European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I started military service on March 9th, 1940.
I started military service on March 9th, 1940.
Sono andato a militare il 9 marzo del 1940: -
I went to Trieste and then right off to the Yugoslavian border.
I went to Trieste and then right off to the Yugoslavian border.
sono andato a Trieste poi siamo andati subito ai confini della Jugoslavia -
I stayed there until September 8th, 1943,
I stayed there until September 8th, 1943,
e lì sono stato fino all’8 settembre del ‘43, sempre in questa zona della Jugoslavia a fare la guerra, -
shooting and being shot at and so on.
shooting and being shot at and so on.
prendere delle schioppettate, darle e via via. -
I have been all over Yugoslavia,
I have been all over Yugoslavia,
Io ho fatto un po’ tutta la Jugoslavia, -
I was in the 151st regiment of infantry of the Brigata Sassari.
I was in the 151st regiment of infantry of the Brigata Sassari.
ero nel 151 reggimento fanteria della Brigata Sassari: -
There were only a few people from Emilia and many Sardinians, many from Calabria,
There were only a few people from Emilia and many Sardinians, many from Calabria,
in gran parte erano pochi gli emiliani e molti i sardi, calabresi, -
poor guys with little schooling, mostly illiterates.
poor guys with little schooling, mostly illiterates.
dei poveri ragazzi con poca scuola in gran parte analfabeti, erano dei poverini. -
In fact I became a sergeant because I had gone to elementary school,
In fact I became a sergeant because I had gone to elementary school,
Infatti io ero poi diventato sergente perché avevo fatto la quinta, -
I had some knowledge, I was able to read.
I had some knowledge, I was able to read.
un po’ sapevo, un po’ ho sempre letto, -
I mean, I was a bit more than a poor silly guy like them..
I mean, I was a bit more than a poor silly guy like them..
insomma ero qualcosa di più di un povero sciocco così come erano loro, ecco. -
They were having a hard time; they didn't know how to write.
They were having a hard time; they didn't know how to write.
Niente, tribolavano, non sapevano mai scrivere, -
I wrote home for them, to their girlfriends,
I wrote home for them, to their girlfriends,
io scrivevo anche a casa a loro, scrivevo anche alle fidanzate -
even though I didn't know what to say to a girlfriend, that's the truth.
even though I didn't know what to say to a girlfriend, that's the truth.
però non sapevo cosa dire alla tua fidanzata, è la verità. -
Then, one day, I even took a school book from a friend of mine
Then, one day, I even took a school book from a friend of mine
Poi una volta sono venuto a casa, ho preso il sillabario di una morosina che avevo, di un fratellino, -
and taught these guys how to write and count.
and taught these guys how to write and count.
e gli ho anche insegnato a scrivere, le tabelline, -
I taught them in the moments in which we had nothing to do, were just getting bored.
I taught them in the moments in which we had nothing to do, were just getting bored.
a questi ragazzi qua nei momenti in cui non c’era niente da fare, solo della noia; -
But in Yugoslavia we fought a lot and the partisans bombed us often, we had many casualties.
But in Yugoslavia we fought a lot and the partisans bombed us often, we had many casualties.
ma in Jugoslavia abbiamo combattuto tanto e i partigiani ci hanno fatto saltare un bel po’, abbiamo avuto anche parecchi morti. -
I was all over Yugoslavia, from Zagreb to Croatia to Slovenia.
I was all over Yugoslavia, from Zagreb to Croatia to Slovenia.
La Jugoslavia l’ho fatta un po’ tutta io,da Zagabria, alla Croazia, alla Slovenia: -
These are difficult territories;
These are difficult territories;
sono territori difficili da fare,