European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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They handed out a brew that they called herbata in our mugs,
They handed out a brew that they called herbata in our mugs,
Ci distribuivano un tè, che chiamavano "herbata", -
which we should absolutely not lose, and which we could never wash. Then we left for work.
which we should absolutely not lose, and which we could never wash. Then we left for work.
acqua sporca per le nostre gamelle che non potevamo assolutamente perdere ma neanche lavare. E poi andavamo a lavorare. -
Yes, we thought of it. There were three or four of us. We tried to find ways of fighting, but it was practically impossible.
Yes, we thought of it. There were three or four of us. We tried to find ways of fighting, but it was practically impossible.
Ci trovavamo a discutere, c'era un ragazzo un po' più responsabile che discuteva su come provare a ribellarsi, ma era praticamente impossibile. -
There was a room leader who was to keep control. There also were leaders for each building.
There was a room leader who was to keep control. There also were leaders for each building.
C'era un capo camera ogni 10 persone, messo lì per controllarci. -
And there were also team leaders, themselves being deported prisoners.
And there were also team leaders, themselves being deported prisoners.
C'era anche un capo per ogni baracca e poi, sul lavoro, i capicantiere, i capigruppo, anche loro deportati. -
Often they were Germans, Poles.
Often they were Germans, Poles.
Un certo numero erano tedeschi, molti, moltissimi polacchi. -
It was very difficult, very hard. We got lots of beatings.
It was very difficult, very hard. We got lots of beatings.
Era molto difficile, molto duro… Ci picchiavano. -
In the beginning we thought we shouldn’t take that, but we soon saw that there was no way out, as life there was so terrible.
In the beginning we thought we shouldn’t take that, but we soon saw that there was no way out, as life there was so terrible.
All'inizio non volevamo accettare di prenderle, ma poi ci siamo subito resi conto che non c'era alternativa, perché la vita là era semplicemente terribile. -
It was difficult to form a group.
It was difficult to form a group.
Era molto difficile organizzarci tra di noi -
Those of us that had been arrested as French resistance fighters were scattered.
Those of us that had been arrested as French resistance fighters were scattered.
perché il gruppo di francesi, cioè tutti quelli che erano stati arrestati come partigiani comunisti e militanti politici, era stato disperso. -
They knew exactly who we were.
They knew exactly who we were.
Quando arrivavamo, ovviamente sapevano chi eravamo. -
It was very different from the camp in Compiègne. There we were still active, we resisted, discussed, talked.
It was very different from the camp in Compiègne. There we were still active, we resisted, discussed, talked.
Non aveva niente in comune con il campo di Compiègne: là eravamo attivi, combattevamo, discutevamo. -
But here we were seperated and with all the block leaders, the Vorarbeiter, the team chiefs, the Kapos
But here we were seperated and with all the block leaders, the Vorarbeiter, the team chiefs, the Kapos
Ma a Birkenau non si parlava, eravamo più divisi… E poi con i capi dei blocchi, i capigruppo, i Kapo… -
it was extremely difficult, as they were very loose with their batons.
it was extremely difficult, as they were very loose with their batons.
Era molto dura con loro che avevano la vita facile. -
We were not necessarily amongst French people at all. Sometimes there were 2 or 3 French people in a group of 150 or 200 men.
We were not necessarily amongst French people at all. Sometimes there were 2 or 3 French people in a group of 150 or 200 men.
Non eravamo per forza con francesi, anzi, ci trovavamo anche a essere 2 o 3 francesi in gruppi di 150-200 persone. -
Most of them were Poles. They did not like us very much.
Most of them were Poles. They did not like us very much.
La maggior parte erano polacchi, non molto benevoli nei nostri confronti. -
There were Germans as well, so-called Reichsdeutsche. They had mostly been arrested for political reasons.
There were Germans as well, so-called Reichsdeutsche. They had mostly been arrested for political reasons.
C'erano anche tedeschi, li chiamavamo i "Reichsdeutsche", tedeschi che per lo più erano stati arrestati per ragioni politiche. -
Deportation to Compiègne and Auschwitz-Birkenau
Deportation to Compiègne and Auschwitz-Birkenau
Deportazione a Compiègne e Auschwitz-Birkenau -
I had been under observation by the police for some time.
I had been under observation by the police for some time.
Era da un po' che la polizia mi seguiva. -
When the Communist Party and leftist organizations were banned and had to go underground,
When the Communist Party and leftist organizations were banned and had to go underground,
Fin dal momento in cui il Partito Comunista ha dovuto iniziare a operare nella clandestinità,