European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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When I was a soldier I taught the guys from 1921 and '22 the war tactics,
When I was a soldier I taught the guys from 1921 and '22 the war tactics,
Io quando ero militare ho insegnato alle reclute del ‘21 e del ’22 proprio a fare le tattiche di guerra, -
how to shoot, how to be a sniper, how to throw hand grenades, because they were no experts.
how to shoot, how to be a sniper, how to throw hand grenades, because they were no experts.
sparare, tiro a segno, buttare le bombe e anche loro erano degli inesperti. -
Once you pull the catch you have to throw the hand grenade, otherwise you get blown up together with it.
Once you pull the catch you have to throw the hand grenade, otherwise you get blown up together with it.
Per tirar via la leva dalla bomba e poi non puoi aprire la mano perché te ne vai tu, la devi lanciare. -
The enemies were well prepared, the Germans were warlords, they were trememdous.
The enemies were well prepared, the Germans were warlords, they were trememdous.
Insomma era la tattica che si usava e loro erano preparati, i tedeschi erano guerrafondai, erano tremendi. -
I remember one episode up here.
I remember one episode up here.
Ricordo un fatto quassù da noi: -
We had a shooting one night,
We had a shooting one night,
abbiamo fatto una sparatoria una notte, -
we were near Busana, in Cinquecerri.
we were near Busana, in Cinquecerri.
eravamo sotto Busana a Cinquecerri, -
The guard came to me and said: "Mirko, Mirko, the Germans are here!"
The guard came to me and said: "Mirko, Mirko, the Germans are here!"
c’era uno di guardia e dice “Mirko Mirko ci sono i tedeschi!” -
We were sleeping in a barn and jumped up like hares.
We were sleeping in a barn and jumped up like hares.
eravamo in un fienile a dormire saltavamo come le lepri! -
"Where are they?" "In Busana on the Sparavalle". "Shut up, then!"
"Where are they?" "In Busana on the Sparavalle". "Shut up, then!"
“Dove sono?” “A Busana sullo Sparavalle” “Tes alora!”, -
They were at street number 63.
They were at street number 63.
cioè erano sulla strada 63. -
We prepared without waiting for further instructions, I'd found some posts.
We prepared without waiting for further instructions, I'd found some posts.
E poi ci siamo preparati senza attendere niente, avevo trovato delle postazioni. -
"Go there and don't shoot. No shooting, be aware! Keep hidden and don't smoke!"
"Go there and don't shoot. No shooting, be aware! Keep hidden and don't smoke!"
“Andate sul posto e non sparate, guai se sparate! State nascosti e non fumate!” -
They were there already, it was just two or three o'clock.
They were there already, it was just two or three o'clock.
che loro erano lì, infatti erano già le due o le tre -
At six o'clock in the morning the Germans shot the warning fire as a sign of attack.
At six o'clock in the morning the Germans shot the warning fire as a sign of attack.
e invece alle sei del mattino hanno sparato con delle rivoltelle il segnale di attacco questi tedeschi. -
We didn't shoot, but some other partisans did,
We didn't shoot, but some other partisans did,
Noi non abbiamo sparato invece altri partigiani -
from another side, they fired some shots and with their mortars the Germans made them run, they're still running now.
from another side, they fired some shots and with their mortars the Germans made them run, they're still running now.
di là hanno sparato delle raffiche e loro con i mortai li hanno fatti correre, stanno ancora correndo adesso! -
Instead, we should have take them by surprise!
Instead, we should have take them by surprise!
Invece devi fargli tu la sorpresa! -
Joining the partisans
Joining the partisans
Ingresso “nei partigiani” -
Later I went up to the mountains and gave myself this nickname, "Mirko".
Later I went up to the mountains and gave myself this nickname, "Mirko".
Dopo sono venuto in montagna e mi sono preso quel nome di battaglia "Mirko"