European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Two days before crossing the Enza river
Two days before crossing the Enza river
Zwei Tage vor der Durchquerung des Flusses Enza -
the commander of the battalion, called "Cicci", came to us and said:
the commander of the battalion, called "Cicci", came to us and said:
kam der Bataillonskommandeur "Cicci" und sagte: -
"Guys, we thought it was the usual action of the Germans and the Fascists
"Guys, we thought it was the usual action of the Germans and the Fascists
"Jungs, wir dachten, das wäre einer der üblichen Überfalle der Deutschen und der Faschisten, -
but this time it's a roundup, a sweep on a large scale
but this time it's a roundup, a sweep on a large scale
stattdessen haben wir herausgefunden, dass es sich um eine groß angelegte Durchkämmungsaktion (Razzia) handelt, -
that goes from Ciano to Casina, to Castelnovo Monti, all the way up to Vetto.
that goes from Ciano to Casina, to Castelnovo Monti, all the way up to Vetto.
die Ciano, Casina, Castelnovo Monti und Vetto betrifft, -
The whole area is being closed up and they're trying to get us by encircling us".
The whole area is being closed up and they're trying to get us by encircling us".
das ganze Gebiet ist abgeriegelt und jede Menge Einsatzkräfte versuchen, uns einzuschließen und zu schnappen." -
So it was decided to protect all the partisans in the Vetto-Rosano area
So it was decided to protect all the partisans in the Vetto-Rosano area
Es wurde beschlossen, alle Partisanen zu schützen, die sich in der Gegend von Vetto und Rosano aufhalten, -
and to bring us down to the Enza river so at night we crossed the river.
and to bring us down to the Enza river so at night we crossed the river.
und uns dann in Richtung des Enza zu begeben, um ihn abends zu durchqueren. -
At night the commander told us:
At night the commander told us:
Am Abend sagte der Kommandeur zu uns: -
"Now we have to set up a really safe guard because the Germans are everywhere.
"Now we have to set up a really safe guard because the Germans are everywhere.
"Jungs, wir müssen jetzt wirklich aufmerksam Wache halten, weil überall Deutsche sind -
You can see them, so keep your eyes open and be careful
You can see them, so keep your eyes open and be careful
und ihr sie sehen könnt, also haltet die Augen offen, -
because if we happen to do something
because if we happen to do something
denn wenn wir was unüberlegtes tun -
or to kill a German they're going to burn down the entire village".
or to kill a German they're going to burn down the entire village".
oder einen Deutschen töten, werden sie danach das Dorf niederbrennen. -
So at 3 a.m. we were ordered to move
So at 3 a.m. we were ordered to move
Gegen drei Uhr morgens kam der Befehl zum Aufbruch, wir sollten losgehen, -
because by that time there were no partisans around,
because by that time there were no partisans around,
denn inzwischen waren keine Partisanen mehr in der Gegend. -
so we were the last lines moving and could be calm.
so we were the last lines moving and could be calm.
Wir waren demzufolge die Nachhut, und konnten in Ruhe abziehen; -
The "staffette" told us that the streets were clear, so we started walking.
The "staffette" told us that the streets were clear, so we started walking.
die Stafetten kamen, nachdem sie sich draußen umgesehen hatten, und sagten, die Straße sei frei, also los... -
We were looking left and right, there was only fog.
We were looking left and right, there was only fog.
bei der Straßenmeisterei haben wir uns lange in alle Richtungen umgeschaut, nichts, der Nebel war die ganze Zeit sehr dicht... -
So we went into the Enza river
So we went into the Enza river
Wir gingen über die Straße und dann zum Enza hinunter: -
and there was not even a small stick where we could have hidden
and there was not even a small stick where we could have hidden
es gab nicht mal einen Stock, hinter dem man sich verstecken konnte, nur eine einzige Wasserfläche,