European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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One night, the Germans needed thirty people and came over to our shack.
One night, the Germans needed thirty people and came over to our shack.
Una notte hanno cercato trenta, loro erano a dormire in un altro angolo del capannone, -
The two officers had been entitled to bunk beds, so they were sleeping in a corner of the shack.
The two officers had been entitled to bunk beds, so they were sleeping in a corner of the shack.
perché essendo ufficiali gli avevano dato dei letti a castello mentre noi dormivamo sulla paglia lì per terra, -
We slept on straw on the floor, and I managed to get into the group that was leaving.
We slept on straw on the floor, and I managed to get into the group that was leaving.
sono riuscito a sgattaiolare via, che dopo non ho più saputo niente e forse ho fatto male, -
I never knew anything about them afterwards, and maybe I shouldn’t have done this,
I never knew anything about them afterwards, and maybe I shouldn’t have done this,
perché mi era venuta paura se non gli danno -
but I was afraid they would hand my documents to a guard. The guards were brutal there.
but I was afraid they would hand my documents to a guard. The guards were brutal there.
i documenti in mano a una guardia, perché lì erano cattivi, -
They used to come inside in the morning, screaming the word “Aufstehn”,
They used to come inside in the morning, screaming the word “Aufstehn”,
perché passavano al mattino con una parola che ho imparato subito “Aufstehn”, -
At first, we wondered what we were supposed to do – maybe get some coffee! –
At first, we wondered what we were supposed to do – maybe get some coffee! –
abbiamo pensato cosa ci sarà da fare, ci sarà da prendere il caffè… -
then four or five of them came inside and started acting rough.
then four or five of them came inside and started acting rough.
Dopo sono venuti dentro in quattro o cinque con delle manette, -
We immediately understood that we had to get up, even if we couldn’t understand the word.
We immediately understood that we had to get up, even if we couldn’t understand the word.
dovevi alzarti però noi non sapevamo quella parola lì. -
They were really mean there, so I left and went to this other camp,
They were really mean there, so I left and went to this other camp,
Cioè erano già cattivi anche lì, e così io ho abbandonato e sono andato in questo campo, -
by a large river that had just been bombed, where we started to work.
by a large river that had just been bombed, where we started to work.
che avevano bombardato un grosso fiume, abbiamo cominciato a lavorare così; -
I lost all contact with the two officers afterwards, since that place was basically a marshalling camp,
I lost all contact with the two officers afterwards, since that place was basically a marshalling camp,
io di loro non ho più saputo niente perché quello lì praticamente era un campo di smistamento, -
where 100-200 prisoners arrived by train every day.
where 100-200 prisoners arrived by train every day.
tutti i gironi arrivavano cento, centocinquanta o duecento prigionieri, era sempre un continuo arrivare lì con i treni. Dopo non ho più saputo niente. -
I’ve been in four different German internment camps.
I’ve been in four different German internment camps.
Io ho fatto quattro campi di concentramento in Germania, -
The last one I was in, where we were finally set free, was called Wickede and was in Westfalia, near Dortmund.
The last one I was in, where we were finally set free, was called Wickede and was in Westfalia, near Dortmund.
che l’ultimo dove poi ci hanno liberato si chiama Wickede che era poi in Westfalia, in provincia di Dortmund, l’ultimo campo è stato quello lì. -
Normally people used to go to sleep immediately.
Normally people used to go to sleep immediately.
Normalmente la gente poi dormiva anche subito, -
The camp I’ve been in for the longest period was in Hagen, again in Westfalia, near Dortmund, which was a very big city.
The camp I’ve been in for the longest period was in Hagen, again in Westfalia, near Dortmund, which was a very big city.
ma perché noi nel periodo più lungo che era ad Hagen In Westfalia ancora, era in provincia di Dortmund che era una grossissima città. -
In Wickede, I had to get up at 5 in the morning, walk 2 km to the station,
In Wickede, I had to get up at 5 in the morning, walk 2 km to the station,
Lì dove c’era il campo a Wickede avevi la sveglia alle 5 del mattino, dovevi fare 2 km a piedi per andare in stazione, -
travel by train for 70 km, then walk to the job I had,
travel by train for 70 km, then walk to the job I had,
poi 70 km di treno, poi da là dovevi vagabondare dalla stazione per andare sul tuo lavoro, -
and sometimes I would end up getting back at nine in the evening.
and sometimes I would end up getting back at nine in the evening.
e alla sera a volte tornavo a casa alle nove.