European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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before they were forced to transfer us to make room for new inmates.
before they were forced to transfer us to make room for new inmates.
poi a un bel momento hanno dovuto mandarci via perché hanno cominciato con degli arresti nuovi; -
We were 18 or 19, all fettered to the same chain.
We were 18 or 19, all fettered to the same chain.
eravamo 18-19, tutti ammanettati con una catena unica -
Our families had been told we would be at the station,
Our families had been told we would be at the station,
e quando siamo arrivati, a parte che i familiari erano stati avvertiti, -
so once we got there they had come to see us, and some of them were crying:
so once we got there they had come to see us, and some of them were crying:
qui alla stazione che eravamo tutti ammanettati c’erano anche dei familiari che piangevano a sua volta, -
we had to pretend everything was ok and force a smile in order to make it easier for them.
we had to pretend everything was ok and force a smile in order to make it easier for them.
e tu dovevi sacrificarti a ridere, a far finta di niente perché piangevano loro, se te gli davi una mano… -
When we arrived in Castelfranco, the warden came over and asked the sergeant, who was in charge of the guards,
When we arrived in Castelfranco, the warden came over and asked the sergeant, who was in charge of the guards,
Arriviamo a Castelfranco, il maresciallo, il capo delle guardie, è venuto il direttore e gli ha chiesto -
where they were supposed to put us, since the prison was also full.
where they were supposed to put us, since the prison was also full.
“dove li mettiamo questi qui?” perché era pieno anche là; -
He asked where we came from, and when he was told we were from Reggio Emilia, he said:
He asked where we came from, and when he was told we were from Reggio Emilia, he said:
ha chiesto “da dove vengono?” “da Reggio Emilia” -
“If it was for me, I would just dump them in a cesspit”.
“If it was for me, I would just dump them in a cesspit”.
e il direttore “se fosse per me li metterei tutti in un pozzo nero”. -
Very funny, isn’t it?
Very funny, isn’t it?
E’ una cosa buona anche questa qui eh? -
Although we had not done anything to be punished, they ended up putting us in confinement cells.
Although we had not done anything to be punished, they ended up putting us in confinement cells.
Dopo ci hanno messi nelle celle di punizione noi che non entravamo per punizione, -
The prison was full, but they had these special cells where they could fit one or two of us,
The prison was full, but they had these special cells where they could fit one or two of us,
però visto che era pieno c’erano celle particolari per una o due persone -
There was only a small opening in the door, and a tiny window for some fresh air,
There was only a small opening in the door, and a tiny window for some fresh air,
che c’era la porta con un bollettino e basta e c’era una finestrina là per aria, -
so you never heard or saw anyone aside from the guard who came by to check on us every now and then.
so you never heard or saw anyone aside from the guard who came by to check on us every now and then.
lì non sentivi e non vedevi mai nessuno, la guardia quando passava a controllare. -
I spent more or less twenty days in Castelfranco.
I spent more or less twenty days in Castelfranco.
Sono stato una ventina di giorni a Castelfranco. -
The old antifascists in Reggio
The old antifascists in Reggio
I vecchi antifascisti Reggiani -
There weren’t any real dangers, since they rather controlled those who were older than me.
There weren’t any real dangers, since they rather controlled those who were older than me.
Non è che ci fosse, loro guardavano più gli anziani, il problema era quello lì, però -
Even inside the Reggiane plant I was always an antifascist,
Even inside the Reggiane plant I was always an antifascist,
dei fatti alle Reggiane… Io sono sempre stato antifascista anche dentro le Reggiane -
just like many others who were less fortunate than I was.
just like many others who were less fortunate than I was.
e come ero io c’era altra gente più sfortunata di me: -
At Reggiane we used to manufacture airplanes.
At Reggiane we used to manufacture airplanes.
perché dentro le Reggiane, si facevano gli aeroplani,