European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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It was a kamikaze mission. They wanted to exterminate us.
It was a kamikaze mission. They wanted to exterminate us.
Ci volevano annientare. Era una missione suicida. -
Later on we went back and then I spoke to some of the others:
Later on we went back and then I spoke to some of the others:
Poi tornammo indietro e parlai con alcuni degli altri: -
“We have to run away now.”
“We have to run away now.”
"Dobbiamo scappare subito." -
It was the end of April, and on the 10th May, or so, they surrendered. There were some doubts:
It was the end of April, and on the 10th May, or so, they surrendered. There were some doubts:
Era fine Aprile e il 10 Maggio si arresero. Ma avevamo ancora dei dubbi: -
“They will inform Germany - He deserted.”
“They will inform Germany - He deserted.”
"Informeranno la Germania che lei ha disertato." -
I said: “that is all nonsense. They won’t have any time left to do that.”
I said: “that is all nonsense. They won’t have any time left to do that.”
Io dicevo: "Tutte scemenze. Non avranno tempo per farlo." -
But I still stayed with Otto Linke – and went into captivity with him.
But I still stayed with Otto Linke – and went into captivity with him.
Ma rimasi con Otto Linke e insieme ci misero in prigione. -
That was on the 30th April.
That was on the 30th April.
Penso fosse il 30 Aprile. -
I said: “Otto, from the 1st of May we will stay in the mountains, as free men.”
I said: “Otto, from the 1st of May we will stay in the mountains, as free men.”
Dissi: "Otto, dal primo Maggio staremo nelle montagne come uomini liberi." -
And on the 2nd May we were arrested by Moroccans.
And on the 2nd May we were arrested by Moroccans.
E il 2 Maggio fummo presi dai Marocchini che ci imprigionarono. -
We were passed on to the French
We were passed on to the French
Poi passammo ai Francesi -
and after that, we came to the English, and later on to the Americans.
and after that, we came to the English, and later on to the Americans.
per poi arrivare agli Inglesi e infine agli Americani. -
The 999 Bataillon
The 999 Bataillon
Divisione penale 999 -
The political prisoners, who were unworthy for the army, were living in Germany.
The political prisoners, who were unworthy for the army, were living in Germany.
La situazione era: i prigionieri politici che non erano degni di combattere, vivevano in Germania. -
And the Germans were dying at all possible fronts.
And the Germans were dying at all possible fronts.
I tedeschi stavano morendo su tutti i fronti. -
Slowly but surely, they were short on personnel.
Slowly but surely, they were short on personnel.
Iniziava a mancare il personale -
So there was the idea to establish these as kamikaze mission you just throw in.
So there was the idea to establish these as kamikaze mission you just throw in.
e l'idea era di addestrarci per una missione suicida, -
That was why we were militarily equipped like a self-dependent unit,
That was why we were militarily equipped like a self-dependent unit,
perciò eravamo armati come unità autonome -
we were able to absorb counter strikes of the allies.
we were able to absorb counter strikes of the allies.
per poter reagire agli attacchi degli alleati. -
If we would have moved back, we would have been shot down from behind.
If we would have moved back, we would have been shot down from behind.
Se fossimo tornati indietro, ci avrebbero sparato alle spalle.