European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I stopped attending school.
I stopped attending school.
ging ich nicht mehr zur Schule. -
It’s not like someone stopped me from going, it’s just that it was enough to learn the basics of reading and writing.
It’s not like someone stopped me from going, it’s just that it was enough to learn the basics of reading and writing.
Es war nicht aus Bosheit, es war nur so, dass es genügte, wenn man Lesen und Schreiben gelernt hatte. -
Later, in the army, I used to write letters for a fellow soldier from Guastalla and two more who were from the mountains.
Later, in the army, I used to write letters for a fellow soldier from Guastalla and two more who were from the mountains.
Später, in der Armee, schrieb ich Briefe für einen Kameraden aus Guastalla und zwei weitere aus den Bergen. -
They were my age but didn’t know how to write: I was not better than them, but I had gone to school until third grade.
They were my age but didn’t know how to write: I was not better than them, but I had gone to school until third grade.
Sie waren in meinem Alter, aber sie konnten nicht schreiben. Ich war nicht besser als sie, außer dass ich bis zur dritten Klasse zur Schule ging. -
Reflecting history
Reflecting history
Nachdenken über die Vergangenheit -
I care about these stories.
I care about these stories.
Mir sind diese Geschichten wichtig. -
Not so much for myself.
Not so much for myself.
Gar nicht so sehr wegen mir selbst. -
Rather for the benefit they convey to those who listen and want to think about them.
Rather for the benefit they convey to those who listen and want to think about them.
Eher wegen des Nutzens, den sie für diejenigen haben, die sie hören und darüber nachdenken möchten. -
It was real life.
It was real life.
Denn es geht dabei um wirkliches Leben. -
I’m not exaggerating things, even those episodes that are quite sensational.
I’m not exaggerating things, even those episodes that are quite sensational.
Ich übertreibe nicht, im Gegenteil, einige markante Episoden gebe ich weniger beeindruckend wieder. -
I rather focus on reflecting on them. It’s all about the 20th century, about the way we lived through it.
I rather focus on reflecting on them. It’s all about the 20th century, about the way we lived through it.
Denn ich halte es für wichtig, über diese Realität nachzudenken. Es geht ums 20. Jahrhundert und wie wir es gelebt haben. Verstehst du? -
Activities after the war
Activities after the war
Aktivitäten nach dem Krieg -
I went back home. I knew I would find the same situation I had left behind.
I went back home. I knew I would find the same situation I had left behind.
Ich kehrte nach Hause zurück und wusste, dass ich das vorfinden würde, was ich zurückgelassen hatte. -
In the mountains I had become another person.
In the mountains I had become another person.
Und wenn man bedenkt, dass ich dort oben eine andere Person geworden war ... -
I was respected and highly esteemed. Not only because of my stripes,
I was respected and highly esteemed. Not only because of my stripes,
ich war sehr geachtet, nicht nur wegen meines Dienstgrads, -
but because of the way I took care of difficult operations.
but because of the way I took care of difficult operations.
sondern weil ich bei heiklen Operationen eingesetzt wurde, für die Verbindungen usw. -
I didn’t want to go back home constantly having to listen to what my father or my brother said.
I didn’t want to go back home constantly having to listen to what my father or my brother said.
Ich wollte es nicht mehr hinnehmen, zu Hause fragen zu müssen, welche Arbeit ich verrichten soll, ständig unter Beobachtung zu stehen "aber dein Bruder sagt dies, aber dein Vater sagt das". -
As soon as I got home I told my father I didn’t want to work at home anymore.
As soon as I got home I told my father I didn’t want to work at home anymore.
Als ich nach Hause kam, sagte ich zu meinem Vater: "Ich möchte nicht mehr zu Hause arbeiten, -
I wanted to shape my own life, find a job and become self-sufficient.
I wanted to shape my own life, find a job and become self-sufficient.
sondern meine eigenes Leben aufbauen, eine Arbeit finden, bei der ich unabhängig sein und das Beste von mir geben kann, -
At home I felt repressed. My father agreed.
At home I felt repressed. My father agreed.
denn zu Hause ersticke ich." Und Papa war einverstanden.