European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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In the beginning, they tried it with propaganda, saying that one worker going to work in Germany would liberate ten Prisoners of War.
In the beginning, they tried it with propaganda, saying that one worker going to work in Germany would liberate ten Prisoners of War.
Anfangs versuchten sie es mit Propaganda. Sie sagten, dass Deutschland für jeden Arbeiter, der nach Deutschland ginge, zehn Kriegsgefangene freikommen würden. -
That didn’t work well, as very few volunteered.
That didn’t work well, as very few volunteered.
Das funktionierte nicht lange, nur wenige meldeten sich freiwillig. -
From then on lists with the names of some of the workers were sent to the factories.
From then on lists with the names of some of the workers were sent to the factories.
Von da an wurden Listen mit den Namen von manchen Arbeitern zu den Fabriken geschickt. -
If your name was on that list, you had to leave to work in Germany.
If your name was on that list, you had to leave to work in Germany.
Wenn dein Name auf der Liste war, musstest du nach Deutschland gehen zum arbeiten. -
One day I saw my name on one of these lists.
One day I saw my name on one of these lists.
Eines Tages sah ich meinen Namen auf einer der Listen. -
We were supposed to have a medical check-up in Courbevoie, with a German major.
We were supposed to have a medical check-up in Courbevoie, with a German major.
Wir sollten uns in Courbevoie einer medizinische Untersuchung durch einen deutschen Major unterziehen. -
I had a hernia, which in reality didn’t bother me.
I had a hernia, which in reality didn’t bother me.
Ich hatte einen Leistenbruch, der mich nicht besonders störte. -
But I arrived there as if in pain, saying that my doctor had told me I needed to be operated on immediately.
But I arrived there as if in pain, saying that my doctor had told me I needed to be operated on immediately.
Aber tat so, als wäre ich unter Schmerzen und ich trug vor, dass mein Doktor sagte, dass ich sofort operiert werden müsse. -
The major answered: “Don’t worry. We have very good surgeons in Germany, go ahead.”
The major answered: “Don’t worry. We have very good surgeons in Germany, go ahead.”
Der Major antwortete: „Keine Sorge. Wir haben sehr gute Chirurgen in Deutschland, weiter gehen.” -
I then got in touch with my superiors.
I then got in touch with my superiors.
Ich nahm Kontakt zu meinen Vorgesetzten auf. -
It was decided that I would be sent to a ‘maquis’ in Corèse.
It was decided that I would be sent to a ‘maquis’ in Corèse.
Man schickte mich zu den „Maquisards“ (Partisanen) in Corèse. -
Upon arrival in Brives, I was to contact the comrades.
Upon arrival in Brives, I was to contact the comrades.
Nach der Ankunft in Brives, sollte ich die Kameraden kontaktieren. -
When I passed the demarcation line, I was not able to establish contact.
When I passed the demarcation line, I was not able to establish contact.
Nachdem ich die Demarkationslinie überschritten hatte, konnte ich keinen Kontakt aufnehmen. -
The ‘maquis’ was under siege, after having derailed a German train filled with deportees.
The ‘maquis’ was under siege, after having derailed a German train filled with deportees.
Die „Maquisards“ waren umstellt, nachdem sie einen Zug der Deutschen mit Deportierten entgleisen ließen. -
I had already been controlled several times by the police with my false identification documents
I had already been controlled several times by the police with my false identification documents
Ich hatte gefälschte Papiere und wurde bereits mehrmals von der Polizei kontrolliert. -
and realized that the situation was getting dangerous.
and realized that the situation was getting dangerous.
Ich realisierte, dass die Situation gefährlich wurde. -
So I returned to Nanterre and then was sent to work in a factory in the department of the Marne.
So I returned to Nanterre and then was sent to work in a factory in the department of the Marne.
Also ging ich zurück nach Nanterre, wo man mich zum arbeiten in eine Fabrik im Department Marne schickte. -
One day a few comrades and I – we were producing concrete platforms – sent a concrete wagon into a German barrack.
One day a few comrades and I – we were producing concrete platforms – sent a concrete wagon into a German barrack.
Wir produzierten Betonplattformen und eines Tages fuhren wir einen Betonwagen in eine Kaserne der Deutschen. -
We did not wait for our wages… We left immediately and I returned to Nanterre where I stayed undercover.
We did not wait for our wages… We left immediately and I returned to Nanterre where I stayed undercover.
Wir warteten nicht auf unsere Gehälter… Wir gingen sofort zurück nach Nanterre, wo ich im Untergrund blieb. -
I had a little basement room. My father did not know where I was.
I had a little basement room. My father did not know where I was.
Ich hatte eine kleines Zimmer in einem Keller. Mein Vater wusste nicht, wo ich war.