European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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When I was in Eger on holiday or because I needed my glass eye I used to say to the battalion’s doctor:
When I was in Eger on holiday or because I needed my glass eye I used to say to the battalion’s doctor:
Natürlich wenn ich mal in Eger war auf Urlaub, oder da ich immer wieder mein Glasauge brauchte sagte ich zu dem Truppenarzt: -
“Well, in Warsaw they are not able to make decent glass eyes.
“Well, in Warsaw they are not able to make decent glass eyes.
"Ja also, die in Warschau können keine guten Glasaugen machen, -
In Wiesbaden they make the best glass eyes.
In Wiesbaden they make the best glass eyes.
in Wiesbaden macht man die besten Glasaugen." -
Then I got marching orders from near the front or from Russia or Poland to Wiesbaden
Then I got marching orders from near the front or from Russia or Poland to Wiesbaden
Dann habe ich einen Marschbefehl von der Nähe der Front, oder von Russland oder Polen nach Wiesbaden bekommen, -
and then I took a detour past Eger. And i told to one or two:
and then I took a detour past Eger. And i told to one or two:
dann habe ich einen Umweg über Eger gemacht. Da lief der eine oder andere mit. -
“During this time I will be available in Eger. Can’t you come there, as well?”
“During this time I will be available in Eger. Can’t you come there, as well?”
Ich bin in dieser Zeit in Eger zu erreichen, kannst du nicht auch dahin kommen? -
We then met female comrades who were in Norway or Copenhagen.
We then met female comrades who were in Norway or Copenhagen.
Also da traf man sich dann schon mit Genossinnen, die in Norwegen oder die in Kopenhagen waren. -
It was very hard to co-ordinate such a holiday,
It was very hard to co-ordinate such a holiday,
Das andere klappte meistens nicht, es war sehr schwer, dass man so einen Urlaub aufeinander abstimmte, -
but it was obviously an exchange of experience that was thorough,
but it was obviously an exchange of experience that was thorough,
aber das war natürlich dann ein Erfahrungsaustausch der gründlich war, -
because you had to confine yourself to communicating in telegram styles during radio or coded correspondence.
because you had to confine yourself to communicating in telegram styles during radio or coded correspondence.
weil man eben durch Funkverkehr oder durch verschlüsselte Briefverkehr sich auf Telegramstile verständigen musste. -
And now you were able to analyse together: What has happened and what needs to be done?
And now you were able to analyse together: What has happened and what needs to be done?
Und jetzt konnte man gemeinsam analysieren, was ist da passiert und was muss man da machen. -
These meetings took place, but it was really a thing that was quite free of emotions.
These meetings took place, but it was really a thing that was quite free of emotions.
Solche Treffs gab es, aber das war eigentlich eine Sache die relativ frei war von Emotionen. Da ging es nüchtern darum, was kann man als Antifaschist erreichen und was geht unter diesen Bedingungen nicht. -
Injuries and being a radio operator
Injuries and being a radio operator
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It was a bagatelle that brought me in front of the court martial in Africa.
It was a bagatelle that brought me in front of the court martial in Africa.
Es war eine Lappalie, die mich in Afrika vor das Kriegsgericht brachte. -
If they had known what I really did, I would have been summarily executed.
If they had known what I really did, I would have been summarily executed.
Wenn sie gewusst hätten, was ich wirklich getan hätte, wäre ich standrechtlich erschossen wurden. -
As it was, I was taken to the court martial and condemned to the punishment battalion in Africa.
As it was, I was taken to the court martial and condemned to the punishment battalion in Africa.
Aber so kam ich vor das Kriegsgericht und wurde verurteilt zur Strafkompanie in Afrika. -
That was horrible because you were totally isolated
That was horrible because you were totally isolated
Das ist eine schreckliche Sache, weil man total isoliert ist -
and because you were often sent out in front of the tanks – as cannon catch.
and because you were often sent out in front of the tanks – as cannon catch.
und weil man oft vor den Panzern hergeschickt wurde - sozusagen als Kanonenfang. -
Near the Highfalla Pass, near Tobruk.
Near the Highfalla Pass, near Tobruk.
In der Nähe des Highfalla Basses, in der Nähe von Tobruk. -
I was seriously wounded after six weeks in the punishment battalion.
I was seriously wounded after six weeks in the punishment battalion.
Ich bin dann schwer verwundet wurden nach sechs Wochen in der Strafkompanie,