European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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There was one rule back then.
There was one rule back then.
Es gab damals eine Regel. -
At Reggiane we manufactured airplanes
At Reggiane we manufactured airplanes
Bei Reggiane bauten wir Flugzeuge – -
– you can still see one of the airplanes we made, it’s at the Reggio Emilia airport –
– you can still see one of the airplanes we made, it’s at the Reggio Emilia airport –
am Flughafen von Reggio Emilia kann man noch eines der Flugzeuge sehen, die wir gebaut haben. -
so the young workers of Reggiane who were called into the Army were entitled to serve in the Air Force,
so the young workers of Reggiane who were called into the Army were entitled to serve in the Air Force,
Die jungen Arbeiter von Reggiane, die zur Armee eingezogen wurden, waren berechtigt, bei der Luftwaffe zu dienen, -
while those who worked at Lombardini Motori, manufacturing ship engines, usually served in the Navy.
while those who worked at Lombardini Motori, manufacturing ship engines, usually served in the Navy.
während die Arbeiter von Lombardini Motori, die Schiffsmotoren bauten, in der Regel bei der Marine dienten. -
I was called up for military service, went to Bologna and then to Orvieto, where I completed the recruit training.
I was called up for military service, went to Bologna and then to Orvieto, where I completed the recruit training.
Ich wurde zum Militärdienst eingezogen, ging nach Bologna und dann nach Orvieto, wo ich die Grundausbildung absolvierte. -
After that, we were transferred to different places.
After that, we were transferred to different places.
Nach der Grundausbildung wurden wir an verschiedene Orte versetzt. -
I was sent to an airport near Rome, in a small village called Furbara.
I was sent to an airport near Rome, in a small village called Furbara.
Ich wurde zu einem Flughafen in der Nähe von Rom geschickt, in ein kleines Dorf names Furbara. -
Our units were sent to mount guard in Rome,
Our units were sent to mount guard in Rome,
Von dort wurde unsere Einheit als Wache nach Rom geschickt. -
so we went to Palazzo Venezia.
so we went to Palazzo Venezia.
Wir gingen im Palazzo Venezia Wache. -
Throughout the week, every night a different unit was in charge of this:
Throughout the week, every night a different unit was in charge of this:
Während der Woche war jede Nacht eine andere Abteilung verantwortlich: -
one night it was the Air Force, one night the artillerymen, and so on.
one night it was the Air Force, one night the artillerymen, and so on.
eine Nacht war es die Luftwaffe, eine Nacht die Artillerie und so weiter. -
So we went to mount guard, and I remember that a new lieutenant came to pick us up with a van at eight in the morning,
So we went to mount guard, and I remember that a new lieutenant came to pick us up with a van at eight in the morning,
Wir gingen also zur Wache und ich erinnere mich, dass ein neuer Leutnant uns um acht Uhr morgens mit einem Transporter abholte. -
and told us we would be visiting Rome for a while since he had never been there before.
and told us we would be visiting Rome for a while since he had never been there before.
und er sagte uns, dass wir für eine Weile Rom besichtigen würden, da er nie dort war. -
I went back inside the airport. The mail had arrived and there were also some letters for me.
I went back inside the airport. The mail had arrived and there were also some letters for me.
[…] Ich ging zurück zum Flughafen. Die Post war angekommen und es gab auch ein paar Briefe für mich. -
I went to my sleeping quarter and was opening a letter when my lieutenant,
I went to my sleeping quarter and was opening a letter when my lieutenant,
Ich ging zum Schlafsaal und als ich einen der Briefe öffnete, kam mein Leutnant, -
a man from Ancona whose name was Santaroni, came over. He was a good man – he gave me a hug later –
a man from Ancona whose name was Santaroni, came over. He was a good man – he gave me a hug later –
ein Mann aus Ancona mit Namen Santaroni.
Er war ein guter Mann – er umarmte mich später – -
who had come to tell me that “somebody needed to speak to me”.
who had come to tell me that “somebody needed to speak to me”.
und er sagte, „diese Herren brauchen dich“. -
It was three policemen.
It was three policemen.
Es waren drei Polizisten. -
The first thing the sergeant did was take the letter I held in my hands.
The first thing the sergeant did was take the letter I held in my hands.
Der Marschall nahm mir zuerst den Brief aus der Hand.