European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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For 25 years I was the head of the German Union of Peace
For 25 years I was the head of the German Union of Peace
25 Jahre lang an der Spitze der deutschen Friedensunion -
and then federation spokesman for the Association of the victims of persecution by the Nazi regime.
and then federation spokesman for the Association of the victims of persecution by the Nazi regime.
und dann Bundessprecher der Vereinigung der Verfolgten des Naziregimes. -
If you grew up in a family of a labour union official, in the German populated areas of Czechoslovakia
If you grew up in a family of a labour union official, in the German populated areas of Czechoslovakia
Wer in den 20er und in den 30er Jahren des vorigen Jahrhunderts in den deutsch besiedelten Gebieten der Tschechoslowakei -
during the twenties and thirties, of the last century,
during the twenties and thirties, of the last century,
in einer Arbeiterfunktionärsfamilie aufgewachsen ist, -
you encountered the political problems and the political fights from early childhood.
you encountered the political problems and the political fights from early childhood.
der kam von Kindheit an mit den politischen Problemen, mit den politischen Kämpfen in Bewegung. -
In Eger my father was the most popular strike-leader before the First World War
In Eger my father was the most popular strike-leader before the First World War
Mein Vater war vor dem ersten Weltkrieg der bekannteste Streikführer in Eger -
and afterwards he was, although not fit for work,
and afterwards he was, although not fit for work,
und nach dem ersten Weltkrieg war er, obwohl nicht mehr arbeitstauglich, -
still speaker at demonstrations and meetings of the union.
still speaker at demonstrations and meetings of the union.
immer noch ein Redner auf Gewerkschaftskundgebungen und Versammlungen. -
As his son, I obviously experienced this first hand, because my parents often took me with them to political activities;
As his son, I obviously experienced this first hand, because my parents often took me with them to political activities;
Das erlebte der Sohn natürlich mit, denn oft nahmen ihn die Eltern mit zu politischen Veranstaltungen. -
especially on the 1st May or on other red-letter days of the labour movement.
especially on the 1st May or on other red-letter days of the labour movement.
Besonders natürlich am 1. Mai oder an anderen Festtagen der Arbeiterbewegung. -
The moulding and forming impressions were: 1. the year 1933,
The moulding and forming impressions were: 1. the year 1933,
Die prägenden und formenden Eindrücke waren aber das Jahr 1933, -
when the German corpus and the German General staff shifted the power towards the Nazi leading clique
when the German corpus and the German General staff shifted the power towards the Nazi leading clique
als das deutsche Kapital und der deutsche Generalstab der Naziführungsclique die Macht zuschob -
and: 2. the year 1934, in Austria,
and: 2. the year 1934, in Austria,
und 1934 in Österreich -
when the latter gave power to the cleric-fascists who broke up the labour movement.
when the latter gave power to the cleric-fascists who broke up the labour movement.
als KlerikoFaschistischen heim wehren und die Arbeiterbewegung zusammen kradätschten. -
According to our understanding the development of mankind goes from lower forms to increasing forms of living together,
According to our understanding the development of mankind goes from lower forms to increasing forms of living together,
Nach unserem Verständnis, dass die Entwicklung der Menschheit von niederen Formen des Zusammenlebens zu immer höheren Formen des Zusammenlebens geht, -
therefore that was obviously a heavy setback.
therefore that was obviously a heavy setback.
war das natürlich ein gewaltiger Rückschlag. -
The German labour movement was the strongest and ideologically most consolidated one in the ‘1st Internationale’,
The German labour movement was the strongest and ideologically most consolidated one in the ‘1st Internationale’,
Denn die deutsche Arbeiterbewegung war die stärkste in der ersten Internationalen und die ideologischste gefestigte -
and you could say the same about the Austrian labour movement.
and you could say the same about the Austrian labour movement.
und von der österreichischen Arbeiterbewegung konnte man dasselbe sagen. -
We learned not only of the dirty fortunes of antifascists through the immigrants,
We learned not only of the dirty fortunes of antifascists through the immigrants,
Wir erfuhren bei uns durch die Immigranten nicht nur die dreckigen Schicksale der Antifaschisten, -
but also experienced the international effects of what happened to the setback of civilization in 1933.
but also experienced the international effects of what happened to the setback of civilization in 1933.
sondern wir erlebten auch die internationalen Wirkungen, dessen was mit dem zivilisatorischen Rückfall 1933 geschah.