European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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We had to take precautions to protect these friends, but to be able to continue with our activities as well.
We had to take precautions to protect these friends, but to be able to continue with our activities as well.
Dovevamo stare attentissimi, in primo luogo per proteggere questi amici, e poi per poter continuare con queste cose. -
We organized ourselves, trying to find places where we could secretly meet,
We organized ourselves, trying to find places where we could secretly meet,
Ci organizzavamo tra di noi. All'inizio abbiamo cercato dei posti per incontrarci clandestinamente, -
where two or three of us could meet, maybe four, never more than four.
where two or three of us could meet, maybe four, never more than four.
dove potersi incontrare in due o tre, ma mai più di tre o quattro. -
We would meet in a basement or at friends’ not known for their political activities, but willing to help.
We would meet in a basement or at friends’ not known for their political activities, but willing to help.
Ci incontravamo o in una cantina oppure da amici che non erano conosciuti per la loro attività politica ma erano pronti ad aiutarci. -
They would let us in. We’d arrive at different times.
They would let us in. We’d arrive at different times.
Ci ricevevano. Noi arrivavamo, chi a un'ora chi a un'altra. Sempre a orari diversi. -
But then there was also the need to hide the material, the mimeograph, the typewriter etc…
But then there was also the need to hide the material, the mimeograph, the typewriter etc…
Dovevamo anche nascondere il materiale di cui avevamo bisogno, ovvero il ciclostile, la macchina da scrivere, ecc. -
We had to be careful with all of that.
We had to be careful with all of that.
Bisognava starci molto attenti. -
There were various newspaper publications in the Rouen region,
There were various newspaper publications in the Rouen region,
C'era grande prudenza, che s'instaurava leggendo quello che scrivevano… -
talking about the number of political activists being arrested. One had to be very careful.
talking about the number of political activists being arrested. One had to be very careful.
«Arrestati questi e quei militanti…" stava scritto nei giornali della regione di Rouen. Bisognava stare attenti. -
We had a certain amount of support in the population.
We had a certain amount of support in the population.
Avevamo un discreto sostegno da parte della popolazione. C'era gente che diceva -
Some people said we shouldn’t do that, or when we were arrested, they’d say:
Some people said we shouldn’t do that, or when we were arrested, they’d say:
che queste cose non andavano fatte. Ma c'era anche gente che ci sosteneva. -
“They shouldn’t have done that”, but others did support us, some of them very quietly because they were afraid.
“They shouldn’t have done that”, but others did support us, some of them very quietly because they were afraid.
Lo facevano sommessamente, perché avevano paura. -
If the police detected a connection between a person and well-known political activist, you could be arrested.
If the police detected a connection between a person and well-known political activist, you could be arrested.
Se le polizia scopriva legami con militanti noti, si potevano avere problemi o
farsi arrestare. -
It was dangerous for us as well as for the people we’d give the material to - if they were caught by the police etc. It was very difficult.
It was dangerous for us as well as for the people we’d give the material to - if they were caught by the police etc. It was very difficult.
Sia noi che le persone a cui davamo il materiale rischiavamo di essere catturati dalla polizia. Era molto difficile. -
First political engagements
First political engagements
Gli inizi dell'impegno politico -
I started working in a factory in 1934/1935. And then were the big days of 1936.
I started working in a factory in 1934/1935. And then were the big days of 1936.
Ho iniziato a lavorare in fabbrica nel 1934/1935. E poi ci sono state le grandi giornate del 1936. -
It was then I joined the labor movement. I participated in the big strikes of 1936. I was 16, worked in a factory.
It was then I joined the labor movement. I participated in the big strikes of 1936. I was 16, worked in a factory.
È lì che sono entrato nel movimento operaio. Ho partecipato agli scioperi del 1936. Avevo 16 e lavoravo in fabbrica. -
Later on, in 1937/1938 I joined the Communist Youth Movement.
Later on, in 1937/1938 I joined the Communist Youth Movement.
Nel 1937/1938 sono entrato nella Gioventù Comunista, -
There you could fight for your demands.
There you could fight for your demands.
che ci permetteva di combattere per le nostre rivendicazioni. -
My friends at the time asked me, “Why don’t you join the Communist Youth Movement?” So I did.
My friends at the time asked me, “Why don’t you join the Communist Youth Movement?” So I did.
Avevo dei compagni che mi chiedevano: “Perché non entri nella Gioventù Comunista?” E così l'ho fatto.