European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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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; -
If I was going in dangerous areas I’d carry a smaller gun, a Beretta six-something, as it was easy to hide.
If I was going in dangerous areas I’d carry a smaller gun, a Beretta six-something, as it was easy to hide.
se mi spostavo in zone pericolose, prendevo, avevo una piccola rivoltella, una Beretta, una 6 e qualche cosa, che adesso non mi ricordo bene il calibro, perché era molto... -
As he saw the gun, Gianni told me: “Laila, what’s that for!”
As he saw the gun, Gianni told me: “Laila, what’s that for!”
facilmente insomma riuscivi a nasconderla. E Gianni vede la rivoltella e dice: “Ma, Laila!”. -
I told him we should agree on a plan: “I’ll go ahead and come back.
I told him we should agree on a plan: “I’ll go ahead and come back.
Dico: “Guarda, ci mettiamo d’accordo. Io vado davanti, ecco, poi torno indietro. -
If I don’t feel like walking back all the way I’ll whistle. That means the way is clear.
If I don’t feel like walking back all the way I’ll whistle. That means the way is clear.
Se non ho voglia di far la strada vi faccio un fischio che vuol dire che la strada è libera”. -
If by any chance I see an enemy unit and can’t make it back or alert you about the danger,
If by any chance I see an enemy unit and can’t make it back or alert you about the danger,
Dico: “Però buttacaso, se io mi trovo che vedo una formazione, se non riesco a tornare indietro, perché può darsi anche che mi bloccano, se non riesco a tornare indietro -
I don’t care if I have to shoot myself in the stomach, as I kept the gun around my waist.
I don’t care if I have to shoot myself in the stomach, as I kept the gun around my waist.
o a darvi voce del pericolo, io guarda Gianni che anche a costo di piantarmi io la pallottola nella pancia – perché la rivoltella la tenevo nascosta qui, dico – io faccio sparare la rivoltella, -
They won’t see it the way I’m carrying it. At least I can warn you by firing a shot. That’s the only reason I’m carrying the gun”.
They won’t see it the way I’m carrying it. At least I can warn you by firing a shot. That’s the only reason I’m carrying the gun”.
perché loro non la vedono, come l’ho messa, almeno vi do il “stai attento” perché il rumore è quello che è, ma la porto solo per questo”. -
He asked me if I was crazy, and I replied I wasn’t: “Don’t you realize I’m responsible for three units?”
He asked me if I was crazy, and I replied I wasn’t: “Don’t you realize I’m responsible for three units?”
E lui: “Ma sei matta?”. “No, non sono matta – dico – ma ti rendi conto che io ho la responsabilità di tre squadre?”. -
I’m telling you this to show how reliable we were in our duties, how responsible we felt.
I’m telling you this to show how reliable we were in our duties, how responsible we felt.
Cioè vedi, ti dico questo per dirti che ... eravamo responsabili del nostro lavoro, cioè sentivamo la responsabilità del nostro compito; -
I wasn’t the only one: all the women who were taking care of these duties were ready to face danger.
I wasn’t the only one: all the women who were taking care of these duties were ready to face danger.
e se c’era anche pericolo la ragazza non era una cosa che facevo solo io... cioè le ragazze che avevano questa responsabilità andavano anche nel pericolo. -
We went on working like this.
We went on working like this.
E abbiamo continuato il lavoro così. -
At a certain point there were around thirty of us. Then they split us into two groups.
At a certain point there were around thirty of us. Then they split us into two groups.
Abbiamo sempre continuato... c’è stato un momento che eravamo addirittura una trentina, poi ci divisero: -
One group took care of political campaigning with the population to gain support,
One group took care of political campaigning with the population to gain support,
una parte faceva il lavoro politico di collegamento con la popolazione per avere l’aiuto della popolazione,