European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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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. -
In school history books, there was very little information about the time:
In school history books, there was very little information about the time:
In Geschichtsbüchern für Schulen gab es sehr wenig Information über die Zeit: -
General De Gaulle’s speech and the Shoah.
General De Gaulle’s speech and the Shoah.
General De Gaulles Rede und die Shoah. -
That is very important, but it is not enough to explain the complexity of World War II.
That is very important, but it is not enough to explain the complexity of World War II.
Das ist sehr wichtig, aber es reicht nicht, um die Komplexität des Zweiten Weltkriegs zu erklären. -
We were asked by history teachers to talk about our experience in class.
We were asked by history teachers to talk about our experience in class.
Wir wurden von Geschichtslehrern gebeten im Unterricht über unsere Erfahrung zu sprechen. -
We thought it was important to do even more
We thought it was important to do even more
Wir fanden es wichtig, noch mehr zu tun -
and started organizing school trips to different memorials, the places where Nazi crimes were committed.
and started organizing school trips to different memorials, the places where Nazi crimes were committed.
und begannen Klassenfahrten zu verschiedenen Gedenkstätten zu organisieren, den Orten, wo die Naziverbrechen begangen wurden.