European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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We wore wooden shoes that could easily be lost while walking down the three steps that led to each shack.
We wore wooden shoes that could easily be lost while walking down the three steps that led to each shack.
Wir trugen Holzschuhe die man leicht verlor,
wenn man die drei Stufen hinab ging, die zu jeder Hütte führten. -
Then they would have us walk in circles for hours, sometimes under the rain.
Then they would have us walk in circles for hours, sometimes under the rain.
Dann ließen sie uns stundenlang im Kreis gehen, manchmal im Regen. -
Episodes of this kind were not too frequent, but definitely happened.
Episodes of this kind were not too frequent, but definitely happened.
Solche Episoden gab es nicht so oft, aber es gab sie bestimmt. -
I was arrested, or, I should rather say, we were loaded on their trains on the 16th of September,
I was arrested, or, I should rather say, we were loaded on their trains on the 16th of September,
Ich wurde am 16. September festgenommen,
oder besser gesagt, wir wurden in einen Zug geladen -
and made it home only two years later, on the 14th of September.
and made it home only two years later, on the 14th of September.
und ich kam erst zwei Jahre später nach Hause – am 14. September. -
We were near the Ruhr area, where most armament factories were located,
We were near the Ruhr area, where most armament factories were located,
Wir waren in der Nähe des Ruhrgebiets, wo die meisten Waffenfabriken waren. -
including the tank factories that the Americans used to attack with special bombs, in order to breach them.
including the tank factories that the Americans used to attack with special bombs, in order to breach them.
Auch die Panzerfabriken, die von den Amerikanern
mit speziellen Bomben angegriffen wurden. -
We were bombarded every night, so I didn’t even think of running away,
We were bombarded every night, so I didn’t even think of running away,
Wir wurden jede Nacht bombardiert, ich dachte gar nicht mehr daran weg zu rennen, -
because it would have meant running under these same bombs.
because it would have meant running under these same bombs.
denn das hieße eben unter diesen Bomben zu rennen. -
That’s what we went through.
That’s what we went through.
Das war es, was wir durchmachten. -
Four years of confinement in Matera
Four years of confinement in Matera
Vier Jahre Haft in Matera -
We were taken to a farming penal colony, called “Colonia Confinati di Pisticci”, near Matera.
We were taken to a farming penal colony, called “Colonia Confinati di Pisticci”, near Matera.
Wir wurden zu einer landwirtschaftlichen Strafkolonie gebracht,
der „Colonia Confinati di Pisticci“, in der Nähe von Matera. -
It was a farming colony, so once we got there we began to work.
It was a farming colony, so once we got there we began to work.
Es war eine landwirtschaftliche Kolonie. Sobald wir dort ankamen, begannen wir zu arbeiten. -
If you want I can quickly tell you this story. The issue with this colony was
If you want I can quickly tell you this story. The issue with this colony was
Wenn Sie möchten, kann ich die Geschichte eben erzählen…
Das Problem mit dieser Kolonie war, -
that it was opened when they had to close down the island of Ponza.
that it was opened when they had to close down the island of Ponza.
dass sie errichtet wurde, als sie die Insel Ponza schließen mussten. -
You see, in Ponza there were people like Terracini, Volponi, Cuccimarro
You see, in Ponza there were people like Terracini, Volponi, Cuccimarro
Sie sehen, in Ponza waren es Leute wie Terracini, Volponi, Cuccimarro -
and other guys of this kind, who were lawyers.
and other guys of this kind, who were lawyers.
und andere Typen dieser Art, die Anwälte waren. -
As a consequence, everyone who was there, even the smallest farmer,
As a consequence, everyone who was there, even the smallest farmer,
Als Folge jeder, der dort war, auch der kleinste Bauer, -
would be schooled by the time he left the colony: they all studied!
would be schooled by the time he left the colony: they all studied!
würde, bis er die Kolonie verlassen geschult werden: sie alle studiert! -
Terracini was there, for example, and when it was time to eat
Terracini was there, for example, and when it was time to eat
Terracini war es, zum Beispiel, und wenn es Zeit ist, zu essen