European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I used to ride my bicycle from Castellazzo to piazza Fontanesi in Reggio,
I used to ride my bicycle from Castellazzo to piazza Fontanesi in Reggio,
Quindi io partivo in bicicletta da Castellazzo venivo in piazza Fontanesi dal padrone -
to go tell the landlord if we were buying or selling. Since we were sharecroppers, we had to report to him everything that concerned the land.
to go tell the landlord if we were buying or selling. Since we were sharecroppers, we had to report to him everything that concerned the land.
perché lui non si muoveva e dovevi venire a dire se vendevi o se compravi perché eri mezzadro perché tutta l’attività del fondo doveva essere comunità del padrone -
I had to do this journey many times, and I often had to jump in the ditch to hide from the airplanes.
I had to do this journey many times, and I often had to jump in the ditch to hide from the airplanes.
quindi io facevo questo viaggio moltissime volte, mi sono buttata nel fosso perché c’erano gli apparecchi che ti… -
One day I asked myself if they would fire at a bicycle. I kept going on the road, as the airplane was bearing down on me.
One day I asked myself if they would fire at a bicycle. I kept going on the road, as the airplane was bearing down on me.
Un giorno addirittura ero talmente coraggiosa che ho detto ma è possibile che sparino a una bicicletta e basta? Infatti sono rimasta sulla strada mentre l’apparecchio mi piombava addosso. -
One time I was stopped at the checkpoint by the hospice.
One time I was stopped at the checkpoint by the hospice.
Un giorno all’Ospizio mi presero che c’era il blocco, -
There was always one there, but that day a man had been killed.
There was always one there, but that day a man had been killed.
il posto di blocco fascista che c’era sempre, ma quel giorno c’era perché avevano ammazzato una persona -
So there was a group of fascists walking from San Maurizio towards the hospice,
So there was a group of fascists walking from San Maurizio towards the hospice,
e c’era un gruppo di fascisti che venivano da San Maurizio verso l’Ospizio -
where the local fascist headquarters were. They had laid a boy who was slaughtered
where the local fascist headquarters were. They had laid a boy who was slaughtered
che c’era la casa del fascio, con un ragazzo maciullato su una, come si dice… -
on an improvised stretcher, and walked towards the hospice singing:
on an improvised stretcher, and walked towards the hospice singing:
su una barella improvvisata con dei legni e un po’ di fascine sopra e c’era un ragazzo -
“Allarme siam fascisti” (Call to arms, we’re fascists).
“Allarme siam fascisti” (Call to arms, we’re fascists).
e che cantavano “Allarme siam fascisti”. -
The checkpoint at the hospice was right by the railway crossing.
The checkpoint at the hospice was right by the railway crossing.
All’Ospizio dove c’è il passaggio a livello della ferrovia lì c’era il posto di blocco, -
They took my bicycle. That bicycle was everything to me.
They took my bicycle. That bicycle was everything to me.
perché quel giorno lì era una giornata tutta particolare e mi presero la bicicletta. Per me la bicicletta era tutto. -
It was a young girl’s Ferrari.
It was a young girl’s Ferrari.
Era la Ferrari dei miei giorni, della mia giovane età. -
The problem was I was carrying a bag with some partisan stuff.
The problem was I was carrying a bag with some partisan stuff.
Quindi mi presero la bicicletta e io avevo una borsa con dentro del materiale. -
I immediately held on to the bag real tight and started to scream and cry.
I immediately held on to the bag real tight and started to scream and cry.
Subito presi la borsa e me la tenevo bella stretta e poi cominciai a urlare e a piangere, -
It was all an act, although I was also a little bit afraid.
It was all an act, although I was also a little bit afraid.
era tutto un po’ una finta, avevo anche paura ma era anche proprio una finta. -
A fascist stared at me for a while, then took my bicycle and threw it at me.
A fascist stared at me for a while, then took my bicycle and threw it at me.
E un fascista mi guardò un po’, poi prese la bicicletta e me la buttò addosso, -
We both fell on the ground, the bicycle and I. I got back on my feet quickly, and he told me:
We both fell on the ground, the bicycle and I. I got back on my feet quickly, and he told me:
siam caduti io e la bicicletta. Però sono stata tanto svelta e poi mi ha detto: -
“Do not ever come around here again”.
“Do not ever come around here again”.
“Non passare mai più da queste parti”. -
I can still remember his boots were very tall. He seemed like a giant to me. That’s how it felt then.
I can still remember his boots were very tall. He seemed like a giant to me. That’s how it felt then.
Lo ricordo ancora aveva gli stivaloni alti così, a me sembrava che fosse un gigante, non era poi mica vero ma nella mia immaginazione era così.