European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
-
Growing up during Fascism
Growing up during Fascism
-
The fascist regime didn’t even spare us children.
The fascist regime didn’t even spare us children.
Das faschistische Regime verschonte auch uns Kinder nicht. -
Our school organized a contest for the best drawing.
Our school organized a contest for the best drawing.
Unsere Schule veranstaltete einen Zeichenwettbewerb. -
I was good, I was really good at drawing.
I was good, I was really good at drawing.
Ich war wirklich sehr gut im Zeichnen. -
And look at the irony of fate: I drew a very nice sheaf with a beautiful laurel wreath.
And look at the irony of fate: I drew a very nice sheaf with a beautiful laurel wreath.
I hatte ein sehr hübsches Rutenbündel mit einem Lorbeerkranz gemalt. -
To paint it, I mean, to color it with crayons if you don't have the hand for it... I mean, if you're not careful, it won't turn out well...
To paint it, I mean, to color it with crayons if you don't have the hand for it... I mean, if you're not careful, it won't turn out well...
Es ist nicht einfach, das mit Kreide farbig zu zeichen, wenn man nicht gut darin ist. -
but actually it turned out to be very beautiful
but actually it turned out to be very beautiful
Es war sehr gut gelungen. -
and it was selected as the best drawing of our elementary school in Castelnovo di Sotto.
and it was selected as the best drawing of our elementary school in Castelnovo di Sotto.
Meine Zeichnung wurde zur schönsten der Schule gewählt. -
We were called to the Ausoni theatre for the award ceremony.
We were called to the Ausoni theatre for the award ceremony.
Wir wurden ins Ausoni Theater eingeladen für die Preisverleihung. -
The podestà was supposed to come hand out the prizes.
The podestà was supposed to come hand out the prizes.
Der Ortsvorsteher sollte die Preise überreichen. -
They were present, since the entire fascist heirarchy was present at every event, giving out awards to the children...
They were present, since the entire fascist heirarchy was present at every event, giving out awards to the children...
Die gesamte faschistische Hierarchie war anwesend, wie immer bei Zeremonien. -
i was the last one to be called since I had earned the top award in the entire school.
i was the last one to be called since I had earned the top award in the entire school.
Ich war die letzte, die ausgezeichnet werden sollte. -
They called me, I went up the stairs and was up on the stage...
They called me, I went up the stairs and was up on the stage...
Schließlich wurde ich aufgerufen. Ich ging die Stufen hoch zum Podium. -
and there stood Doctor Ganassi. This I should state because he was a family friend and I, even all of us, would bring him milk from a cow that I'd practically raised,
and there stood Doctor Ganassi. This I should state because he was a family friend and I, even all of us, would bring him milk from a cow that I'd practically raised,
Herr Ganassi war dort. Ich brachte ihm jeden Abend etwas Milch von einer Kuh, die ich großgezogen hatte. -
since he had a young son but couldn't manage to raise him... all of his children died as infants and so we would bring him this milk.
since he had a young son but couldn't manage to raise him... all of his children died as infants and so we would bring him this milk.
Denn er hatte ein kleines Kind und er hatte alle seine Kinder in jungen Jahren verloren. -
And he said: “Oh, you don’t belong to the Piccole Italiane?” I answered: “No, my father didn’t sign me up”.
And he said: “Oh, you don’t belong to the Piccole Italiane?” I answered: “No, my father didn’t sign me up”.
Herr Ganassi fragte mich: "Du bist also nicht in der Piccola Italiane? Ich antwortete: "Nein, mein Vater hat mich nicht angemeldet." -
"Well, then we won't give your your award" and he sent me back.
"Well, then we won't give your your award" and he sent me back.
"Dann können wir dir den Preis nicht geben", sagte Herr Ganassi und schickte mich zurück. -
A ten, eleven year-old girl... how can you explain to her that...
A ten, eleven year-old girl... how can you explain to her that...
Wie kann ein kleines Mädchen von zehn oder elf Jahren verstehen, -
how can she understand that there is more worth to a membership card than her ability to work, to study, to be good, etcetera?
how can she understand that there is more worth to a membership card than her ability to work, to study, to be good, etcetera?
dass eine Mitgliedschaftskarte mehr wert ist, als ihre Fähigkeiten? -
I went home crying. My mother was feeding the pigs. Poor thing.. she found herself...
I went home crying. My mother was feeding the pigs. Poor thing.. she found herself...
Ich lief weinend nach Hause. Meine Mutter fütterte gerade die Schweine.