European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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and the anti-fascists tried to make the Nazis’ events impossible, as well.
and the anti-fascists tried to make the Nazis’ events impossible, as well.
und die Antifaschisten versuchten ebenso die Veranstaltungen der Nazis unmöglich zu machen. -
Of course there were rows
Of course there were rows
Da gab es natürlich Keilereien -
and because I was quite strong, I went to anti-fascist’s events when I was fifteen, against my parent’s will.
and because I was quite strong, I went to anti-fascist’s events when I was fifteen, against my parent’s will.
und da ich sehr kräftig war, bin ich gegen den Willen meiner Eltern, natürlich mit 15 Jahren dahin gegangen, wo antifaschistische Veranstaltungen waren. -
When the Nazis had stormed or tried to storm,
When the Nazis had stormed or tried to storm,
Wenn die Nazis das gestürmt hatten oder versucht hatten zu stürmen, -
you had to defend yourself, of course. We did that.
you had to defend yourself, of course. We did that.
da musste man sich natürlich zur Wehr setzen. Das haben wir getan und -
There always were oral disputes before the rows took place.
There always were oral disputes before the rows took place.
da gab es immer vorher wörtliche Auseinandersetzungen bevor es zu Schlägereien kam. -
But as it went to that time there were different tendencies between us.
But as it went to that time there were different tendencies between us.
Aber das gehörte damals mit dazu und da gab es auch unterschiedliche Richtungen bei uns. -
My father belonged to the tendency, who said
My father belonged to the tendency, who said
Mein Vater gehörte zu der Richtung, die sagten -
that the Nazis could not be beaten by their own weapons.
that the Nazis could not be beaten by their own weapons.
die Nazi kann man nicht mit den eigenen Waffen schlagen, -
We were not supposed to take over the violence of the Nazis, but focus on enlightenment.
We were not supposed to take over the violence of the Nazis, but focus on enlightenment.
wir übernehmen nicht die Gewalt der Nazis, wir setzten auf die Aufklärung -
Others, our metal workers in the companies said:
Others, our metal workers in the companies said:
Andere, unsere Metallarbeiter in den Betrieben sagten: -
“But that is what we witness daily, they only understand the language of violence.
“But that is what we witness daily, they only understand the language of violence.
„Das erleben wir doch täglich, die verstehen doch nur die Sprache der Gewalt. -
Our arguments bounce off like the raindrops on a raincoat.
Our arguments bounce off like the raindrops on a raincoat.
Unsere Argumente prallen ab, wie auf einen Regenmantel die Regentropfen. -
We can only succeed the Nazis with violence.”
We can only succeed the Nazis with violence.”
Wir können uns nur mit Gewalt gegen die Nazis durchsetzen.“ -
And in the socialistic youth we did both.
And in the socialistic youth we did both.
Und in der sozialistischen Jugend haben wir beides gemacht. -
We acquired the theoretical qualifications to be able to debate with the Nazis
We acquired the theoretical qualifications to be able to debate with the Nazis
Wir haben uns das theoretische Rüstzeug angeeignet um mit den Nazis diskutieren zu können -
and at the same time we defended ourselves. We had no choice.
and at the same time we defended ourselves. We had no choice.
und zugleich waren wir wehrhaft. Da blieb uns gar nichts anderes übrig. -
Until 1936 we sang:
Until 1936 we sang:
Bis 1936 haben wir haben wir gesungen: -
“We never want to carry weapons again! Never, ever do we want war again. Let the ones at the top fight each other on their own, we just won’t take part any more.”
“We never want to carry weapons again! Never, ever do we want war again. Let the ones at the top fight each other on their own, we just won’t take part any more.”
„Nie, nie wollen wir Waffen tragen! Nie, nie wollen wir wieder Krieg. Laßt doch die oben sich alleine schlagen, wir machen einfach nicht mehr mit“. -
Then the old comrades came and said that Hitler was standing in front of the door
Then the old comrades came and said that Hitler was standing in front of the door
Da kamen die alten Genossen und sagten, der Hitler steht vor der Tür