European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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We went into the villages with the megaphones but the Italian Army didn't want us, no-one would take us,
We went into the villages with the megaphones but the Italian Army didn't want us, no-one would take us,
e si andava in un paese con i megafoni, e l’esercito italiano nessuno ci voleva, nessuno ci prendeva, -
so we didn't know what to do.
so we didn't know what to do.
si diceva cosa facciamo? -
They told us that the Germans were out there and that the land was mined because they didn't want night attacks,
They told us that the Germans were out there and that the land was mined because they didn't want night attacks,
Anzi dicevano ci sono fuori i militi tedeschi, lì c’è minato, perché non volevano attacchi notturni e così… -
so the Commander said to us we could go to Ancona and we all immediately agreed.
so the Commander said to us we could go to Ancona and we all immediately agreed.
E allora il comandante dice “Guardate se volete puntiamo su Ancona” e sentire Ancona è stato un plebiscito abbiamo detto sì sì… -
Then I fell asleep on a pile of ropes, starving, and when I woke up I saw Ancona on the coast.
Then I fell asleep on a pile of ropes, starving, and when I woke up I saw Ancona on the coast.
Poi io mi sono addormentato su delle cime sfinito dalla fame e tribolato mi sono svegliato che vedevo Ancona a due chilometri dalle coste. -
We got off there and they brought us to an old factory that was full of people.
We got off there and they brought us to an old factory that was full of people.
Lì siamo scesi e ci han portato in una vecchia fabbrica piena così -
They put sergeants there as guards, and I was a sergeant, they wouldn't let anyone pass.
They put sergeants there as guards, and I was a sergeant, they wouldn't let anyone pass.
e di guardia lì invece dei soldati ci hanno messo i sottufficiali, io ero sergente e sono stati lì a non far passare nessuno, uscire nessuno, -
I had no Lira in my pocket, only Kunas, the Croatian currency.
I had no Lira in my pocket, only Kunas, the Croatian currency.
solo che non avevo neanche una lira in tasca, solo la Cuna, la moneta del loro. -
There was a greengrocer there and I wanted grapes
There was a greengrocer there and I wanted grapes
C’era una fruttivendola, avevo una voglia di un grappolo d’uva -
so I went there to take a look and the lady said:
so I went there to take a look and the lady said:
e sono andato lì a guardare, la signora dice -
“Do you want grapes?” and I said “Yes madam, but I have no money”.
“Do you want grapes?” and I said “Yes madam, but I have no money”.
“Vuoi un grappolo d’uva?” e io dico “Vorrei signora, ma non ho i soldi” -
So she gave me the grapes for free.
So she gave me the grapes for free.
e allora me l’ha dato, era una donna anziana -
She was like a mother, she asked me where I came from
She was like a mother, she asked me where I came from
poteva essere come una mamma: mi ha chiesto da dove venivo, qua e là, -
and she said that the Germans were coming up from Jesi, from Ancona,
and she said that the Germans were coming up from Jesi, from Ancona,
mi ha spiegato che i tedeschi venivano su da Jesi, da Ancona, -
and that they were seizing the soldiers.
and that they were seizing the soldiers.
che prendevano i soldati. -
I went back and talked to the other seven fellows from Reggio Emilia.
I went back and talked to the other seven fellows from Reggio Emilia.
Io sono rientrato dentro, ho parlato… Eravamo in sette reggiani, -
Three came with me, we went home,
Three came with me, we went home,
tre sono venuti con me e gli altri tre no. -
we had a hard time but after eleven days we reached our homes walking and by train.
we had a hard time but after eleven days we reached our homes walking and by train.
Noi tre siamo arrivati a casa tribolando dopo undici giorni, un po’ in treno un po’ a piedi -
We wanted to be home by September because then there would be grapes and figs,
We wanted to be home by September because then there would be grapes and figs,
e allora dicevamo andiamo là che andare a casa in settembre c’è l’uva, ci sono i fichi, -
there would be something to eat, whereas there was nothing at the place we were staying.
there would be something to eat, whereas there was nothing at the place we were staying.
c’è qualcosa da mangiare non come qua che non c’è niente, e siamo arrivati a casa.