European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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and only when in 1939 the war began, the enlistments started.
and only when in 1939 the war began, the enlistments started.
und erst als dann, ’39 der Krieg begann, begann dann die Einberufungen. -
I was not enlisted until the end of 1940, so that we had two years of time for the illegal work.
I was not enlisted until the end of 1940, so that we had two years of time for the illegal work.
Ich wurde aber erst Ende 40 einberufen, so dass wir zwei Jahre Zeit hatten für die illegale Arbeit als Zivilisten. -
Only when we had to enlist, where the alternative would have been going to a concentration camp,
Only when we had to enlist, where the alternative would have been going to a concentration camp,
Erst dann, als wir zur Wehrmacht mussten, Alternative KZ, -
the work in the ‘Wehrmacht’ started and the attempt to form anti-fascist cells.
the work in the ‘Wehrmacht’ started and the attempt to form anti-fascist cells.
begann also die Arbeit in der Wehrmacht und der Versuch Antifa – Zellen zu bilden. Wo man auch jeweils stand. -
Like many others of us, I was enlisted to the ‘Wehrmacht’ after doing illegal work for nearly two years.
Like many others of us, I was enlisted to the ‘Wehrmacht’ after doing illegal work for nearly two years.
Ich bin nachdem wir fast zwei Jahre illegal gearbeitet haben, wie viel ja andere von uns, zur Wehrmacht eingezogen wurden, oder die Alternative wäre KZ gewesen. -
We discussed what we were going to do; either refuse to accept the enlisting order,
We discussed what we were going to do; either refuse to accept the enlisting order,
Wir haben beraten, was machen wir, weigern wir uns den Einberufungsbefehl anzunehmen, -
meaning torture and concentration camp or agree that we have more opportunities as soldiers.
meaning torture and concentration camp or agree that we have more opportunities as soldiers.
dann bedeutet das Folter und KZ oder aber sagen wir als Soldat hast du mehr Spielraum. -
That was our collective decision.
That was our collective decision.
Das war unsere gemeinsame Entscheidung. -
Being a recruit, I was in Bayreuth and there was an illegal group.
Being a recruit, I was in Bayreuth and there was an illegal group.
Ich habe also schon als Rekrut eine Bewährungsprobe abzulegen gehabt, als Soldat im antifaschistischen Kampf. Meine Rekrutenzeit war in Bayreuth und dort gab es eine illegale Gruppe. -
A commercial traveller, an anti-fascist who commuted between the borders,
A commercial traveller, an anti-fascist who commuted between the borders,
Ein Handlungsreisender, ein Antifaschist, der zwischen den Grenzen hin und her pendelte, -
associated me with the anti-fascist group there.
associated me with the anti-fascist group there.
der hat mich dort in Verbindung gebracht mit der Antifa-Gruppe. -
For them I was a stranger, they wanted proof:
For them I was a stranger, they wanted proof:
Für die war ich ein Fremder, die wollten einen Beweiß haben, -
How reliable is this man and what can he do?
How reliable is this man and what can he do?
wie verlässlich ist der Mann und was kann er. -
They said: “We need ammunition. Can you provide us with a box of hand grenades?
They said: “We need ammunition. Can you provide us with a box of hand grenades?
Sie haben gesagt, wir brauchen Munition: „Kannst du uns eine Kiste Handgranaten besorgen? -
We have explosives - but not enough - everything else is available!”
We have explosives - but not enough - everything else is available!”
Wir haben Sprengstoff, in nicht genügend Maß aber alles andere ist da!“ -
It was a tough job,
It was a tough job,
Es war eine sehr schwierige Sache, -
but during a transport I put aside a box of hand grenades at the risk of loosing my life and let them know.
but during a transport I put aside a box of hand grenades at the risk of loosing my life and let them know.
aber ich habe unter Einsatz meines Lebens eine Kiste Handgranaten bei einem Transport auf die Seite geschafft und sie benachrichtig. -
Three days later the district recruiting office in Bayreuth was blown up with the entire file.
Three days later the district recruiting office in Bayreuth was blown up with the entire file.
Drei Tage später flog in Bayreuth das Wehrkreisersatzamt in die Luft mit der gesamten Kartei. -
In the ammunition factory the most important machine was blown up and the most difficult:
In the ammunition factory the most important machine was blown up and the most difficult:
Im Rüstungsbetrieb flog die wichtigste Maschine in die Luft und das schwierigste: -
on the air field we blew up two out of three machines.
on the air field we blew up two out of three machines.
auf dem Flugplatz, haben wir von drei Maschinen zwei in die Luft gesprengt.