European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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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 -
and I was aware of how the Germans were not particularly fond of communists.
and I was aware of how the Germans were not particularly fond of communists.
und ich wusste, wie die Deutschen nicht gut auf Kommunisten zu sprechen waren. -
One night, the Germans needed thirty people and came over to our shack.
One night, the Germans needed thirty people and came over to our shack.
Eines Nachts brauchten die Deutschen 30 Leute und kamen zu unserer Hütte. -
The two officers had been entitled to bunk beds, so they were sleeping in a corner of the shack.
The two officers had been entitled to bunk beds, so they were sleeping in a corner of the shack.
Die zwei Offiziere hatten Recht auf Etagenbett bekommen
und schliefen in einer Ecke der Hütte. -
We slept on straw on the floor, and I managed to get into the group that was leaving.
We slept on straw on the floor, and I managed to get into the group that was leaving.
Wir schliefen auf Stroh auf dem Boden.
Ich schaffte es in die Gruppe zu kommen, die losging. -
I never knew anything about them afterwards, and maybe I shouldn’t have done this,
I never knew anything about them afterwards, and maybe I shouldn’t have done this,
Ich hörte später nichts mehr von ihnen
und vielleicht hätte ich es nicht tun sollen, -
but I was afraid they would hand my documents to a guard. The guards were brutal there.
but I was afraid they would hand my documents to a guard. The guards were brutal there.
aber ich hatte Angst, dass sie meine Dokumente an die Wachen aushändigen würden.
Die Wachen dort waren brutal. -
They used to come inside in the morning, screaming the word “Aufstehn”,
They used to come inside in the morning, screaming the word “Aufstehn”,
Sie kamen morgens rein und schrien „Aufstehn!“. -
At first, we wondered what we were supposed to do – maybe get some coffee! –
At first, we wondered what we were supposed to do – maybe get some coffee! –
Anfangs wussten wir nicht, was wir tun sollten –
vielleicht Kaffee holen! - -
then four or five of them came inside and started acting rough.
then four or five of them came inside and started acting rough.
dann kamen vier oder fünf rein und verhielten sich grob.