European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I got home and Mafaldo Chiessi, who was also an antifascist
I got home and Mafaldo Chiessi, who was also an antifascist
Io arrivo a casa, c’è Mafaldo Chiessi che anche lui era un antifascista -
and in charge of communications between Reggio and Milan, told me:
and in charge of communications between Reggio and Milan, told me:
che operava, lui teneva collegamento Reggio con Milano e mi dice: -
“Are you joking? You can’t stay here. Tomorrow they’ll torture you.
“Are you joking? You can’t stay here. Tomorrow they’ll torture you.
“Ma qui tu non ci puoi stare, ma tu scherzi, domani mattina ti torturano, -
Today was only the beginning. Things will be different tomorrow, trust me. Don’t think that they won’t come to get you.
Today was only the beginning. Things will be different tomorrow, trust me. Don’t think that they won’t come to get you.
quelli ti hanno dato il dolcetto, dice, ma tu domani mattina vedrai che cambiano le cose, non credo con un fatto come quello che è avvenuto...”, che gli ho spiegato ecc. ecc., -
After what happened you must run away”.
After what happened you must run away”.
dice: “Non ti credere che vedrai che senz’altro ti vengono a prendere, scappa subito”. -
My poor father at some point said:
My poor father at some point said:
Poveretto, mio padre a un determinato momento dice: -
“I have four children, but I have to admit I don’t know them.
“I have four children, but I have to admit I don’t know them.
“Ma santi numi, io ho quattro figli, devo dire che non li conosco, -
I never thought that you were…”
I never thought that you were…”
perché io non ho mai pensato che tu fossi...”. -
That’s because we had been working in absolute secrecy.
That’s because we had been working in absolute secrecy.
Perché operavamo ma operavamo nella clandestinità assoluta, -
Even my boyfriend didn’t know what I was doing and his mother or his brother-in-law never told him.
Even my boyfriend didn’t know what I was doing and his mother or his brother-in-law never told him.
nemmeno il mio fidanzato sapeva il lavoro che facevo, né sua madre né suo cognato gli avevano detto che io facevo questo lavoro. -
Secrecy was vital in order to survive; there was no other value but this.
Secrecy was vital in order to survive; there was no other value but this.
Perché per allora la clandestinità era determinante per la salvezza della vita... cioè non esisteva nessun valore, fondamentalmente esisteva questo. -
My father went on: “So now you’ll leave, too.
My father went on: “So now you’ll leave, too.
E dice: “E adesso anche tu vai via. -
I have a son who’s been away for a year now, and I don’t know where he is and if he’s alive.
I have a son who’s been away for a year now, and I don’t know where he is and if he’s alive.
Ho un figlio che è un anno che non so dov’è, è scappato ma non so se è vivo; -
As for the other one, I have had no news for the last three months. He came home for a while but I don’t know where he is now”.
As for the other one, I have had no news for the last three months. He came home for a while but I don’t know where he is now”.
l’altro è tre mesi che non so dov’è, dice, è venuto a casa un momento però adesso io non so più dov’è”, -
There was no communication with the families from the mountains to the valley.
There was no communication with the families from the mountains to the valley.
perché il collegamento pianura- montagna non esisteva con le famiglie, dice: -
“Now you’re going away, too, and I’ll stay home with your sister, a ten year old girl.
“Now you’re going away, too, and I’ll stay home with your sister, a ten year old girl.
“Adesso vai via anche tu, rimango a casa con una ragazzina di dieci anni”, perché mia sorella aveva quell’età, -
But I think that you made the right choice.
But I think that you made the right choice.
però dice: “Io penso che tu abbia fatto la scelta giusta, -
At least you’ll have a chance to save and defend yourself, unlike us who will end up like mice trapped at home.
At least you’ll have a chance to save and defend yourself, unlike us who will end up like mice trapped at home.
se non altro – dice – a differenza di noi che stando a casa facciamo la fine dei topi, tu hai la possibilità di salvarti, almeno hai la possibilità di difenderti; -
Just remember that your father thinks a lot of you”.
Just remember that your father thinks a lot of you”.
però ricordati, dice, che tuo padre ha una grande stima di te”. -
That was what my father told me.
That was what my father told me.
Questo è stato il discorso che mi ha fatto mio padre.