European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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We weren’t even allowed to sing Slovenian in church.
We weren’t even allowed to sing Slovenian in church.
Dann haben wir auf einmal in der Kirche nicht mehr dürfen slowenisch singen -
We had an inn, and there we had to hang up posters:
We had an inn, and there we had to hang up posters:
Dann, bei uns war ein Gasthaus, da haben wir halt müssen über jede Tür hinauf ein Plakat aufhängen: -
“Carinthians speak German!”
“Carinthians speak German!”
„Kärntner, sprich Deutsch!“ -
You always had to look out who was at the inn – as there were spies around –
You always had to look out who was at the inn – as there were spies around –
Da hast müssen immer aufpassen, wer im Gasthaus war - es waren immer wieder Spitzel dabei - -
whether you spoke Slovenian or German.
whether you spoke Slovenian or German.
ob man slowenisch red’ oder nur deutsch. -
Of course, if you knew there was nobody around, you spoke Slovenian.
Of course, if you knew there was nobody around, you spoke Slovenian.
Freilich, wenn man gewusst hat, jetzt ist niemand da, hast’ slowenisch gered’. Sonst war es aber verboten. -
In 1942 they resettled five families from Ludmannsdorf.
In 1942 they resettled five families from Ludmannsdorf.
Und na, dann im 42er Jahr, da haben sie 5 Familien von Ludmannsdorf ausgesiedelt. -
We were on the list, as well.
We were on the list, as well.
Wir waren auch auf der Liste, unsere Familie und noch mehr. -
Allegedly 16 Families of the parish were to be resettled.
Allegedly 16 Families of the parish were to be resettled.
Angeblich sollten 16 Familien aus der Gemeinde ausgesiedelt werden. -
They stopped it then.
They stopped it then.
Das wurde dann auch eingestellt. -
We heard that there were so many that they didn’t know where to send them.
We heard that there were so many that they didn’t know where to send them.
Ich weiß nicht – angeblich (haben wir gehört) es waren so viele, sie haben nicht gewusst, wohin mit die Leut’. -
They stopped it then.
They stopped it then.
Zuerst – und na, dann haben sie es halt eingestellt. -
End of the war: Alone and Stranded
End of the war: Alone and Stranded
End of the war - alone and stranded -
The day that Ljubljana was liberated, WWII was ending.
The day that Ljubljana was liberated, WWII was ending.
So on the very day that Ljubljana was liberated, to the same time being the end of WWII, -
on 9th May 1945 we returned to Ljubljana.
on 9th May 1945 we returned to Ljubljana.
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That was the most wonderful day of my life. It still is.
That was the most wonderful day of my life. It still is.
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There were many things I didn’t know. We were riding in a small truck.
There were many things I didn’t know. We were riding in a small truck.
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I didn’t know that we passed the killing grounds where my good friend Neda Grzinic lay buried.
I didn’t know that we passed the killing grounds where my good friend Neda Grzinic lay buried.
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I didn’t know that we passed the fire station in Lavrica where my father was buried in February 1944.
I didn’t know that we passed the fire station in Lavrica where my father was buried in February 1944.
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I knew nothing of these horrible facts. I didn’t know my husband was on his deathbed.
I knew nothing of these horrible facts. I didn’t know my husband was on his deathbed.