European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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We were all excited for the gymnastics display we were working on.
We were all excited for the gymnastics display we were working on.
Quindi noi eravamo tutte prese per questo saggio perché era il momento che -
It would take place in the main square, in front of our parents and all the others.
It would take place in the main square, in front of our parents and all the others.
ci esibivamo proprio alla presenza dei nostri genitori e di tutto quanto. -
However, Mussolini wanted children to wear a uniform from our earliest childhood:
However, Mussolini wanted children to wear a uniform from our earliest childhood:
Però il duce voleva che fin dalla tenera età tutti avessero la divisa: -
the “Figli della Lupa”, the “Balilla”, the “Piccole Italiane”, the “Avant-gardists”.
the “Figli della Lupa”, the “Balilla”, the “Piccole Italiane”, the “Avant-gardists”.
figli della lupa, il balilla, le piccole italiane, gli avanguardisti. -
Mothers were enrolled in the “Massaie rurali” (rural housewives),
Mothers were enrolled in the “Massaie rurali” (rural housewives),
Le mamme erano iscritte alle massaie rurali -
and were given pamphlets for them to learn how to breed chickens and work the garden: the “war garden”.
and were given pamphlets for them to learn how to breed chickens and work the garden: the “war garden”.
e gli venivano distribuiti degli opuscoletti perché imparassero ad allevare i polli, a coltivare l’orto, l’orto di guerra lo chiamavano già. -
The whole family was
The whole family was
Quindi tutta la famiglia era -
organized.
organized.
inquadrata. -
The Duce had also decided that large families were to be awarded with a certificate.
The Duce had also decided that large families were to be awarded with a certificate.
Alla mamma, il duce aveva dato disposizione che a tutte le famiglie numerose venisse dato un diploma -
Even more so for our family since there were six boys and two girls.
Even more so for our family since there were six boys and two girls.
e particolarmente alla nostra perché c’era sei maschi e due femmine. -
This certificate had to be displayed at home, so that everybody could see
This certificate had to be displayed at home, so that everybody could see
Quindi questo diploma doveva essere esibito in casa sempre in bella vista perché tutti potessero vedere -
that Mussolini had acknowledged these families
that Mussolini had acknowledged these families
che il duce aveva riconosciuto queste famiglie, -
who had generated manpower for the nation to prepare for war.
who had generated manpower for the nation to prepare for war.
che avevano messo a disposizione della patria manodopera e anche per prepararsi alla guerra. -
When I was seven I suffered my first humiliation.
When I was seven I suffered my first humiliation.
La prima umiliazione che ho avuto, avevo sette anni, -
My mother didn’t have enough money to buy me the uniform of the “Piccole Italiane”.
My mother didn’t have enough money to buy me the uniform of the “Piccole Italiane”.
e mia madre non aveva la possibilità di comperarmi la divisa da piccola italiana -
So I couldn’t take part in the gymnastics event, as I had dreamed about.
So I couldn’t take part in the gymnastics event, as I had dreamed about.
quindi non potei andare alla grossa manifestazione del saggio ginnico che io avevo tanto sognato per essere in mezzo a tutte le altre perché non avevo la divisa. -
I never found out if we really didn’t have any money
I never found out if we really didn’t have any money
Non ho mai saputo se effettivamente era perché non c’erano i soldi -
or rather my mother didn’t want me to wear that uniform.
or rather my mother didn’t want me to wear that uniform.
o perché mia madre non volesse mettermi in divisa.Comunque l’ho capito forse più tardi. -
After the display they handed out an Easter egg to all the participants.
After the display they handed out an Easter egg to all the participants.
Fatta la manifestazione in classe hanno distribuito a tutti i partecipanti un uovo di Pasqua. -
I had never seen one before. It was amazing, with its shiny coloured paper.
I had never seen one before. It was amazing, with its shiny coloured paper.
Era la prima volta che io vedevo un uovo di Pasqua. Con questa carta colorata, lucida per me era una cosa straordinaria.