European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Throughout the week, every night a different unit was in charge of this:
Throughout the week, every night a different unit was in charge of this:
Während der Woche war jede Nacht eine andere Abteilung verantwortlich: -
one night it was the Air Force, one night the artillerymen, and so on.
one night it was the Air Force, one night the artillerymen, and so on.
eine Nacht war es die Luftwaffe, eine Nacht die Artillerie und so weiter. -
So we went to mount guard, and I remember that a new lieutenant came to pick us up with a van at eight in the morning,
So we went to mount guard, and I remember that a new lieutenant came to pick us up with a van at eight in the morning,
Wir gingen also zur Wache und ich erinnere mich, dass ein neuer Leutnant uns um acht Uhr morgens mit einem Transporter abholte. -
and told us we would be visiting Rome for a while since he had never been there before.
and told us we would be visiting Rome for a while since he had never been there before.
und er sagte uns, dass wir für eine Weile Rom besichtigen würden, da er nie dort war. -
I went back inside the airport. The mail had arrived and there were also some letters for me.
I went back inside the airport. The mail had arrived and there were also some letters for me.
[…] Ich ging zurück zum Flughafen. Die Post war angekommen und es gab auch ein paar Briefe für mich. -
I went to my sleeping quarter and was opening a letter when my lieutenant,
I went to my sleeping quarter and was opening a letter when my lieutenant,
Ich ging zum Schlafsaal und als ich einen der Briefe öffnete, kam mein Leutnant, -
a man from Ancona whose name was Santaroni, came over. He was a good man – he gave me a hug later –
a man from Ancona whose name was Santaroni, came over. He was a good man – he gave me a hug later –
ein Mann aus Ancona mit Namen Santaroni.
Er war ein guter Mann – er umarmte mich später – -
who had come to tell me that “somebody needed to speak to me”.
who had come to tell me that “somebody needed to speak to me”.
und er sagte, „diese Herren brauchen dich“. -
It was three policemen.
It was three policemen.
Es waren drei Polizisten. -
The first thing the sergeant did was take the letter I held in my hands.
The first thing the sergeant did was take the letter I held in my hands.
Der Marschall nahm mir zuerst den Brief aus der Hand. -
In the letter, my mother had written the following words:
In the letter, my mother had written the following words:
In dem Brief schrieb meine Mutter die folgenden Worte: -
“You’re lucky to be in the Army, since in the past few days Pattaccini, Boiardi and others were arrested”.
“You’re lucky to be in the Army, since in the past few days Pattaccini, Boiardi and others were arrested”.
„Du hast Glück, dass du in der Armee bist, denn in den letzten Tagen wurden Pattaccini, Boiardi und andere verhaftet“. -
They were all people I used to be implicated with in our activities,
They were all people I used to be implicated with in our activities,
Das waren fünf oder sechs Leute, mit denen ich dort immer zusammengearbeitet hatte. -
and my poor mother was telling me this openly. But that’s exactly why I was arrested.
and my poor mother was telling me this openly. But that’s exactly why I was arrested.
Die Arme erzählte mir diese Dinge ganz offen, weil ich in Rom war. Und stattdessen haben sie mich dort erwischt. -
I never managed to get that letter back. Wherever I was taken, the letter seemed to follow me.
I never managed to get that letter back. Wherever I was taken, the letter seemed to follow me.
Diesen Brief bekam ich nie zurück. Wo immer ich hingebracht wurde, der Brief schien mir zu folgen. -
You see, we all used to deny knowing someone, but I couldn’t, since the names were written on the letter.
You see, we all used to deny knowing someone, but I couldn’t, since the names were written on the letter.
Wir würden immer leugnen, jemanden gekannt zu haben. Ich konnte nicht, denn die Namen standen in diesem Brief geschrieben. -
Then, one morning, we left from the train station.
Then, one morning, we left from the train station.
Eines morgens fuhren wir vom Bahnhof ab. -
I had already been reduced to the ranks:
I had already been reduced to the ranks:
Ich wurde bereits degradiert: -
they had taken everything from me and that day I was slightly shabby and hadn’t shaved.
they had taken everything from me and that day I was slightly shabby and hadn’t shaved.
sie hatten mir alles weggenommen, an dem Tag war ich leicht heruntergekommen, unrasiert und etwas krank. -
As we set off, those who were on the railcar with us were curious.
As we set off, those who were on the railcar with us were curious.
Die anderen Leute auf der Reise waren neugierig.