European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Like many others of us, I was enlisted to the ‘Wehrmacht’ after doing illegal work for nearly two years.
Like many others of us, I was enlisted to the ‘Wehrmacht’ after doing illegal work for nearly two years.
Dopo due anni di operazioni illegali, entrammo nella Wehrmacht. L'alternativa erano i campi di concentramento. -
We discussed what we were going to do; either refuse to accept the enlisting order,
We discussed what we were going to do; either refuse to accept the enlisting order,
Ci consultammo sul da farsi, ovvero se rifiutare l'ordine di arruolarsi, -
meaning torture and concentration camp or agree that we have more opportunities as soldiers.
meaning torture and concentration camp or agree that we have more opportunities as soldiers.
ma avrebbe significato tortura e campi. Come soldati avremmo avuto più libertà d'azione. -
That was our collective decision.
That was our collective decision.
Questa fu la nostra decisione. -
Being a recruit, I was in Bayreuth and there was an illegal group.
Being a recruit, I was in Bayreuth and there was an illegal group.
Da recluta, partecipai come soldato alla lotta antifascista. Ero a Bayreuth, dove c'era un gruppo illegale. -
A commercial traveller, an anti-fascist who commuted between the borders,
A commercial traveller, an anti-fascist who commuted between the borders,
Un commesso viaggiatore antifascista, che faceva sempre avanti e indietro per il confine, -
associated me with the anti-fascist group there.
associated me with the anti-fascist group there.
mi mise in contatto con il gruppo antifascista. -
For them I was a stranger, they wanted proof:
For them I was a stranger, they wanted proof:
Per loro ero uno sconosciuto. Volevano una prova -
How reliable is this man and what can he do?
How reliable is this man and what can he do?
di quanto fossi affidabile e di cosa sapessi fare. -
They said: “We need ammunition. Can you provide us with a box of hand grenades?
They said: “We need ammunition. Can you provide us with a box of hand grenades?
Mi dissero che avevano bisogno di munizioni: "Puoi procurarci una cassa di granate? -
We have explosives - but not enough - everything else is available!”
We have explosives - but not enough - everything else is available!”
Abbiamo l'esplosivo, non abbastanza, ma il resto c'è!" -
It was a tough job,
It was a tough job,
Fu molto difficile, -
but during a transport I put aside a box of hand grenades at the risk of loosing my life and let them know.
but during a transport I put aside a box of hand grenades at the risk of loosing my life and let them know.
ma durante un trasporto misi in disparte una cassa di granate, rischiando la mia vita. Poi li informai. -
Three days later the district recruiting office in Bayreuth was blown up with the entire file.
Three days later the district recruiting office in Bayreuth was blown up with the entire file.
Tre giorni dopo a Bayreuth, l'ufficio distrettuale di leva saltò in aria con tutto lo schedario. -
In the ammunition factory the most important machine was blown up and the most difficult:
In the ammunition factory the most important machine was blown up and the most difficult:
Nella fabbrica d'armi, la macchina più importante fu distrutta. La parte più difficile: -
on the air field we blew up two out of three machines.
on the air field we blew up two out of three machines.
nell'aerodromo, facemmo esplodere due macchine su tre. -
It wasn’t me, that were the anti-fascists from Bayreuth, but I helped.
It wasn’t me, that were the anti-fascists from Bayreuth, but I helped.
Non io, ma gli antifascisti di Bayreuth. Io però li aiutai come recluta. -
The question was what you were able do as a soldier in an unfamiliar environment.
The question was what you were able do as a soldier in an unfamiliar environment.
La questione era: cosa si poteva fare da soldati in un territorio sconosciuto? -
We always tried to build anti-fascist cells and if it was one man or two.
We always tried to build anti-fascist cells and if it was one man or two.
Cercammo sempre di creare gruppi antifascisti, -
It was not easy to find out where somebody was, thinking the same as you.
It was not easy to find out where somebody was, thinking the same as you.
ma non era facile scoprire chi la pensava come noi.