European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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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. -
I was grateful that three or four years ago I was able to visit the camp I was imprisoned in sixty years before.
I was grateful that three or four years ago I was able to visit the camp I was imprisoned in sixty years before.
Ich war dankbar, dass vor drei, vier Jahren das Lager besuchen konnte,
in dem ich 60 Jahre zuvor inhaftiert war. -
We stayed there for a while, under constant air raids.
We stayed there for a while, under constant air raids.
Wir blieben eine Weile dort. Es gab ständig Luftangriffe. -
The Germans who were in charge of the camp stayed in the first two shacks,
The Germans who were in charge of the camp stayed in the first two shacks,
Die Deutschen, die für das Lager verantwortlich waren wohnten in den ersten beiden Hütten. -
then there were two shacks of female prisoners – Russian women who worked on the railroad tracks with smaller shovels –
then there were two shacks of female prisoners – Russian women who worked on the railroad tracks with smaller shovels –
Dann gab es zwei Hütten für weibliche Gefangene –
Russische Frauen, die mit kleinen Schaufeln an den Bahngleisen arbeiteten – -
then the French, and finally us. I don’t know how many thousands prisoners were in the camp.
then the French, and finally us. I don’t know how many thousands prisoners were in the camp.
dann die Franzosen and schließlich wir.
Ich weiß nicht wie viele Tausend Gefangen in dem Lager waren. -
I should not forget to say that, at that point, I was still accompanied by two non-commissioned officers
I should not forget to say that, at that point, I was still accompanied by two non-commissioned officers
Ich sollte nicht vergessen, dass ich zu der Zeit
noch in Begleitung von zwei Unteroffizieren war, -
who had kept my documents since the day we had embarked to leave Albania.
who had kept my documents since the day we had embarked to leave Albania.
die meine Dokumente behalten hatten, als wir Albanien verließen. -
One of them was from Cosenza, the other from Catanzaro, and I think they were supposed to go back to Italy on special leave.
One of them was from Cosenza, the other from Catanzaro, and I think they were supposed to go back to Italy on special leave.
Einer von ihnen war aus Cosenza, der andere aus Catanzaro.
Ich glaube sie sollten eigentlich im Sonderurlaub zurück nach Italien gehen. -
When everything changed I was slightly worried: the two were beginning to need something to drink,
When everything changed I was slightly worried: the two were beginning to need something to drink,
Als sich alles änderte war ich leicht besorgt:
die zwei brauchten etwas zu trinken