European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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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, -
the people there were strong enemies to us just like we were strong
the people there were strong enemies to us just like we were strong
la gente era avversaria con noi come noi eravamo avversari -
enemies to the fascists when I was a partisan later fighting them and the Germans.
enemies to the fascists when I was a partisan later fighting them and the Germans.
forti dei fascisti quando ero poi partigiano, dei fascisti e dei tedeschi. -
That's all, it was a long time and we were freezing and starving.
That's all, it was a long time and we were freezing and starving.
Tutto qui insomma, un periodo lunghissimo da fare, dei freddi cani, della fame perché in montagna -
We did have food, but when you're 20 or 22, you're always hungry.
We did have food, but when you're 20 or 22, you're always hungry.
si mangiava ma a vent’anni, ventidue anni, la fame ti richiede sempre qualcosa da mangiare: -
There was no fruit, the land was a desert just like here,
There was no fruit, the land was a desert just like here,
là non c’era né frutta, non c’era niente, in campagna era un deserto come quassù, -
there was nothing to eat,
there was nothing to eat,
non un frutto, non c’era niente da mangiare,