European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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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. -
There were also nasty episodes, although not too often.
There were also nasty episodes, although not too often.
Allora succedevano anche delle cose mica belle, poche volte però è successo: -
They might come to check on us at, say, 10:30 at night, so we would have to gather in the hallway.
They might come to check on us at, say, 10:30 at night, so we would have to gather in the hallway.
ad un certo orario non so dieci e mezza vengono a fare il controllo, tutti nel corridoio, -
One of us was sleeping in the corner, another one was ill, and they would send us all outside to do some exercise.
One of us was sleeping in the corner, another one was ill, and they would send us all outside to do some exercise.
c’era chi dormiva sotto in un angolo, c’era anche un malato, allora ci mandano tutti fuori a far ginnastica. -
We wore wooden shoes that could easily be lost while walking down the three steps that led to each shack.
We wore wooden shoes that could easily be lost while walking down the three steps that led to each shack.
Avevi gli zoccolo di legno, magari li perdevi giù per la scala, c’erano sempre tre gradini in tutte le baracche, -
Then they would have us walk in circles for hours, sometimes under the rain.
Then they would have us walk in circles for hours, sometimes under the rain.
poi stavano delle ore a farti girare, delle volte pioveva anche; -
Episodes of this kind were not too frequent, but definitely happened.
Episodes of this kind were not too frequent, but definitely happened.
io dico che è successo poche volte però sono successe anche queste cose. -
I was arrested, or, I should rather say, we were loaded on their trains on the 16th of September,
I was arrested, or, I should rather say, we were loaded on their trains on the 16th of September,
Io sono stato arrestato, cioè ci hanno caricati loro sui treni il 16 settembre -
and made it home only two years later, on the 14th of September.
and made it home only two years later, on the 14th of September.
e sono tornato a casa dopo due anni il 14 settembre, -
We were near the Ruhr area, where most armament factories were located,
We were near the Ruhr area, where most armament factories were located,
perché noi essendo in quella zona della Ruhr, le fabbriche di guerra erano tutte lì: -
including the tank factories that the Americans used to attack with special bombs, in order to breach them.
including the tank factories that the Americans used to attack with special bombs, in order to breach them.
c’erano quelle fabbriche dei carroarmati che gli americani per andarci dentro usavano quelle famose bombe a grappolo, -
We were bombarded every night, so I didn’t even think of running away,
We were bombarded every night, so I didn’t even think of running away,
bombardavano tutte le notti, io non scappavo neanche più -
because it would have meant running under these same bombs.
because it would have meant running under these same bombs.
perché quelli che scappavano correvano sotto alle bombe. -
That’s what we went through.
That’s what we went through.
Noi abbiamo fatto quella trafila lì. -
Four years of confinement in Matera
Four years of confinement in Matera
Quattro anni di confino a Matera