European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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My sister used to stand in front of the baker’s shop, me at the butcher’s
My sister used to stand in front of the baker’s shop, me at the butcher’s
Mia sorella stava davanti al fornaio e io dal macellaio. -
and we used to wait until my father came back from work and he had a backpack full of money.
and we used to wait until my father came back from work and he had a backpack full of money.
Aspettavamo finché non arrivava mio padre dal lavoro con uno zaino pieno di soldi. -
Then he used to give us bundles of it and with them we paid for the bread or a 250 g of sausage or a 500 g of meat.
Then he used to give us bundles of it and with them we paid for the bread or a 250 g of sausage or a 500 g of meat.
Ce ne dava un sacchettino, con cui pagavamo il pane, 250 grammi di salsiccia e mezzo chilo di carne. -
The money was worthless the next day.
The money was worthless the next day.
Il giorno seguente quel denaro non aveva già più valore -
During this time many sank into poverty.
During this time many sank into poverty.
e molte persone si impoverirono. -
A lot of people had paid war bonds
A lot of people had paid war bonds
Molti avevano dovuto pagare il prestito di guerra -
and they became invalid – were not worth anything.
and they became invalid – were not worth anything.
che si annullò, perdendo valore. -
So, whoever had no material goods, lost everything.
So, whoever had no material goods, lost everything.
Perciò quelli che non possedevano beni materiali persero tutto. -
1927 I left school.
1927 I left school.
Nel 1927 lasciai la scuola, non ricordo bene in che classe fossi. -
Then I tried for an apprenticeship.
Then I tried for an apprenticeship.
Iniziai a cercare un posto di apprendista. -
I didn’t get one, although I had good school reports.
I didn’t get one, although I had good school reports.
Non trovai niente, nonostante avessi una bella pagella. -
It was in this time, as well,
It was in this time, as well,
Anche allora -
that the grammar school pupils were older.
that the grammar school pupils were older.
un quattordicenne aveva una forza diversa -
There is a difference between the strength of a fourteen year old boy or a seventeen/eighteen year old young man.
There is a difference between the strength of a fourteen year old boy or a seventeen/eighteen year old young man.
di un diciottenne. -
I wanted to become a type setter.
I wanted to become a type setter.
Io volevo fare il tipografo. -
My uncle sought for a place – rejected.
My uncle sought for a place – rejected.
Anche mio zio mi cercò un posto, ma venni rifiutato. -
Then another uncle said: “Well, then you become a bricklayer” – as well, no success.
Then another uncle said: “Well, then you become a bricklayer” – as well, no success.
Poi l'altro zio mi disse: "Allora sarai un muratore", ma niente. -
My father was a metal worker – again, nothing.
My father was a metal worker – again, nothing.
Mio padre era un fabbro, ma ancora niente. Tutti gli sforzi non erano serviti. -
And then I started at the company ‘Jonas’ as an adolescent employee.
And then I started at the company ‘Jonas’ as an adolescent employee.
Poi iniziai a lavorare nell'azienda "Jonas" come giovane dipendente. -
That was in 1927.
That was in 1927.
Al tempo ero un bravo fattorino. Era il 1927.