European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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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,
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so the Party tried to help their families as much as possible.
so the Party tried to help their families as much as possible.
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On Sundays we used to set up stalls in the square to sell things, or we organized lotteries:
On Sundays we used to set up stalls in the square to sell things, or we organized lotteries:
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on one occasion, the first prize was a hen that a farmer had given to us
on one occasion, the first prize was a hen that a farmer had given to us
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to collect some of the money that was needed.
to collect some of the money that was needed.
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Antifascist family
Antifascist family
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I was born in Gavasseto.
I was born in Gavasseto.
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I had three sisters, my mother and father were socialists.
I had three sisters, my mother and father were socialists.
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They worked for the Socialist Party and took part in its activities.
They worked for the Socialist Party and took part in its activities.
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Therefore, I was an antifascist since I was a kid,
Therefore, I was an antifascist since I was a kid,
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and I remember neatly the day when, in 1923 – I think I was five then –
and I remember neatly the day when, in 1923 –
I think I was five then – -
the consumer cooperative of Gavasseto was burned down.
the consumer cooperative of Gavasseto was burned down.
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My mother and father had always been working to set up the cooperative.
My mother and father had always been working to set up the cooperative.
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Then, that night, I remember that people came over to wake them up,
Then, that night, I remember that people came over to wake them up,
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shouting that “the coop was on fire”: that’s a moment I will never forget.
shouting that “the coop was on fire”: that’s a moment I will never forget.
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From that day, I’ve never been a member of the Fascist Party.
From that day, I’ve never been a member of the Fascist Party.
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There were also other reasons which kept me from taking up membership,-.
There were also other reasons which kept me from taking up membership,-.
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such as the fact that the Fascist youth had to take part in military activities and all kinds of classes every Saturday,
such as the fact that the Fascist youth had to take part in military activities and all kinds of classes every Saturday,
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an environment which I did not want to be involved in.
an environment which I did not want to be involved in.
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I went to live in Villa Rivalta and I wasn’t even seventeen when I started working at Officine Reggiane.
I went to live in Villa Rivalta and I wasn’t even seventeen when I started working at Officine Reggiane.