European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Although I was quite young, I was very curious. I had always been like that.
Although I was quite young, I was very curious. I had always been like that.
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The older men liked me. They started to explain to me what I had known only in general terms.
The older men liked me. They started to explain to me what I had known only in general terms.
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What fascism really was, the real reasons behind its existence,
What fascism really was, the real reasons behind its existence,
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for it was only violence and ignorance to me at that time.
for it was only violence and ignorance to me at that time.
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These men were generally Communists and Socialists.
These men were generally Communists and Socialists.
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I began to understand and to see things from a different point of view that attracted me more.
I began to understand and to see things from a different point of view that attracted me more.
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I had made friends with the young men who came to our bar.
I had made friends with the young men who came to our bar.
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When they left for war I became their communication point.
When they left for war I became their communication point.
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They were writing from Africa,
They were writing from Africa,
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from France, from Russia, asking for news about each other.
from France, from Russia, asking for news about each other.
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I started to have a broader view of the war, compared to those who only had letters from their relatives.
I started to have a broader view of the war, compared to those who only had letters from their relatives.
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Introduction, family
Introduction, family
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I was born in Roncolo di Quattro Castella on the 21st of May 1921.
I was born in Roncolo di Quattro Castella on the 21st of May 1921.
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We were a family of farmers, but our roots were different.
We were a family of farmers, but our roots were different.
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My grandfather had been studying to become a music teacher until the age of 20 and had founded the band of Vezzano.
My grandfather had been studying to become a music teacher until the age of 20 and had founded the band of Vezzano.
My grandfather had studied to become a music teacher and had founded the band of Vezzano. -
My grandmother was the daughter of the town-clerk of Vezzano,
My grandmother was the daughter of the town-clerk of Vezzano,
My grandmother was the daughter of the town-clerk of Vezzano. -
a post that he held as he took part in the struggle for Italian unification, along with his brother, Baroni Radighieri.
a post that he held as he took part in the struggle for Italian unification, along with his brother, Baroni Radighieri.
He was involved in the struggle for the unity of Italy, together with his brother, Baroni Radighieri. -
My grandparents had both studied a lot more than farmers would have normally done.
My grandparents had both studied a lot more than farmers would have normally done.
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For instance, my grandmother would, as a woman, read the newspaper every day,
For instance, my grandmother would, as a woman, read the newspaper every day,
My grandmother used to read the newspaper everyday, although she was a woman. -
which my father always referred to as an example, regarding the importance for a woman to also be cultured.
which my father always referred to as an example, regarding the importance for a woman to also be cultured.
My father often reminded me about how important it was for women to have education.