European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I usually shed tears every time I tell this story, so today I’m lucky: this morning I managed not to cry.
I usually shed tears every time I tell this story, so today I’m lucky: this morning I managed not to cry.
e mi è andata bene adesso perché quando racconto queste cose piango sempre, stamattina sono riuscito a non piangere. -
And that’s the end of the story.
And that’s the end of the story.
Dopo è finita la storia, -
I got back in touch with my old contacts and began looking for a job.
I got back in touch with my old contacts and began looking for a job.
ho preso i collegamenti qui cercando il posto di lavoro, -
I received many offers that I didn’t accept,
I received many offers that I didn’t accept,
mi erano state offerte tante cose che non ho accettato, -
then I just went on with my new job, at Giglio,
then I just went on with my new job, at Giglio,
sono poi tornato al mio lavoro che era diventata la Giglio, -
Latterie Cooperative Riunite (the United Dairy Cooperative). I’ve worked there for thirty-six years.
Latterie Cooperative Riunite (the United Dairy Cooperative). I’ve worked there for thirty-six years.
le Latterie Cooperative Riunite, dove ho fatto gli ultimi 36 anni là dentro. -
Trying to stay alive
Trying to stay alive
Cercare di sopravvivere -
At that point I was determined to come back home,
At that point I was determined to come back home,
Io mi ero messo in testa che volevo tornare a casa, -
I could not stand ending up like that anymore.
I could not stand ending up like that anymore.
perché non era mica giusto che facessi quella fine lì; -
I ate just as bad as the others,
I ate just as bad as the others,
ho mangiato male come gli altri, -
although my doctor tells me today that those two years in Germany
although my doctor tells me today that those two years in Germany
nonostante il dottore adesso continui a dirmi “quei due anni in Germania -
were good for my health and helped me to stay alive.
were good for my health and helped me to stay alive.
ti hanno fatto bene, ti hanno aiutato a sopravvivere”, -
I didn’t do much, but I was never scared of not being able to make it home one day.
I didn’t do much, but I was never scared of not being able to make it home one day.
io non facevo niente, però non mi sono mai preoccupato, non ho mai avuto il pensiero di non venire a casa. -
Only during the last three months did I let go:
Only during the last three months did I let go:
Io ho mollato gli ultimi due o tre mesi: -
I could not remember my family anymore,
I could not remember my family anymore,
non ricordavo più la mia famiglia, -
it was as if that notion had vanished,
it was as if that notion had vanished,
cioè era un pensiero che mi era andato via, -
and it’s something I could not understand back then.
and it’s something I could not understand back then.
questo non lo capivo neanche io. -
I was exhausted,
I was exhausted,
Mi ero stancato, -
the food was terrible for all of us, but I did my best to survive even in those conditions.
the food was terrible for all of us, but I did my best to survive even in those conditions.
però anche nella mia stanchezza ho cercato di sopravvivere, il mangiare era così per tutti. -
Regarding my weight, you hear people say they were thirty-eight or forty kilos, but I never did weigh myself.
Regarding my weight, you hear people say they were thirty-eight or forty kilos, but I never did weigh myself.
Per la storia del peso, quando senti la gente dire trentotto chili, quaranta chili, io non mi sono mai pesato,