European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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At that time paratroopers were starting to be dropped in the area,
At that time paratroopers were starting to be dropped in the area,
che cominciavano a venire giù dei paracadutisti. -
and they had set up the English command with radio transmitters in Secchio.
and they had set up the English command with radio transmitters in Secchio.
Allora infatti, allora hanno messo a Secchio il comando della missione inglese, con i trasmettitori, come si dice... con quegli affari lì da trasmettere che avevano, allora dice: “Io mi appoggio lì”. -
They asked the Central Headquarters to provide them with around 25 skilled partisans,
They asked the Central Headquarters to provide them with around 25 skilled partisans,
Allora hanno scelto fra questi del comando unico si sono fatti dare 23-24 partigiani, fra quelli un po’ scelti, -
who had been there for a while and were well trained.
who had been there for a while and were well trained.
fra quelli che era già un po’ che erano lì, che erano bravi che erano... -
You have to realise that at the beginning there were all sorts of people in the mountains,
You have to realise that at the beginning there were all sorts of people in the mountains,
perché sa, purtroppo lì i primi tempi specialmente c’è un po’ di tutto e allora sai, -
but the English only wanted experienced men, so 25 partisans were chosen to join them.
but the English only wanted experienced men, so 25 partisans were chosen to join them.
volevano proprio delle persone molto serie, così, niente. E c’erano questi, questi 25 che sono andati sotto la missione inglese. -
Then they had to set up a dispatch-carriers unit,
Then they had to set up a dispatch-carriers unit,
Ah dopo io, allora hanno cominciato a dire: “Ma adesso dobbiamo organizzare delle staffette”, -
and I was the only one assigned to Reggio, at the local headquarters.
and I was the only one assigned to Reggio, at the local headquarters.
ma dice: “Tu sei destinata a Reggio, solo tu, perché tu, c’è un comando qui a Reggio”, -
I was told to go see a group of men I already knew. There was Grandi, a lawyer, Piccinini, an architect, and the Count Calvi.
I was told to go see a group of men I already knew. There was Grandi, a lawyer, Piccinini, an architect, and the Count Calvi.
e io dovevo andare da questi, io già conoscevo. C’era l’avvocato Grandi, Piccinini che era architetto, il conte Calvi. -
They were six initially, then Mattia told me that one was killed.
They were six initially, then Mattia told me that one was killed.
Erano sei poi dopo due, uno l’hanno ammazzato mi ha detto Mattia e l’altro non so. -
Still, at the beginning there were these six antifascists who were in charge of things in Reggio.
Still, at the beginning there were these six antifascists who were in charge of things in Reggio.
Ma erano 6 subito, questi antifascisti che avevano la piazza di Reggio. -
I had to go home to my mother’s and uncles’ house. They were staying in Davoli’s house,
I had to go home to my mother’s and uncles’ house. They were staying in Davoli’s house,
Allora io dovevo andare a casa là da mia madre e dai miei zii, che erano proprio nella casa di Davoli, -
or I should rather say Kiss, the one in charge of the dispatch-riders, who had set up quite a few things.
or I should rather say Kiss, the one in charge of the dispatch-riders, who had set up quite a few things.
di quello Giulio, di Kiss quello che è venuto che era poi infatti il comandante delle staffette, e infatti aveva organizzato un bel pochino. -
However I was the only one who would go to Reggio.
However I was the only one who would go to Reggio.
Però io, solo io dovevo venire a Reggio, -
They realised I would remember things and take care of everything properly.
They realised I would remember things and take care of everything properly.
perché insomma dopo, avevano imparato che io riuscivo a ricordarmi, a fare le cose ben fatte. Magari se c’eravamo in di più... -
I often didn’t write things down, although sometimes I did, in order to remember the names of the Germans for example.
I often didn’t write things down, although sometimes I did, in order to remember the names of the Germans for example.
Invece io, delle volte, non scrivevo certe cose, certe cose io le scrivevo sulle cartine e poi le mangiavo anche, se mi avessero trovato, -
I would have eaten the slips of paper if I was caught.
I would have eaten the slips of paper if I was caught.
perché come ricordarsi dei nomi tedeschi e cose così allora. -
To give you an example, when they told me to go and inform the others that a mop-up was scheduled, lead by Dolmann or Surmann,
To give you an example, when they told me to go and inform the others that a mop-up was scheduled, lead by Dolmann or Surmann,
Allora io quando mi dicevano: “Vai perché per il tal giorno c’è un rastrellamento, lo comanda Dolmann, lo comanda Surmann” -
who were in charge of these things, I would write down the most important names and information.
who were in charge of these things, I would write down the most important names and information.
che erano i grandi, quelli che organizzavano i rastrellamenti così. Allora io per quelle cose lì, i nomi più particolari, le cose più importanti le scrivevo. -
At first they had given me the battle name Libertà (Freedom). Later I was called Giorgio, but at the beginning it was Libertà, or maybe Volontà.
At first they had given me the battle name Libertà (Freedom). Later I was called Giorgio, but at the beginning it was Libertà, or maybe Volontà.
Prima mi chiamavo Libertà, perché me lo avevano dato, perché prima te li davano loro i nomi partigiani, quando vai lì e loro ti dicono... allora a me invece mi avevano dato il nome Giorgio e niente e poi me lo hanno dato dopo, il primo invece era Libertà, no Volontà.