European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
-
Ulisse Gilioli was born in Montecavolo near Quattro Castella in the province of Reggio Emilia on May 26th, 1921 into a peasant family. Ulisse studied at the Salesians in Montechiarugolo near Parma and then as an autodidact until he started working at Capolo, where he worked for short periods. In Montecchio he became friends with some other young people united by the aversion to the fascist regime. In 1939-40 he worked in Rome at the Ministry of Transport until he had to start military service. At the beginning of the war he took part in military actions as an airman on the Mediterranean islands. On September 8th, 1943 he was on duty in Milano from where he fled to return to Montecchio. He later joined his brother Guerrino and other fellows in the mountains. With the nickname Orazio he fought on the mountains near Villa Minozzo and took the inspiration from these episodes for writing partisan stories and poems. Together with Lando Landini and Davide Valeriani he wrote in the journals “Il Volontario della Libertà” and “Il Garibaldino” that were read among the resistance fighters and civilians in the mountains.
Ulisse Gilioli was born in Montecavolo near Quattro Castella in the province of Reggio Emilia on May 26th, 1921 into a peasant family. Ulisse studied at the Salesians in Montechiarugolo near Parma and then as an autodidact until he started working at Capolo, where he worked for short periods. In Montecchio he became friends with some other young people united by the aversion to the fascist regime. In 1939-40 he worked in Rome at the Ministry of Transport until he had to start military service. At the beginning of the war he took part in military actions as an airman on the Mediterranean islands. On September 8th, 1943 he was on duty in Milano from where he fled to return to Montecchio. He later joined his brother Guerrino and other fellows in the mountains. With the nickname Orazio he fought on the mountains near Villa Minozzo and took the inspiration from these episodes for writing partisan stories and poems. Together with Lando Landini and Davide Valeriani he wrote in the journals “Il Volontario della Libertà” and “Il Garibaldino” that were read among the resistance fighters and civilians in the mountains.
Ulisse Gilioli nasce a Montecavolo di Quattro Castella il 26 maggio 1921 in una famiglia contadina. Ulisse compie i primi studi presso la scuola convitto dei Salesiani a Montechiarugolo (PR), poi è autodidatta fino a che non si impiega presso la Capolo dove lavora per brevi periodi. A Montecchio stringe amicizia con altri giovani insofferenti verso il regime fascista. Nel 1939-40 lavora a Roma presso il Ministero della Marina Mercantile, che deve lasciare per fare il militare. All’inizio della guerra partecipa come aviere ad azioni militari nelle isole del Mediterraneo. L’8 settembre 1943 è di stanza a Milano da dove fugge per tornare a Montecchio e salire poi in montagna insieme al fratello Guerrino e altri compagni. Col nome di battaglia di Orazio combatte sui monti di Villa Minozzo e a queste esperienze si ispira per scrivere racconti partigiani e poesie. Insieme a Lando Landini e a Davide Valeriani sarà fra i redattori de Il Volontario della Libertà e Il Garibaldino da diffondere fra resistenti e i civili in montagna. -
Francesco Bertacchini was born on June 24th, 1926 in Reggio Emilia. As a young apprentice in a radio and gramophone shop he discovered his love for music and his aversion to the fascist regime because of the restrictions he had to suffer from in his daily life. After the armistice of September 8th, 1943,aged 17 he and his best friend went to the mountains looking for the “rebels”. They were willing to become a rebel themselves and eventually succeeded, joining the 144th Garibaldi Brigade. Francesco took part in actions in the area of Succiso and Cerreto, attempting sabotage actions against the German troops on the road number 63. He was part of the “Antifascist” unit and of the “Cervi” unit with the nickname “Volpe” (“Fox”) and by pure chance was not involved in the Legoreccio massacre of November 17th, 1944, in which all his companions were killed. He took part in several actions in the Enza valley and in fights in Bibbiano, Barco and Cavriago. As he found himself surrounded by German troops he crossed the river Enza in October, 1944, and reached the territory of Parma first and Piacenza later. He took part in the Liberation of Parma and reached his home town Reggio Emilia in the night of April, 24th, 1944, when the city had already been liberated.
Francesco Bertacchini was born on June 24th, 1926 in Reggio Emilia. As a young apprentice in a radio and gramophone shop he discovered his love for music and his aversion to the fascist regime because of the restrictions he had to suffer from in his daily life. After the armistice of September 8th, 1943,aged 17 he and his best friend went to the mountains looking for the “rebels”. They were willing to become a rebel themselves and eventually succeeded, joining the 144th Garibaldi Brigade. Francesco took part in actions in the area of Succiso and Cerreto, attempting sabotage actions against the German troops on the road number 63. He was part of the “Antifascist” unit and of the “Cervi” unit with the nickname “Volpe” (“Fox”) and by pure chance was not involved in the Legoreccio massacre of November 17th, 1944, in which all his companions were killed. He took part in several actions in the Enza valley and in fights in Bibbiano, Barco and Cavriago. As he found himself surrounded by German troops he crossed the river Enza in October, 1944, and reached the territory of Parma first and Piacenza later. He took part in the Liberation of Parma and reached his home town Reggio Emilia in the night of April, 24th, 1944, when the city had already been liberated.
Francesco Bertacchini nasce il 24 giugno 1926 a Reggio Emilia. Da giovane apprendista presso un negozio di radio e grammofoni scopre il suo amore per la musica e la sua avversione al fascismo a causa delle restrizioni che un ragazzo subiva nella vita quotidiana. Dopo l’armistizio dell’8 settembre 1943, a soli 17 anni, assieme all’amico del cuore, sale in montagna a cercare “i ribelli” e ne diventa uno all’interno della 144° Brigata Garibaldi. Compirà azioni nella zona di Succiso e del Cerreto tentando sabotaggi alle pattuglie tedesche di stanza sulla SS63. Con il nome di battaglia di “Volpe” è operativo all’interno del distaccamento “Antifascista” e “Cervi” e, per una pura casualità, non sarà coinvolto nell’eccidio di Legoreccio del 17 novembre 1944 in cui vengono uccisi tutti i suoi compagni. Ha compiuto diverse azioni nella Val d’Enza e combattimenti fra Bibbiano, Barco e Cavriago. A causa dell’accerchiamento tedesco attraversa il fiume Enza nell’ottobre del ‘44 e passa prima nel territorio parmense e poi in quello piacentino. Partecipa alla liberazione di Parma e nella notte del 24 aprile ‘45 arriva finalmente nella sua Reggio ormai libera. -
We protected the partisans so much when we were kids; they were our friends and the Germans were our enemies.
We protected the partisans so much when we were kids; they were our friends and the Germans were our enemies.
Da bambini proteggevamo i partigiani; erano nostri amici e i tedeschi i nostri nemici. -
One said: »I´ll do some collecting.« We used the collected money for the ›Rote Hilfe‹ (political help organ).
One said: »I´ll do some collecting.« We used the collected money for the ›Rote Hilfe‹ (political help organ).
Uno disse: "farò una colletta". Usammo il danaro raccolto per la ›Rote Hilfe‹ (organo politico di soccorso). -
You would deliberately throw a spanner in the works, as long as you could and as long as you could breathe.
You would deliberately throw a spanner in the works, as long as you could and as long as you could breathe.
Getteresti deliberatamente una chiave inglese nei motori, fintanto che ti è possibile e finché puoi respirare. -
Well, did I kill somebody... We did shoot, but then knowing if we killed them for sure is another story.
Well, did I kill somebody... We did shoot, but then knowing if we killed them for sure is another story.
Mah ucciso... sparato si è sparato, adesso sapere con precisione se li hai ammazzati... -
That’s what the partisan struggle was about. Fourteen months more or less, constantly: these actions, these deaths.
That’s what the partisan struggle was about. Fourteen months more or less, constantly: these actions, these deaths.
La lotta partigiana sono stati 14 mesi pieni, una lotta continua, piena di tutte queste azioni e di morti. -
When you were taken to an investigation, when you could not walk any more, you were brought to the cell.
When you were taken to an investigation, when you could not walk any more, you were brought to the cell.
Quando eri condotto a un'indagine, quando non potevi più camminare, ti riportavano in cella. -
I went to a lady that I saw once in my life. It was my contact spot. She said to me: you can save a child.
I went to a lady that I saw once in my life. It was my contact spot. She said to me: you can save a child.
Sono andato da una donna vista solo una volta nella mia vita. Era il mio punto di contatto. Mi ha detto: puoi salvare un bambino. -
They did not want us in sabotage, we were too young. Our scout authorities made it clear not to get us into sabotage.
They did not want us in sabotage, we were too young. Our scout authorities made it clear not to get us into sabotage.
Non ci volevano in un sabotaggio, eravamo troppo giovani. Le nostre autorità scout chiarirono così di non farci partecipare al sabotaggio. -
There was no real future for us. But that made you stronger to go into the resistance and help wherever you could.
There was no real future for us. But that made you stronger to go into the resistance and help wherever you could.
Non c'era un vero futuro per noi. Ma questo è ciò che rendeva più forti per entrare nella Resistenza e aiutare come potevi. -
You are young people. Don’t fight with each other. Be collegial. Be friends because you don’t know what the tomorrow will be like.
You are young people. Don’t fight with each other. Be collegial. Be friends because you don’t know what the tomorrow will be like.
Siete giovani. Non combattere tra di voi. Siate collegiali. Siate amici perché non sapete come sarà il domani. -
The Resistance for me was just like going to university. I learned to feel confident throughout my whole life.
The Resistance for me was just like going to university. I learned to feel confident throughout my whole life.
Per me è stata la mia università, la Resistenza. Perché ho imparato che io non mi sono mai trovato a disagio in tutta la vita. -
I remember Strozzi saying: »War has never brought anything good for the poor.«
I remember Strozzi saying: »War has never brought anything good for the poor.«
Ricordo perfettamente la frase di Strozzi: »La guerra per la povera gente non ha mai portato niente di buono«. -
What did we know about politics? With fascism, you could only read what they gave to you, and you didn’t even have the right to make comments.
What did we know about politics? With fascism, you could only read what they gave to you, and you didn’t even have the right to make comments.
Che ne capivamo noi di politica? Nel fascismo tu dovevi solo leggere quello che ti davano, non avevi neanche il diritto di commentare. -
I started to run as fast as I could. I was skinny then and 23 years old. The soldier took out his gun and started shooting at me.
I started to run as fast as I could. I was skinny then and 23 years old. The soldier took out his gun and started shooting at me.
... e poi sono scappato come un razzo. Ero magro… ventitrè anni. E lui ha tirato fuori la maxi pistola e mi ha sparato a dietro. -
I will join the partisans from Carpineti because i wanted the war to end.
I will join the partisans from Carpineti because i wanted the war to end.
Allora io vado con loro perché io voglio che questa guerra finisca … -
It was the Italian occupiers who gunned down every liberation movement. They shot so many innocent hostages.
It was the Italian occupiers who gunned down every liberation movement. They shot so many innocent hostages.
Furono gli occupanti italiani ad abbattere ogni movimento di liberazione. Hanno sparato a tanti ostaggi innocenti. -
Killing, even in the name of great ideals, will ultimately come back to you later in form of a trauma.
Killing, even in the name of great ideals, will ultimately come back to you later in form of a trauma.
Uccidere, anche in nome di grandi ideali, alla fine ti ritornerà in seguito sotto forma di trauma. -
The Tchetniks attacked us from behind and they massacred the Partisans, all from behind our line. We lost 700 men in one night and one day.
The Tchetniks attacked us from behind and they massacred the Partisans, all from behind our line. We lost 700 men in one night and one day.
I Tchetnik ci attaccarono alle spalle e massacrarono i Partigiani, tutti dietro la nostra linea. Abbiamo perso 700 uomini in una notte e un giorno.