European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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By the time I left the colony, there were almost three thousand people confined in Pisticci:
By the time I left the colony, there were almost three thousand people confined in Pisticci:
In quella colonia lì quando sono venuto via io c’erano quasi tremila confinati; -
not only political prisoners, but a bit of everything, including spies.
not only political prisoners, but a bit of everything, including spies.
dopo lì non c’erano politici ma di tutti i colori, c’erano poi le spie. -
For three years I drove a tractor.
For three years I drove a tractor.
Io ho adoperato lì per tre anni un trattore. -
We arrived at the offices of the colony, where we were divided in three sheds,
We arrived at the offices of the colony, where we were divided in three sheds,
Arriviamo alla direzione di questa colonia, poi ci mandano, c’era una baracca lì, -
since we were seventeen or eighteen.
since we were seventeen or eighteen.
eravamo 17 o 18 ci hanno messo in tre baracche. -
As I walked in, others were already inside.
As I walked in, others were already inside.
Quando sono andato dentro c’erano già degli altri che erano lì: -
I started to explain to them how we were lucky that the number of socialist countries was growing,
I started to explain to them how we were lucky that the number of socialist countries was growing,
“cari compagni, siamo fortunati che l’Unione Sovietica sta allargando i paesi del socialismo, -
thanks to the Soviet Union – they had just occupied Sweden, Norway and Lithuania at that time – and how great the Russians were.
thanks to the Soviet Union – they had just occupied Sweden, Norway and Lithuania at that time – and how great the Russians were.
quello è un popolo che è una favola”, io spiegavo tutte quelle cose lì, perché avevano occupato la Svezia, la Norvegia e la Lituana in quel periodo, allora io dicevo “hanno allargato i paesi de socialismo”. -
Come morning, a tiny man called me over and asked me where I was from.
Come morning, a tiny man called me over and asked me where I was from.
Al mattino un ometto alto così mi dice “vieni qua, da dove vieni?” -
I told him I was from Reggio Emilia, so he told me:
I told him I was from Reggio Emilia, so he told me:
“vengo da Reggio Emilia” -
“Are you really sure about the things you were saying last night?”.
“Are you really sure about the things you were saying last night?”.
“beh quello che hai detto ieri sera, ma sei convinto d’aver parlato bene? -
I thought he was crazy.
I thought he was crazy.
io gli ho dato un po’ del pazzo, -
He was a professor from Milan, whose name was Lonato. We were in great terms after that.
He was a professor from Milan, whose name was Lonato. We were in great terms after that.
ed era un certo Lonato un professore di Milano, con cui dopo abbiamo sempre avuto dei rapporti buoni via, -
With us, there were also prisoners from Parma.
With us, there were also prisoners from Parma.
anche con lui, poi c’erano dei parmigiani lì con noi. -
I’m not saying I liked it there, because it was always confinement.
I’m not saying I liked it there, because it was always confinement.
Non dico mica che mi son trovato bene, perché io ero confinato, -
However I was younger than the others, and I understood that this was an advantage.
However I was younger than the others, and I understood that this was an advantage.
avevo un vantaggio che ero più giovane degli altri allora capivo; -
I was with a man called Bonini, from Villa Seta, who was around forty-five years old
I was with a man called Bonini, from Villa Seta, who was around forty-five years old
avevo con me un certo Bonini di Villa Seta poveraccio, un uomo che avrà avuto quarantacinque anni, -
and had a wife at home, renting a small farm and taking care of the kids:
and had a wife at home, renting a small farm and taking care of the kids:
la moglie a casa con un piccolo podere in affitto, con la responsabilità dei ragazzetti, -
that was a lot harder, but he always managed to take care of things rather easily.
that was a lot harder, but he always managed to take care of things rather easily.
per dirti che avevano delle tragedie, però superate sempre senza difficoltà. -
Then I finally came home from confinement.
Then I finally came home from confinement.
Allora vengo a casa dal confino