European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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First combat with German forces
First combat with German forces
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I was so eager to exchange blows with the enemy.
I was so eager to exchange blows with the enemy.
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I was in a battalion, equipped with only three machine-guns and rifles, very poorly armed.
I was in a battalion, equipped with only three machine-guns and rifles, very poorly armed.
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The Germans surrounded us with tanks during the night.
The Germans surrounded us with tanks during the night.
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It was their mighty army against ours. They waited until morning to attack.
It was their mighty army against ours. They waited until morning to attack.
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I immediately offered to go, and three more men were equally enthusiastic to go with me up against the German tanks with hand grenades.
I immediately offered to go, and three more men were equally enthusiastic to go with me up against the German tanks with hand grenades.
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We imagined it was just a matter of throwing the grenades, we would simply kill the Germans
We imagined it was just a matter of throwing the grenades, we would simply kill the Germans
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and blast everything to ruins. Older and more experienced Partisans told us to calm down.
and blast everything to ruins. Older and more experienced Partisans told us to calm down.
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There would be many more opportunities to fight. They clarified that it’s not that simple to destroy a tank.
There would be many more opportunities to fight. They clarified that it’s not that simple to destroy a tank.
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They’re not made of paper, rather of steel, and also the Germans were not sleeping.
They’re not made of paper, rather of steel, and also the Germans were not sleeping.
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We were atop this hill. There was also a bit of forest around.
We were atop this hill. There was also a bit of forest around.
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The Germans approached in a dense line of ‘shooters’ followed by a display of tanks, slowly advancing in the rear.
The Germans approached in a dense line of ‘shooters’ followed by a display of tanks, slowly advancing in the rear.
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We then recognized the horror.
We then recognized the horror.
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We were all novices, it was our first fight, except for a few leading cadres.
We were all novices, it was our first fight, except for a few leading cadres.
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On the basis of my four grades of high schooling, I was named right off as the Political Commissary of a unit;
On the basis of my four grades of high schooling, I was named right off as the Political Commissary of a unit;
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without any previous fighting experience. I had to take care of my men.
without any previous fighting experience. I had to take care of my men.
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We had these dugouts or shelters made from stones.
We had these dugouts or shelters made from stones.
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During a fight we were to defend ourselves from behind the shelters.
During a fight we were to defend ourselves from behind the shelters.
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The command was to remain quiet and calm and to wait until the commander yelled charge (‘juris’).
The command was to remain quiet and calm and to wait until the commander yelled charge (‘juris’).
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We were to wait for the enemy to approach within 20 meters and then each man was to pick his own target enemy.
We were to wait for the enemy to approach within 20 meters and then each man was to pick his own target enemy.