European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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“You’re lucky to be in the Army, since in the past few days Pattaccini, Boiardi and others were arrested”.
“You’re lucky to be in the Army, since in the past few days Pattaccini, Boiardi and others were arrested”.
“sei fortunato te che sei militare perché in questi giorni hanno messo dentro Pattaccini, Boiardi,ecc.” -
They were all people I used to be implicated with in our activities,
They were all people I used to be implicated with in our activities,
cioè cinque o sei persone con cui lavoravo sempre insieme in quelle cose lì. -
and my poor mother was telling me this openly. But that’s exactly why I was arrested.
and my poor mother was telling me this openly. But that’s exactly why I was arrested.
Lei poveretta mi ha detto queste cose spassionatamente proprio perché mi trovavo a Roma, e invece mi hanno beccato là. -
I never managed to get that letter back. Wherever I was taken, the letter seemed to follow me.
I never managed to get that letter back. Wherever I was taken, the letter seemed to follow me.
Di quella lettera lì non sono mai più rientrato in possesso e sempre dove andavo c’era quella lettera lì: -
You see, we all used to deny knowing someone, but I couldn’t, since the names were written on the letter.
You see, we all used to deny knowing someone, but I couldn’t, since the names were written on the letter.
si aveva tutti l’abitudine di negare che tu questo non lo conoscevi, mentre io non avevo niente da dire perché lì c’erano scritti i nomi. -
Then, one morning, we left from the train station.
Then, one morning, we left from the train station.
Un bel mattino partiamo alla stazione, -
I had already been reduced to the ranks:
I had already been reduced to the ranks:
a me avevano già tolto tutti i gradi, -
they had taken everything from me and that day I was slightly shabby and hadn’t shaved.
they had taken everything from me and that day I was slightly shabby and hadn’t shaved.
mi avevano tolto tutto poi avevo anche un po’ la barba lunga, ero un po’ malmesso. -
As we set off, those who were on the railcar with us were curious.
As we set off, those who were on the railcar with us were curious.
Si parte e durante il percorso, la gente era curiosa: -
On other occasions, such as the day I was interned,
On other occasions, such as the day I was interned,
in quel momento non è che ci fosse disponibilità su un vagone, in altri casi lo facevano -
when there were eighteen of us, we had a whole railcar for ourselves, so there was no one else.
when there were eighteen of us, we had a whole railcar for ourselves, so there was no one else.
ad esempio quando sono andato al confino, che eravamo in diciotto avevamo un carro per noi, si stava tutti lì e non c’era nessuno. -
This time, however, the railcar was full, so people began to ask me what I had done,
This time, however, the railcar was full, so people began to ask me what I had done,
Lì la gente ha cominciato a chiedere “cos’hai fatto?” -
and I did what I could to have them do so.
and I did what I could to have them do so.
e io ci tenevo anche a farmelo chiedere, -
I became the star of the railcar, everybody handed me something,
I became the star of the railcar, everybody handed me something,
così sono diventato popolare su quella carrozza, tutti mi davano qualcosa, -
cigarettes and so on, and the Carabinieri didn’t know what to say.
cigarettes and so on, and the Carabinieri didn’t know what to say.
da fumare… ; i carabinieri non sapevano cosa dire, -
Their problem was that they didn’t have a place to hide me in,
Their problem was that they didn’t have a place to hide me in,
sai non puoi mica andare a dire se uno ti offre una sigaretta, -
so they couldn’t do anything if someone offered me a cigarette.
so they couldn’t do anything if someone offered me a cigarette.
sono cose che se hai un mezzo per nasconderlo va bene se no così non puoi mica. -
Once we arrived in Florence, however, the Carabinieri decided to get off and change train.
Once we arrived in Florence, however, the Carabinieri decided to get off and change train.
Solo che a Firenze poi i carabinieri hanno deciso di scendere, -
Later I understood that they did this to prevent me from talking to the people that were on the first train.
Later I understood that they did this to prevent me from talking to the people that were on the first train.
il perché l’ho capito dopo, perché hanno interrotto la comunicazione che avevo con questa gente e nell’altro treno -
The other one – from Bologna to Reggio Emilia – was a lot less crowded.
The other one – from Bologna to Reggio Emilia – was a lot less crowded.
che abbiamo preso c’è stata meno confusione dopo, Bologna-Reggio Emilia.