European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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What we were facing wasn’t a joke.
What we were facing wasn’t a joke.
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Torelli went on: “You must try to keep everything that a clandestine army might need,
Torelli went on: “You must try to keep everything that a clandestine army might need,
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because we want to get people to fight to send away the Germans and the fascists”.
because we want to get people to fight to send away the Germans and the fascists”.
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We started to take things out.
We started to take things out.
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Before I talk about this, I will tell an episode which was really crucial
Before I talk about this, I will tell an episode which was really crucial
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for my decision to go on and take part in the Liberation struggle.
for my decision to go on and take part in the Liberation struggle.
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Three or four days after September 8th, the air-raid warning went off.
Three or four days after September 8th, the air-raid warning went off.
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We fled on our bicycles.
We fled on our bicycles.
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After a while we went back home, since we didn’t hear anything and the warning had stopped.
After a while we went back home, since we didn’t hear anything and the warning had stopped.
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As I arrived at the beginning of Dalmazia street, as we always fled towards Codemondo or the Canalina,
As I arrived at the beginning of Dalmazia street, as we always fled towards Codemondo or the Canalina,
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the SS were standing in front of the houses.
the SS were standing in front of the houses.
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In front of my house there was a space we called the “palace”,
In front of my house there was a space we called the “palace”,
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where we used to put tables and chairs in the summer.
where we used to put tables and chairs in the summer.
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As I got there, a German unit with a machine gun told me to stop.
As I got there, a German unit with a machine gun told me to stop.
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I replied: “It’s my house!”
I replied: “It’s my house!”
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The soldier just told me: “Halt, raus!”.
The soldier just told me: “Halt, raus!”.
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I didn’t understand any German, but “raus” meant go away, leave.
I didn’t understand any German, but “raus” meant go away, leave.
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I told him: “That’s my house; I have to fix dinner for my brothers”.
I told him: “That’s my house; I have to fix dinner for my brothers”.
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Again, he replied: “Raus, schnell, schnell!” and pointed the gun at me.
Again, he replied: “Raus, schnell, schnell!” and pointed the gun at me.
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I quietly went back with my bicycle and met Maria, who had the same thing happening to her.
I quietly went back with my bicycle and met Maria, who had the same thing happening to her.