European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Military experience
Military experience
Esperienza militare -
When I was serving in the first unit,
When I was serving in the first unit,
Quando io facevo con un primo distaccamento, -
it was my task to train to people, set up teams.
it was my task to train to people, set up teams.
non so dovevo mettere la gente a posto, fare le squadre, -
If there was one who had more courage than others
If there was one who had more courage than others
se c’era uno che aveva un po’ di coraggio -
I placed a few shy ones next to him.
I placed a few shy ones next to him.
allora ci mettevo anche un paio o due di ragazzi che erano dei tremoli -
I told them: "Don't shoot, don't shoot, don't smoke
I told them: "Don't shoot, don't shoot, don't smoke
e poi quando dicevo “Non sparate, non sparate, non fumate -
when you're in that position
when you're in that position
in quella posizione lì -
and don't show the white parts of your body and your face because they can see you".
and don't show the white parts of your body and your face because they can see you".
e non fate vedere le parti bianche del corpo e del viso perché si vedono” -
That was it, but the ones that were paying less attention to these instructions or were distracted
That was it, but the ones that were paying less attention to these instructions or were distracted
e allora così ma chi invece non era attento, era un po’ così, distratto, -
got into trouble because they took advantage of this.
got into trouble because they took advantage of this.
rimaneva fregato, perché loro erano attenti davvero, loro usavano questo qua. -
And when someone was to do surveillance duty: keep your eyes open and don't sleep,
And when someone was to do surveillance duty: keep your eyes open and don't sleep,
Oppure quando si era di guardia: fai la guardia e non dormire, -
because during military service you do surveillance like this.
because during military service you do surveillance like this.
perché a militare si faceva la guardia così, -
But then again, you could find partisans doing surveillance and sleeping.
But then again, you could find partisans doing surveillance and sleeping.
infatti trovavi dei partigiani lì di guardia e poi dormivano. -
If you're tired, ask for a change, you stupid,
If you're tired, ask for a change, you stupid,
Quando hai sonno chiedi il cambio stupido, -
because I sleep quietly if you're keeping your eyes open, but if you sleep, too ... ?!
because I sleep quietly if you're keeping your eyes open, but if you sleep, too ... ?!
perché io dormo tranquillo se tu hai gli occhi aperti ma se dormi anche tu! -
And in fact these things happened, I'm not going to talk about it because they're too tragic,
And in fact these things happened, I'm not going to talk about it because they're too tragic,
E infatti dei casi sono successi purtroppo non li tocco perché sono troppo gravi, -
but it happened that the Germans came in and did a massacre
but it happened that the Germans came in and did a massacre
gente che si sono visti arrivare i tedeschi dentro, hanno fatto un massacro qua da noi -
because the guard wasn't paying attention. They had no experience.
because the guard wasn't paying attention. They had no experience.
perché non era attenta la guardia, mi capisci? Cioè inesperte. -
Another episode happened to me near Parma.
Another episode happened to me near Parma.
Oppure mi è capitato dalle parti di Parma, -
One day we crossed the river Enza
One day we crossed the river Enza
un giorno abbiamo passato l’Enza,