qui alla stazione che eravamo tutti ammanettati c’erano anche dei familiari che piangevano a sua volta, -
we had to pretend everything was ok and force a smile in order to make it easier for them.
we had to pretend everything was ok and force a smile in order to make it easier for them.
e tu dovevi sacrificarti a ridere, a far finta di niente perché piangevano loro, se te gli davi una mano… -
When we arrived in Castelfranco, the warden came over and asked the sergeant, who was in charge of the guards,
When we arrived in Castelfranco, the warden came over and asked the sergeant, who was in charge of the guards,
Arriviamo a Castelfranco, il maresciallo, il capo delle guardie, è venuto il direttore e gli ha chiesto -
where they were supposed to put us, since the prison was also full.
where they were supposed to put us, since the prison was also full.
“dove li mettiamo questi qui?” perché era pieno anche là; -
He asked where we came from, and when he was told we were from Reggio Emilia, he said:
He asked where we came from, and when he was told we were from Reggio Emilia, he said:
ha chiesto “da dove vengono?” “da Reggio Emilia” -
“If it was for me, I would just dump them in a cesspit”.
“If it was for me, I would just dump them in a cesspit”.
e il direttore “se fosse per me li metterei tutti in un pozzo nero”. -
Very funny, isn’t it?
Very funny, isn’t it?
E’ una cosa buona anche questa qui eh? -
Although we had not done anything to be punished, they ended up putting us in confinement cells.
Although we had not done anything to be punished, they ended up putting us in confinement cells.
Dopo ci hanno messi nelle celle di punizione noi che non entravamo per punizione, -
The prison was full, but they had these special cells where they could fit one or two of us,
The prison was full, but they had these special cells where they could fit one or two of us,
però visto che era pieno c’erano celle particolari per una o due persone -
There was only a small opening in the door, and a tiny window for some fresh air,
There was only a small opening in the door, and a tiny window for some fresh air,
che c’era la porta con un bollettino e basta e c’era una finestrina là per aria, -
so you never heard or saw anyone aside from the guard who came by to check on us every now and then.
so you never heard or saw anyone aside from the guard who came by to check on us every now and then.
lì non sentivi e non vedevi mai nessuno, la guardia quando passava a controllare. -
I spent more or less twenty days in Castelfranco.
I spent more or less twenty days in Castelfranco.
Sono stato una ventina di giorni a Castelfranco. -
The old antifascists in Reggio
The old antifascists in Reggio
I vecchi antifascisti Reggiani -
There weren’t any real dangers, since they rather controlled those who were older than me.
There weren’t any real dangers, since they rather controlled those who were older than me.
Non è che ci fosse, loro guardavano più gli anziani, il problema era quello lì, però -
Even inside the Reggiane plant I was always an antifascist,
Even inside the Reggiane plant I was always an antifascist,
dei fatti alle Reggiane… Io sono sempre stato antifascista anche dentro le Reggiane -
just like many others who were less fortunate than I was.
just like many others who were less fortunate than I was.
e come ero io c’era altra gente più sfortunata di me: -
At Reggiane we used to manufacture airplanes.
At Reggiane we used to manufacture airplanes.
perché dentro le Reggiane, si facevano gli aeroplani, -
Colleagues like Ganassi, Bagnacani or Catellani were all sent to jail after being caught putting sand in the engine cylinders.
Colleagues like Ganassi, Bagnacani or Catellani were all sent to jail after being caught putting sand in the engine cylinders.
hanno scoperto che mettevano la sabbia dentro ai cilindri, i vari Ganassi, Bagnacani, Catellani tutta gente finita in galera, -
But they were all thirty or so, were already married and often had children,
But they were all thirty or so, were already married and often had children,
ma loro avevano già una trentina d’anni, cioè gente che aveva già moglie magari anche con dei figli. -
and that’s the kind of people they hit harder on.
and that’s the kind of people they hit harder on.
Cioè lo sfogo era più su quella gente, noi passavamo