European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I don’t know the exact date of my fathers’ emigration,
I don’t know the exact date of my fathers’ emigration,
Ich weiß nicht, wann genau mein Vater ausgewandert ist, -
but it took place between 1921 and 1922, as I was born in 1923.
but it took place between 1921 and 1922, as I was born in 1923.
aber diese Migration fand zwischen 1921 und 1922 statt, denn ich bin 1923 geboren. -
When I was six months old, my mother and I came to France to join my father.
When I was six months old, my mother and I came to France to join my father.
Als ich sechs Monate alt war, zogen meine Mutter und ich zu meinem Vater nach Frankreich. -
Since then I have lived in Nanterre. For almost 83 years now.
Since then I have lived in Nanterre. For almost 83 years now.
Seit dem lebe ich in Nanterre. Seit beinahe 83 Jahren. -
My father was a Communist, an antifascist.
My father was a Communist, an antifascist.
Ja, mein Vater war Kommunist und Antifaschist. -
He joined the French Communist Party as soon as we got French citizenship.
He joined the French Communist Party as soon as we got French citizenship.
Er trat der Kommunistischen Partei Frankreichs bei, sobald er die französische Staatsbürgerschaft erhielt. -
He applied for naturalization in 1930. Otherwise it was very difficult to find work.
He applied for naturalization in 1930. Otherwise it was very difficult to find work.
1930 beantragte er die Einbürgerung. Ohne diese war es führ ihn schwierig, Arbeit zu finden. -
I went to school, “The Ecole Republique”, in Nanterre.
I went to school, “The Ecole Republique”, in Nanterre.
Ich ging in der „École de la République“ in Nanterre zur Schule. -
The school has now disappeared to make way for the University Paris X.
The school has now disappeared to make way for the University Paris X.
Die Schule hat mittlerweile Platz für die „Université Paris X“ gemacht. -
I went to that school until the age of 13 and got my Elementary School Certificate - Certificat d’Etudes.
I went to that school until the age of 13 and got my Elementary School Certificate - Certificat d’Etudes.
Bis ich 13 Jahre alt war, ging ich in diese Schule und bekam mein „Certificat d’Etudes“. -
To please my teacher, I took an entry test for high school, but it was not my goal.
To please my teacher, I took an entry test for high school, but it was not my goal.
Um meinem Lehrer eine Freude zu machen, machte ich die Aufnahmeprüfung für die weiterführende Schule. -
At the time my brother had just been born,
At the time my brother had just been born,
Aber das war nicht mein Wunsch. Zu der Zeit wurde mein Bruder geboren, meine Mutter war krank und arbeitete nicht. -
my mother was not working because she had a heart disease.
my mother was not working because she had a heart disease.
Wir brauchten of einen Arzt, da sie ein Herzleiden hatte -
We needed to call the doctor often and my father was only a worker, so we were not very rich.
We needed to call the doctor often and my father was only a worker, so we were not very rich.
und mein Vater war nur Arbeiter, wir waren also nicht sehr reich. -
On one hand, I wanted to contribute to the family by working.
On one hand, I wanted to contribute to the family by working.
Auf der einen Seite wollte ich durch Arbeiten zum Unterhalt beitragen, -
On the other hand, I wanted
On the other hand, I wanted
auf der anderen Seite wollte ich vor allem -
to be free and independent. That was even more important.
to be free and independent. That was even more important.
frei und unabhängig sein. -
So at the age of 14, I started working.
So at the age of 14, I started working.
Also begann ich im Alter von 14 Jahren zu arbeiten. -
That was in 1937/1938, during the first crisis, and unemployment was a big issue.
That was in 1937/1938, during the first crisis, and unemployment was a big issue.
Das war 1937/1938, während der ersten Krise. Ich habe Arbeitslosigkeit erlebt. -
As I had learned no trade, I did a little bit of everything.
As I had learned no trade, I did a little bit of everything.
Da ich keine Ausbildung hatte, tat ich ein bisschen was von allem.