European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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But we had made a choice. We could have put up our feet and watched TV.
But we had made a choice. We could have put up our feet and watched TV.
Aber wir hatten eine Wahl getroffen. Wir hätten unsere Füße hochlegen und fernsehen können. -
But we didn’t make that choice. I can’t explain exactly why.
But we didn’t make that choice. I can’t explain exactly why.
Aber wir haben diese Wahl nicht getroffen. Ich kann nicht genau erklären warum. -
On one hand, it was thanks to the way my parents educated me.
On one hand, it was thanks to the way my parents educated me.
Einerseits war es der Erziehung durch meiner Eltern zu verdanken. -
As soon as I was old enough, they told me what Italian fascism was.
As soon as I was old enough, they told me what Italian fascism was.
Als ich alt genug war, erzählten sie mir, was der italienischer Faschismus war. -
Then it was thanks to the teachers in school,
Then it was thanks to the teachers in school,
Dann war es dank der Lehrer in der Schule, -
especially my last one. I have very fond memories of him.
especially my last one. I have very fond memories of him.
besonders mein letzter. Ich habe sehr gute Erinnerungen an ihn. -
He embedded in us the principles of loyalty, taught us what it meant to be a citizen,
He embedded in us the principles of loyalty, taught us what it meant to be a citizen,
Er hat uns die Grundsätze der Loyalität eingeprägt, hat uns gelehrt, was es heißt, Bürger zu sein, -
to be someone who took on responsibilities and acted in life.
to be someone who took on responsibilities and acted in life.
jemand zu sein, der Verantwortung übernommen und im Leben gehandelt hat. -
Commitment after the war until today
Commitment after the war until today
Engagement nach dem Krieg bis heute -
I did not start immediately as a witness.
I did not start immediately as a witness.
Ich begann nicht sofort als Zeitzeuge. -
Even though I was a member of the association of former resistance fighters, I had other political responsibilities.
Even though I was a member of the association of former resistance fighters, I had other political responsibilities.
Auch wenn ich Mitglied der Vereinigung ehemaliger Widerstandskämpfer war, hatte ich andere politische Verantwortlichkeiten. -
I had joined the French Communist Party in 1943, when it was still clandestine,
I had joined the French Communist Party in 1943, when it was still clandestine,
Ich war 1943 in die französische Kommunistische Partei eingetreten, als sie noch im Untergrund war. -
I took on some political responsibilities on a local level.
I took on some political responsibilities on a local level.
Ich übernahm ein paar politische Verantwortlichkeiten auf lokaler Ebene. -
I would attend the annual meetings of the former resistant fighters association, but was no active member.
I would attend the annual meetings of the former resistant fighters association, but was no active member.
Ich nahm an jährlichen Treffen der ehemaligen Widerstandskämpfer teil aber ich war kein aktives Mitglied. -
Later, when the president of the association passed away,
Later, when the president of the association passed away,
Später, als der Präsident der Vereinigung verstarb, -
friends of mine pushed me into the presidency saying:
friends of mine pushed me into the presidency saying:
drängten mich Freunde in die Präsidentschaft, indem sie sagten: -
“You were so active during the resistance; you were responsible for the liberation of Nanterre together with Louis Meunier, etc…”
“You were so active during the resistance; you were responsible for the liberation of Nanterre together with Louis Meunier, etc…”
„Du warst so aktiv während der Résistance. Du warst zusammen mit Louis Meunier verantwortlich für die Befreiung von Nanterre, etc…“ -
To quote Bertolt Brecht: “the lap of the repulsive beast is still fertile”;
To quote Bertolt Brecht: “the lap of the repulsive beast is still fertile”;
Um Bertolt Brecht zu zitieren: „Der Schoß ist fruchtbar noch, aus dem das kroch“. -
we had not and have not totally liberated ourselves from fascism.
we had not and have not totally liberated ourselves from fascism.
Wir hatten uns noch nicht und haben uns noch nicht ganz vom Faschismus befreit. -
Therefore we felt the need to inform and to act.
Therefore we felt the need to inform and to act.
Deshalb fanden wir es notwendig, zu informieren und zu agieren.