European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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We stayed there three days without setting sail, apparently because there were British u-boats.
We stayed there three days without setting sail, apparently because there were British u-boats.
Wir verbrachten dort drei Tage ohne abzulegen, angeblich wegen Britischer U-Boote. -
Then one evening, from the ship, we saw that there were great celebrations in Durres,
Then one evening, from the ship, we saw that there were great celebrations in Durres,
Eines Abends sahen wir vom Schiff aus eine große Feier in Durrës, -
people hugging all around, and we decided to get off.
people hugging all around, and we decided to get off.
Die Menschen umarmten sich und wir beschlossen von Bord zu gehen. -
It was the 8th of September, Badoglio had just declared the armistice.
It was the 8th of September, Badoglio had just declared the armistice.
Es war der 8. September, Badoglio hatte soeben den Waffenstillstand erklärt. -
There were also fifty German soldiers in Durres:
There were also fifty German soldiers in Durres:
Es waren auch fünfzig deutsche Soldaten in Durrës: -
they took off their uniforms and celebrated with us,
they took off their uniforms and celebrated with us,
Sie nahmen Ihre Uniform ab, feierten mit uns. -
and got dressed as Germans again only eight days later.
and got dressed as Germans again only eight days later.
Acht Tage später verkleideten sie sich wieder als Deutsche. -
From that day, nobody was able to correspond with Rome.
From that day, nobody was able to correspond with Rome.
Von diesem Tag an hatte niemand mehr eine Verbindung nach Rom. -
Even those in charge of the different services or of the orderly room could not speak to anyone in Rome: nobody would answer.
Even those in charge of the different services or of the orderly room could not speak to anyone in Rome: nobody would answer.
Sogar die Militärverwaltung konnte nicht mehr mit Rom sprechen. Niemand antwortete. -
Maybe it was better this way.
Maybe it was better this way.
Vielleicht war es besser so. -
One day, our officers in charge, such as General Mondini, from Parma, who was the Commanding General of my division,
One day, our officers in charge, such as General Mondini, from Parma, who was the Commanding General of my division,
Unsere Offiziere wie z.B. General Mondini aus Parma, der Kommandierende General meiner Division -
pulled the troops together and deliberately lied to us.
pulled the troops together and deliberately lied to us.
riefen eines Tages die Truppen zusammen and belügten uns absichtlich. -
I think they knew from the very start that what they were telling us was a lie,
I think they knew from the very start that what they were telling us was a lie,
Ich glaube sie wussten von Anfang an, dass sie uns anlogen, -
but they told us that they had reached an agreement with the Germans: they would take us to Trieste,
but they told us that they had reached an agreement with the Germans: they would take us to Trieste,
aber sie sagten uns, dass sie eine Vereinbarung mit den Deutschen hatten:
sie würden uns nach Trieste bringen, -
where we would all be able to go our own way.
where we would all be able to go our own way.
von wo aus jeder seines Weges gehen könne. -
I was quite skeptical, but we all got on the train. There were forty-two of us on each railcar.
I was quite skeptical, but we all got on the train. There were forty-two of us on each railcar.
Ich war sehr skeptisch aber wir stiegen alle in den Zug.
In jedem Waggon waren 42 von uns. -
When we reached the border the Germans locked the railcars, allegedly because of the Partisans.
When we reached the border the Germans locked the railcars, allegedly because of the Partisans.
Als wir die deutsche Grenze erreichten verriegelten die Deutschen die Waggons,
angeblich wegen der Partisanen. -
In the morning – I had a small booklet with a map – it turned out we were in Austria.
In the morning – I had a small booklet with a map – it turned out we were in Austria.
Am Morgen – ich hatte eine kleines Buch mit einer Karte -
waren wir in Österreich. -
I told the others that it didn’t look good at all.
I told the others that it didn’t look good at all.
Ich sagte den anderen, dass es überhaupt nicht gut aussah. -
I ended up in Neubrandenburg, 200 km to the north of Berlin.
I ended up in Neubrandenburg, 200 km to the north of Berlin.
Ich landete in Neubrandenburg 200km nördlich von Berlin.