European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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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 -
They didn’t really insist with us, we were left somehow ignored.
They didn’t really insist with us, we were left somehow ignored.
inosservati, però non insistevano, -
My boss always used to say that
My boss always used to say that
il mio capo diceva sempre -
when the soldiers would come back, they would have to become members of the Party if they wanted to work in the factory”.
when the soldiers would come back, they would have to become members of the Party if they wanted to work in the factory”.
“quando tornano a casa i soldati, se tornano qua dentro la tessera gliela facciamo prendere se vogliono lavorare qui”. -
They were my teachers, they taught me how to take care of things.
They were my teachers, they taught me how to take care of things.
Loro mi insegnavano la vita, come si doveva fare, -
At the time we were collecting money for the so-called Red Relief,
At the time we were collecting money for the so-called Red Relief,
perché allora c’era la raccolta dei soldi, quello che si chiamava il Soccorso Rosso, -
and I was the one in charge for Rivalta: we collected money and gave it to the Party.
and I was the one in charge for Rivalta: we collected money and gave it to the Party.
a Rivalta lo gestivo io: prendevamo dei soldi e li davamo al partito. -
Those who were facing the worst situation were indeed those who had been combatants in Spain,
Those who were facing the worst situation were indeed those who had been combatants in Spain,
L’accusa più terribile era per i combattenti di Spagna, in parte era anche vero, -
but some of our comrades from Rivalta, like Fontanesi, had also been imprisoned,
but some of our comrades from Rivalta, like Fontanesi, had also been imprisoned,
però c’erano anche i nostri compagni di Rivalta come Fontanesi, quella gente lì che erano in galera, -
so the Party tried to help their families as much as possible.
so the Party tried to help their families as much as possible.
allora il partito come poteva cercava di dare una mano alle famiglie.