European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I remember that as they announced these news around 5 p.m.,
I remember that as they announced these news around 5 p.m.,
Ich erinnere mich, dass meine Schwester, als gegen 17 Uhr -
the news that the war was over, my sister screamed at me:
the news that the war was over, my sister screamed at me:
im Radio bekannt gegeben wurde, dass der Krieg vorbei war, aus dem Fenster rief: -
"Hey, Francesco, they said on the radio that the war is over
"Hey, Francesco, they said on the radio that the war is over
"Hey, Francesco! Im Radio haben sie gesagt, dass der Krieg vorbei ist, -
but now there will be discussions with the Germans ..."
but now there will be discussions with the Germans ..."
aber es wird wohl Auseinandersetzungen mit den Deutschen geben..." -
So I went upstairs because in our house I was the only one in possession of a radio,
So I went upstairs because in our house I was the only one in possession of a radio,
Also bin ich hoch, denn im ganzen Mietshaus hatte nur ich ein Radio, -
so I went to listen. They said something
so I went to listen. They said something
ich bin also hoch um zu hören: sie hatten gesagt, -
about the cease-fire with the Americans so the war-thing was expected to be over,
about the cease-fire with the Americans so the war-thing was expected to be over,
dass mit den Amerikanern ein Waffenstillstand geschlossen worden ist und deshalb die Sache mit dem Krieg erledigt war, -
but it was starting right in that moment instead, especially for us.
but it was starting right in that moment instead, especially for us.
stattdessen hatte er insbesondere für uns gerade erst begonnen. -
Introduction and youth
Introduction and youth
Vorstellung und Jugend -
My name is Francesco Bertacchini,
My name is Francesco Bertacchini,
Ich heiße Francesco Bertacchini -
I was born in Reggio Emilia on June 24th, 1926.
I was born in Reggio Emilia on June 24th, 1926.
und bin in Reggio Emilia am 24. Juni 1926 geboren. -
That was a very bad time,
That was a very bad time,
Es war eine schlimme Zeit damals, -
we couldn't go anywhere because we were being controlled everywhere we went,
we couldn't go anywhere because we were being controlled everywhere we went,
wir konnten nirgendwo hingehen, denn wir wurden von allen Seiten beobachtet -
it was very nasty. We were friends with this guy called Benito,
it was very nasty. We were friends with this guy called Benito,
und das war lästig. Außerdem waren wir mit einem gewissen Benito befreundet, -
the son of Benito Foscato, the worst fascist of Zanichelli Street,
the son of Benito Foscato, the worst fascist of Zanichelli Street,
er war der Sohn von Benito Foscato, dem fiesesten und anmaßendsten Faschisten in der Dante-Zanichelli-Straße, -
where we have grown up as kids.
where we have grown up as kids.
am Fluß Crostolo, wo wir aufwuchsen. -
So we always had to be very careful about what we were saying
So we always had to be very careful about what we were saying
Deshalb mußten wir immer aufpassen, was wir sagten oder worüber wir sprachen, -
because he would go and tell his father who would call us to the headquarters.
because he would go and tell his father who would call us to the headquarters.
denn er berichtete es dann seinem Vater und der ließ uns ins Parteibüro vorladen. -
It was a dog's life, you had to take care whom you were dealing with.
It was a dog's life, you had to take care whom you were dealing with.
Es war ein Hundeleben, weil man sich nicht treffen konnte, mit wem man wollte. -
One day our friend came home dressed as a fascist.
One day our friend came home dressed as a fascist.
Eines schönen Tages kam er schließlich als Faschist verkleidet nach Hause,