European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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In the beginning, we all knew each other.
In the beginning, we all knew each other.
Am Anfang kannten wir uns alle. -
When the first people were arrested we realized we needed a new form of organization.
When the first people were arrested we realized we needed a new form of organization.
Als es die ersten Verhaftungen gab, stellte sich die Frage nach anderen Organisationsformen. -
This was not specific for Nanterre. We were not used to working or organizing ourselves undercover.
This was not specific for Nanterre. We were not used to working or organizing ourselves undercover.
Das war nichts Spezifisches für Nanterre. Es gab keine Erfahrung mit klandestiner Organisation. -
The instructions we got from the Communist Youth or from the Communist Party were to organize in triangles.
The instructions we got from the Communist Youth or from the Communist Party were to organize in triangles.
Wir bekamen von der Kommunistischen Jugend und dann von der Partei die Anweisung, sich in Dreiecken zu organisieren. -
We were to get together in groups of three comrades.
We were to get together in groups of three comrades.
Man bildete Gruppen von nur drei Kamerad*innen. -
In case of an arrest we could only give away two names under torture.
In case of an arrest we could only give away two names under torture.
Im Falle einer Verhaftung, unter Folter, konnte man nur die Namen von zwei anderen preisgeben. -
One out of the three was responsible.
One out of the three was responsible.
Eine der drei Kamerad*innen war verantwortlich. -
We formed a sort of spider web, with these triangles, on all levels of the organization.
We formed a sort of spider web, with these triangles, on all levels of the organization.
Dies ergab eine Art Spinnennetz mit diesen Dreiecken auf jeder Ebene. -
That was the structure of the clandestine organization of the Communist Party, which then applied to the French snipers and partisans.
That was the structure of the clandestine organization of the Communist Party, which then applied to the French snipers and partisans.
Dies war die Struktur der Kommunistischen Partei im Untergrund, die dann auf die Francs Tireurs und Partisanen übertragen wurde. -
We structured ourselves by regions and sectors.
We structured ourselves by regions and sectors.
Wir waren in Regionen und Sektoren strukturiert. -
The regions were numbered (I was in region 7) and then there were the sectors.
The regions were numbered (I was in region 7) and then there were the sectors.
Die Regionen waren nummeriert (wir waren in der Region 7). -
Our sector comprised three or four municipalities around Nanterre.
Our sector comprised three or four municipalities around Nanterre.
Unser Sektor bestand aus drei bis vier Gemeinden rund um Nanterre. -
One of our comrades had a big garage at his parent’s house.
One of our comrades had a big garage at his parent’s house.
Die Eltern eines Kameraden hatten eine große Garage. -
There was a little pavilion where we installed our material.
There was a little pavilion where we installed our material.
Dort gab es einen kleinen Pavillon wo wir unser Material einrichteten. -
With our manual duplicator, we produced leaflets.
With our manual duplicator, we produced leaflets.
Wir hatten dann einen handbetriebenen Spiritusdrucker. Damit konnten wir Flugblätter produzieren. -
Our leaders gave us these announcements for resistance and we had to reproduce leaflets and distribute them.
Our leaders gave us these announcements for resistance and we had to reproduce leaflets and distribute them.
Unsere Anführer brachten uns Aufrufe zum Widerstand, die wir reproduzieren mussten, damit sie verteilt werden konnten. -
We usually did that at night, which was very dangerous
We usually did that at night, which was very dangerous
Sie wurden nachts verteilt, was sehr gefährlich war, -
because there was a curfew from 22h00 until 6h00 in the morning.
because there was a curfew from 22h00 until 6h00 in the morning.
denn es gab eine Ausgangssperre von 22 Uhr bis 6 Uhr morgens. -
One was only allowed outside with an Ausweis (pass) issued by the police or by the Germans.
One was only allowed outside with an Ausweis (pass) issued by the police or by the Germans.
Man durfte nur mit einem speziellen Ausweis der Polizei oder der Deutschen draußen sein. -
It’s strange when you think about it: nowadays our mailboxes are filled with advertisement,
It’s strange when you think about it: nowadays our mailboxes are filled with advertisement,
Wenn man darüber nachdenkt, dass heute jede Menge Flugblätter und Werbung in den Briefkästen sind: