European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
-
At that point there were four Germans, while we were four thousand.
At that point there were four Germans, while we were four thousand.
In quel tempo lì i tedeschi erano quattro, noi eravamo più di quattromila, sul treno. -
They walked back and forth outside, with big guns slung over their shoulders.
They walked back and forth outside, with big guns slung over their shoulders.
E... mentre loro camminavano avanti e indietro vicino al treno, sempre con la maxi pistola a tracolla -
Before we left we had grabbed a small bag of things. I had the mess tin we used to eat in.
Before we left we had grabbed a small bag of things. I had the mess tin we used to eat in.
io avevo, avevamo uno zainetto a dietro noi, avevamo preso un po’ di roba prima di scappare e avevo la gavetta dove si mangiava, -
I asked the German if I could go to the fountain in the station. We had not drunk any water for two days.
I asked the German if I could go to the fountain in the station. We had not drunk any water for two days.
ci ho chiesto al tedesco, perché c’era una fontanina lì in stazione e noi era due giorni che non si beveva. -
I probably wasn’t thinking about escaping. I was just really thirsty and desperate.
I probably wasn’t thinking about escaping. I was just really thirsty and desperate.
Forse non è stato il coraggio di scappare ma è stata la sete e la disperazione. E ci ho chiesto se -
The German said “Ja, ja, ja”. I got off the train and headed towards the fountain.
The German said “Ja, ja, ja”. I got off the train and headed towards the fountain.
mi lasciava prendere una gavetta d’acqua e lui: “Ja, ja, ja”, e allora son sceso dal treno e sono andato. -
The German joined another soldier further away and started eating a peace of watermelon with him.
The German joined another soldier further away and started eating a peace of watermelon with him.
Nel mentre lui ha raggiunto l’altro collega che era più avanti, ci ha spezzettato un pezzetto di cocomero che mangiava -
I threw away the tin and started to run as fast as I could. I was skinny then and 23 years old.
I threw away the tin and started to run as fast as I could. I was skinny then and 23 years old.
e io ho buttato via la gavetta e poi sono scappato come un razzo. Ero magro... ventitrè anni. -
The soldier took out his gun and started shooting at me.
The soldier took out his gun and started shooting at me.
Son scappato e lui ha tirato fuori la maxi pistola e mi ha sparato a dietro. -
But, when I started running, a friend of mine tried to come along.
But, when I started running, a friend of mine tried to come along.
Ma dietro di me quando sono scappato mi ha inseguito un altro, un amico, uno del Genio, anche lui militare soldato -
He was hit in the thigh and fell over the tracks.
He was hit in the thigh and fell over the tracks.
e lui ha preso una scoppiettata nelle cosce ed è andato a cavalcioni nella rotaia del treno. -
The number on the arm
The number on the arm
Il numero sul braccio -
Often the children ask me why I don’t have the number removed.
Often the children ask me why I don’t have the number removed.
Molto spesso mi chiedevano perché non me lo potevo far togliere. -
I tell them, I could have it removed, but I won’t.
I tell them, I could have it removed, but I won’t.
Certo che potrei farmelo togliere, ma non lo farò -
It was done by the Nazis, the people working for the Nazis.
It was done by the Nazis, the people working for the Nazis.
perché l'hanno fatto i nazisti o della gente che lavorava per loro. -
We weren’t called by our names but by a number that we had to learn to say in German.
We weren’t called by our names but by a number that we had to learn to say in German.
È in queste condizioni che abbiamo ricevuto una matricola, non eravamo più il taI dei tali, ma un numero. -
It doesn’t bother me to have it on the arm. I don’t carry it around for advertisement. It’s just reality, that’s all.
It doesn’t bother me to have it on the arm. I don’t carry it around for advertisement. It’s just reality, that’s all.
Non mi disturba averlo sul braccio, non è per far pubblicità, è semplicemente così. Niente più. -
Distinguishing between Germans and Nazis
Distinguishing between Germans and Nazis
Fare distinzione tra tedeschi e nazisti -
We tried to go undercover as much as possible during the German occupation,
We tried to go undercover as much as possible during the German occupation,
Abbiamo vissuto l'occupazione nascondendoci il più possibile, -
even though I was not totally undercover. I still lived with my parents.
even though I was not totally undercover. I still lived with my parents.
anche se io abitavo ancora dai miei genitori. Non ero clandestino nel vero senso della parola.