European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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The Communist Party offered us one of their offices, a small apartment in the working-class area,
The Communist Party offered us one of their offices, a small apartment in the working-class area,
Il Partito Comunista ci regalò la sua sede che erano... un piccolo appartamento che c’era lì alle case popolari, -
so we started discussing on how to set it up.
so we started discussing on how to set it up.
e ci siam messi a discutere come farlo. -
The campaign for nurseries was the first major issue
The campaign for nurseries was the first major issue
La grande battaglia degli asili è stata la prima grande battaglia, -
together with the right to vote for women and equal payment ecc.
together with the right to vote for women and equal payment ecc.
assieme al diritto al voto, paritá salariale ecc. -
Laila commands a staffetta-unit
Laila commands a staffetta-unit
Laila comanda formazione di staffette -
As I recovered, they ordered me to go to the brigade command.
As I recovered, they ordered me to go to the brigade command.
Poi come sono guarita m’hanno dato ordine di andare al comando di brigata. -
I was told that they would be grouping together all women in a special unit called “information office”.
I was told that they would be grouping together all women in a special unit called “information office”.
Dal comando di brigata mi hanno detto: “Oggi, adesso spostiamo tutte le donne e formiamo una formazione di donne che deve, con il compito... – lo chiamavano “ufficio informazione”, -
This unit was to take care of communications within the brigade,
This unit was to take care of communications within the brigade,
cioè servizio informazione – con il compito di mantenere il collegamento con la brigata -
with the other units and the outside, and also undertake surveillance, seek information, etc.
with the other units and the outside, and also undertake surveillance, seek information, etc.
e il collegamento fuori, cioè il collegamento di tutta la brigata, il collegamento con le altre formazioni, il collegamento fuori della brigata e anche il servizio di vigilanza, cioè informazioni, ecc. ecc.”. -
I went to Vetto and waited for the other women partisans to arrive.
I went to Vetto and waited for the other women partisans to arrive.
E io sono andata a Vetto, sono andata a Vetto e ho aspettato che arrivassero tutte le altre partigiane. -
The commissioner asked me: “Laila, would you be willing to take charge of the group?
The commissioner asked me: “Laila, would you be willing to take charge of the group?
Allora viene giù il commissario e mi dice: “Laila, te la senti di prendere la responsabilità del gruppo? Tu sarai il comandante delle staffette, -
You’ll be the one in charge for all the dispatch riders who are part of this unit”.
You’ll be the one in charge for all the dispatch riders who are part of this unit”.
la responsabile del gruppo delle staffette che operano in questa formazione”. -
I accepted and we started to work.
I accepted and we started to work.
Io dico di sì, ho detto di sì e abbiamo cominciato a operare con tutto il lavoro... -
The problem was there was so much work that we often didn’t even manage to get any sleep.
The problem was there was so much work that we often didn’t even manage to get any sleep.
però il lavoro era talmente grande che alle volte non riuscivamo nemmeno a dormire -
We weren’t only taking care of communications,
We weren’t only taking care of communications,
perché non solo facevamo tutto questo lavoro di collegamento, ma facevamo anche il lavoro -
but also led the way when units had a job to do.
but also led the way when units had a job to do.
di battistrada, di staffette quando le formazioni andavano in determinati posti. -
When they blew up the Cerresola Bridge, which is 3 or 4 kilometres from Ciano, they asked me to lead the way.
When they blew up the Cerresola Bridge, which is 3 or 4 kilometres from Ciano, they asked me to lead the way.
Ad esempio quando hanno fatto saltare il ponte della Cerezzola, che è a 3 o 4 Km da Ciano, mi hanno chiesto di fare la staffetta alla formazione: -
There were three units from three detachments, led by Gianni, who told me to go ahead.
There were three units from three detachments, led by Gianni, who told me to go ahead.
erano 3 squadre di 3 distaccamenti comandati da Gianni, da quell’ufficiale che ti ho detto che conoscevo, il quale ha detto: “Laila, tu vai davanti”. -
When I was moving around I was always armed.
When I was moving around I was always armed.
Allora, anche lì, io non ero vestita in borghese, però portavo io... quando mi spostavo io ero sempre armata, -
At night I carried a big gun, which could have easily killed somebody.
At night I carried a big gun, which could have easily killed somebody.
a seconda dei posti dove andavo, se mi spostavo di notte tenevo la rivoltella che poteva anche ammazzare qualcheduno;