European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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We were all waiting in line. There were people
We were all waiting in line. There were people
Wir alle standen Schlange. -
like the guy who told on me, a baker whose name was Montermini.
like the guy who told on me, a baker whose name was Montermini.
Ein gewisser Montermini, ein Bäcker, wurde vom Sondergericht zu fünfzehn Jahren verurteilt. -
He was sentenced to fifteen years by the special court, and served quite a few of them.
He was sentenced to fifteen years by the special court, and served quite a few of them.
Er saß einige davon ab. -
We were the last ones, and our sentences were lighter: as for myself, I was sentenced to four years of confinement.
We were the last ones, and our sentences were lighter: as for myself, I was sentenced to four years of confinement.
Wir waren die letzten und unsere Strafen waren milder. Ich selbst wurde zu vier Jahren Haft verurteilt. -
Nobody defended you, it was only up to you to stand up for yourself.
Nobody defended you, it was only up to you to stand up for yourself.
Niemand hat dich verteidigt. Du hast dich selbst verteidigt, so gut du konntest. -
In any case, when you got into the movement you were aware that there would not be much you could do:
In any case, when you got into the movement you were aware that there would not be much you could do:
Aber wenn du Teil der Bewegung wurdest, gab es nichts zu verteidigen. -
we all knew that if we got caught we would end up doing a couple of years.
we all knew that if we got caught we would end up doing a couple of years.
Wenn du erwischt wirst, musst du mit ein paar Jahren rechnen. -
It came to no surprise.
It came to no surprise.
Das wussten wir schon vorher. -
I spent two months in the San Tommaso prison, in Reggio Emilia,
I spent two months in the San Tommaso prison, in Reggio Emilia,
Ich verbrachte zwei Monate im San Tommaso Gefängnis in Reggio Emilia, -
before they were forced to transfer us to make room for new inmates.
before they were forced to transfer us to make room for new inmates.
bis sie uns verlegen mussten, um Platz für neue Häftlinge zu machen. -
We were 18 or 19, all fettered to the same chain.
We were 18 or 19, all fettered to the same chain.
Wir waren 18 or 19, alle an der gleichen Kette gefesselt. -
Our families had been told we would be at the station,
Our families had been told we would be at the station,
Unsere Familien wurden gewarnt, dass wir am Bahnhof sein würden. -
so once we got there they had come to see us, and some of them were crying:
so once we got there they had come to see us, and some of them were crying:
Als wir dort waren, waren sie gekommen, um uns zu sehen und manche von ihnen weinten. -
we had to pretend everything was ok and force a smile in order to make it easier for them.
we had to pretend everything was ok and force a smile in order to make it easier for them.
Wir mussten so tun, als ob alles in Ordnung wäre und uns zum Lachen zwingen, um es einfacher für sie zu machen. -
When we arrived in Castelfranco, the warden came over and asked the sergeant, who was in charge of the guards,
When we arrived in Castelfranco, the warden came over and asked the sergeant, who was in charge of the guards,
Als wir in Castelfranco ankamen, frug der Chef der Wärter den Direktor, -
where they were supposed to put us, since the prison was also full.
where they were supposed to put us, since the prison was also full.
wo sie uns hinbringen sollten, denn das Gefängnis war auch voll. -
He asked where we came from, and when he was told we were from Reggio Emilia, he said:
He asked where we came from, and when he was told we were from Reggio Emilia, he said:
Er fragte wo wir herkämen und als man ihm sagt, dass wir aus Reggio Emilia sind, sagte er: -
“If it was for me, I would just dump them in a cesspit”.
“If it was for me, I would just dump them in a cesspit”.
„Wenn es nach mir ginge, würde ich sie in die Jauchegrube werfen“. -
Very funny, isn’t it?
Very funny, isn’t it?
Lustig, nicht wahr? -
Although we had not done anything to be punished, they ended up putting us in confinement cells.
Although we had not done anything to be punished, they ended up putting us in confinement cells.
Obwohl wir nichts getan hatte, landeten wir schließlich in Strafzellen.