European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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From the day of the first air-drop to the end of July
From the day of the first air-drop to the end of July
Da quando c’è stato il lancio, che eravamo circa una cinquantina, ad andare -
we increased from around fifty to more than a thousand men.
we increased from around fifty to more than a thousand men.
alla fine di luglio, da una cinquantina siamo arrivati a circa… a oltre mille, -
There just wasn’t enough time to organize ourselves.
There just wasn’t enough time to organize ourselves.
e il tempo era troppo breve per organizzarci, ecc. -
For example they set up a detachment and position it in an area, without knowing who these partisans were. That was a problem.
For example they set up a detachment and position it in an area, without knowing who these partisans were. That was a problem.
E infatti magari creavano un distaccamento e lo mettevano nella stessa zona, senza conoscere chi erano questi partigiani, era questo il problema. -
They decided to set up a unit called “Fiamme Verdi” (green flames),
They decided to set up a unit called “Fiamme Verdi” (green flames),
Lì loro hanno deciso di fare la formazione delle Fiamme Verdi, -
and went around asking for people to join them. They asked me, too, since I was a catholic.
and went around asking for people to join them. They asked me, too, since I was a catholic.
sono passati in tutti i distaccamenti, chi voleva andare con loro… l’hanno chiesto anche a me, io ero un cattolico, -
I didn’t go since I liked being with the “Garibaldini”.
I didn’t go since I liked being with the “Garibaldini”.
ma non ci sono andato perché stavo bene nei garibaldini. -
That day, the Fiamme Verdi brigade was formed,
That day, the Fiamme Verdi brigade was formed,
Invece quella giornata lì è stata formata la brigata delle Fiamme Verdi -
with Don Carlo as commander and, later on, my dear friend Aldo Dall’Aglio second-in-command.
with Don Carlo as commander and, later on, my dear friend Aldo Dall’Aglio second-in-command.
con Carlo, il Don Carlo, il comandante, e in seguito poi il vice comandante era il mio carissimo amico Aldo Dall’Aglio -
He died on the Prampa on the 10th of January after the mop-up of the 7th.
He died on the Prampa on the 10th of January after the mop-up of the 7th.
che è morto poi nella battaglia, nel rastrellamento del 7 gennaio, è morto il 10 sul Prampa. -
He had also asked me to join them.
He had also asked me to join them.
Anche lui mi aveva chiesto di andare con loro… -
Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t go,
Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t go,
e per fortuna che non ci sono mica andato -
since all those who were second-in-command or in other positions in the “Fiamme Verdi” died in battle.
since all those who were second-in-command or in other positions in the “Fiamme Verdi” died in battle.
perché tutti i vicecomandanti, non solo quello lì, sono morti nei combattimenti, delle Fiamme Verdi, pensa un po’. -
Saboteurs; German mob-up in July 1944
Saboteurs; German mob-up in July 1944
Sabotaggio; Rastrellamento luglio 1944 -
I attended a course for saboteurs. I think we were five.
I attended a course for saboteurs. I think we were five.
Io ho fatto un corso per sabotatori. Eravamo circa in 5, mi sembra, -
The Allies were air-dropping explosives the whole time. Nobody knew how to use them.
The Allies were air-dropping explosives the whole time. Nobody knew how to use them.
perché poi gli alleati continuavano a mandare giù degli esplosivi e nessuno sapeva usarlo. -
One day they also parachuted a saboteur to teach us.
One day they also parachuted a saboteur to teach us.
Se non che dopo è successo che hanno lanciato un sabotatore, uno che ci ha istruito, e così. -
Our duty was to blow up bridges, railway tracks and the like.
Our duty was to blow up bridges, railway tracks and the like.
Cioè il nostro compito era quello di far saltare dei ponti, delle ferrovie e compagnia bella. -
He taught us how to handle explosives,
He taught us how to handle explosives,
Lui ci ha insegnato come usare gli esplosivi, -
how to make mines, how to blow up railway tracks, how to blow up a road, or a military column.
how to make mines, how to blow up railway tracks, how to blow up a road, or a military column.
le mine come farle, come si fa per far saltare la ferrovia, come si fa per far saltare le strade, per far saltare una colonna militare, tutte queste cose.