European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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So I decided that I can’t let myself just stand aside.
So I decided that I can’t let myself just stand aside.
Quindi decisi che non potevo semplicemente starmene in disparte. -
So I went straight to the telephone – there weren’t many at the time, but we had one in our home –
So I went straight to the telephone – there weren’t many at the time, but we had one in our home –
Così andai dritta verso il telefono – non ce n'erano molti all'epoca, ma ne avevamo uno a casa – -
and called my friends, who I’d heard whispering stuff. I had sensed it had something to do with the occupier.
and called my friends, who I’d heard whispering stuff. I had sensed it had something to do with the occupier.
e chiamai le miei amiche, dalle quali avevo sentito delle cose. Avevo intuito che questo avesse a che fare con l'occupante. -
I said I wanted to get ‘in’, that I also wanted to do whatever they knew about. The very next day I was called to my first meeting.
I said I wanted to get ‘in’, that I also wanted to do whatever they knew about. The very next day I was called to my first meeting.
Dissi che volevo "entrarci", che anche io volevo fare qualsiasi cosa di cui loro erano a conoscenza. Il giorno dopo mi chiamarono al mio primo incontro. -
Introduction
Introduction
Introduzione -
For many years I also taught drawing at various schools,
For many years I also taught drawing at various schools,
Per molti anni ho insegnato nelle scuole il disegno, -
but now in my old age I have dedicated myself entirely to my primary vocation – painting.
but now in my old age I have dedicated myself entirely to my primary vocation – painting.
ma adesso, nella vecchiaia, mi dedico totalmente alla mia vocazione primaria: la pittura. -
I’m 87 years old. My generation experienced WWII.
I’m 87 years old. My generation experienced WWII.
Ho 87 anni adesso. La mia generazione ha vissuto la Seconda guerra mondiale. -
Experienced massive changes during the war and then after the war as well.
Experienced massive changes during the war and then after the war as well.
Ha vissuto dei cambiamenti enormi durante la guerra e poi anche dopo. -
I must say that we imagined a different world after WWII. A different world would arise than the one we live in now.
I must say that we imagined a different world after WWII. A different world would arise than the one we live in now.
Devo dire che avevamo immaginato un mondo diverso dopo la guerra. Un mondo diverso rispetto a quello in cui stiamo vivendo invece. -
But one just has to adjust one’s expectations to what is going on in society.
But one just has to adjust one’s expectations to what is going on in society.
Ma bisogna adattare le proprie aspettative a quello che sta avvenendo nella società. -
At the time I was very active in Ljubljana and a lot was going on in Ljubljana.
At the time I was very active in Ljubljana and a lot was going on in Ljubljana.
All'epoca ero molto attiva a Lubiana e a Lubiana stavano succedendo molte cose. -
The walls were plastered with lists of hostages
The walls were plastered with lists of hostages
Le pareti erano ricoperte con le liste degli ostaggi -
and practically every day you would be informed of something horrible.
and practically every day you would be informed of something horrible.
e praticamente ogni giorno venivi a sapere di qualcosa di terribile. -
It is difficult to say whether one could even feel in the mood to create some great piece of art.
It is difficult to say whether one could even feel in the mood to create some great piece of art.
Era difficile dire quando ti saresti sentito dell'umore giusto per creare qualche grande opera d'arte. -
Nonetheless, I would, just to remain a painter –
Nonetheless, I would, just to remain a painter –
Tuttavia, io lo dovevo fare, giusto per restare una pittrice, -
usually doing things similar to that in the program at the Zagreb Academy – just enough to stay in condition.
usually doing things similar to that in the program at the Zagreb Academy – just enough to stay in condition.
di solito facendo delle cose simili a quelle del programma dell'Accademia di Zagabria – giusto per continuare. -
It was later, when I joined the partisans that I could finally make use of my painting skills.
It was later, when I joined the partisans that I could finally make use of my painting skills.
Fu dopo, quando mi unì ai partigiani, che riuscii finalmente ad utilizzare le mia capacità artistiche. -
Romana Verdel was born in Remschenig/Remcenik in 1938 in the bilingual part of Carinthia/Koroska. Her familiy belonged to the Slovenian minority. Together with her mother Anna Rotter and other relatives, she lived at the house of Katarina Sluga, her politically engaged aunt and founder of the antifascist women’s association. Being accused of a critical attitude towards National Socialism and network activities, some relatives join the Slovene partisans in 1943. Romana remains undiscovered by the Gesatpo and is being hidden with the children by her aunt Amalija, who also joins the partisans in the mountains and in Solcava in the valley Logartal. In April 1944, Amalija returns to Carinthia/Koroska. Roman is being taken in at a farmhouse and survives war there. 13 of her relatives fall with the partisans or die in concentration camps. The orphan Romana stays as a maid in the farm and later moves to the farmhouse of her partents in Remschenig/Remcenik. For 20 years, she suffers from anaemia. By and by, her life becomes more normal, but »when a child suffers from war and even is lucky enough to survive – the fear remains all your life«.
Romana Verdel was born in Remschenig/Remcenik in 1938 in the bilingual part of Carinthia/Koroska. Her familiy belonged to the Slovenian minority. Together with her mother Anna Rotter and other relatives, she lived at the house of Katarina Sluga, her politically engaged aunt and founder of the antifascist women’s association. Being accused of a critical attitude towards National Socialism and network activities, some relatives join the Slovene partisans in 1943. Romana remains undiscovered by the Gesatpo and is being hidden with the children by her aunt Amalija, who also joins the partisans in the mountains and in Solcava in the valley Logartal. In April 1944, Amalija returns to Carinthia/Koroska. Roman is being taken in at a farmhouse and survives war there. 13 of her relatives fall with the partisans or die in concentration camps. The orphan Romana stays as a maid in the farm and later moves to the farmhouse of her partents in Remschenig/Remcenik. For 20 years, she suffers from anaemia. By and by, her life becomes more normal, but »when a child suffers from war and even is lucky enough to survive – the fear remains all your life«.
Romana Verdel è nata a Remschenig/Remcenik nel 1938 nella parte bilingue della Carinzia/Koroska. La sua famiglia apparteneva alla minoranza slovena. Insieme alla madre Anna Rotter e ad altri parenti, visse a casa di Katarina Sluga, sua zia, che era politicamente impegnata nonché fondatrice dell'Associazione delle Donne Antifasciste. Accusati di un atteggiamento critico nei confronti del nazionalsocialismo e di attività clandestina, alcuni parenti si danno alla macchia e si uniscono ai partigiani sloveni nel 1943. Romana non sarà scoperta dalla Gestapo e viene nascosta con i bambini dalla zia Amalija, che si unisce essa stessa ai partigiani della montagna e in Solcava nella Valle Logartal. Nell'Aprile 1944 Amalija torna in Carinzia/Koroska. Romana viene accolta in una fattoria e sopravvive alla guerra. Tredici dei suoi parenti cadono con i partigiani o muoiono nei campi di concentramento. Rimasta orfana Romana lavora come domestica nella fattoria e poi si trasferisce nell'azienda agricola dei suoi genitori a Remschenig/Remcenik. Per vent'anni ha sofferto di anemia. A poco a poco, la sua vita è tornata alla normalità, ma «quando una bambina soffre la guerra anche se ha la fortuna di sopravvivere, la paura rimane per tutta la vita». -
Erwin Schulz was born on the 13th of October 1912 in Tempelhof (belonging to Berlin since 1920). In 1922, he joined the workers sport group “Fichte”. These sport groups were considered as being progressive and anti-bourgeois. Five years later he joined the trade union, the central association of office workers. After Hitler took over the power in January 1933, opposition groups were slowly forbidden, “Fichte” also. Erwin Schulz was condemned to five years imprisonment for preparation of high treason, because he had distributed antifascist flyers and helped to keep up the clandestine structures of "Fichte". The next ten years he went through the prison of Luckau, the camps of Esterwegen and Börgermoor, the punishment division 999, Moroccan, French, English and American captivity. Not until October 1946 he returned to Berlin.
Erwin Schulz was born on the 13th of October 1912 in Tempelhof (belonging to Berlin since 1920). In 1922, he joined the workers sport group “Fichte”. These sport groups were considered as being progressive and anti-bourgeois. Five years later he joined the trade union, the central association of office workers. After Hitler took over the power in January 1933, opposition groups were slowly forbidden, “Fichte” also. Erwin Schulz was condemned to five years imprisonment for preparation of high treason, because he had distributed antifascist flyers and helped to keep up the clandestine structures of "Fichte". The next ten years he went through the prison of Luckau, the camps of Esterwegen and Börgermoor, the punishment division 999, Moroccan, French, English and American captivity. Not until October 1946 he returned to Berlin.
Erwin Schulz è nato il 13 ottobre 1912 a Tempelhof (distretto di Berlino dal 1920). Nel 1922 entra a far parte del gruppo sportivo operaio “Fichte”. Questi gruppi sportivi erano considerati progressisti e anti borghesi. Cinque anni dopo aderisce al Sindacato dell'associazione centrale degli impiegati. Dopo che Hitler prese il potere nel gennaio 1933, i gruppi di opposizione furono lentamente proibiti, anche il "Fichte". Erwin Schulz fu condannato a cinque anni di reclusione per incitamento di alto tradimento, avendo distribuito volantini antifascisti e aiutato a mantenere le strutture clandestine del "Fichte". Nel successivo decennio passò dalla prigione di Luckau, dai campi di Esterwegen e Börgermoor, dalla divisione punitiva 999, dalle prigioni marocchina, francese, inglese e americana. Solo nell'ottobre 1946 tornò a Berlino.