European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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GAPs weren't all the same.
GAPs weren't all the same.
Gruppi Armati Partigiani che non hanno niente a che fare -
They weren’t all communist.
They weren’t all communist.
perché non erano tutti comunisti, -
My small group and I were.
My small group and I were.
io lo ero nel senso, il gruppetto era, eravamo tutti compagni... -
Introduction and family; 8th September 1943; escape from captivity
Introduction and family; 8th September 1943; escape from captivity
Presentazione e familia; 8 settembre 1943; fuga dalla prigionia -
My name is Pierino Beggi, battle name “Gigi”.
My name is Pierino Beggi, battle name “Gigi”.
Beggi Pierino, nome di battaglia “Gigi”. -
I was born in Reggio Emilia.
I was born in Reggio Emilia.
Nato a Reggio Emilia. -
Until I was twenty years old, I lived where the Biasola Park is today.
Until I was twenty years old, I lived where the Biasola Park is today.
Beh la maggior parte, fino a vent’anni ho vissuto dove attualmente c’è la Biasola, là al parco, al parco diciamo locale -
My father was a farmer and worked on the farm that was once there.
My father was a farmer and worked on the farm that was once there.
lì c’era il podere che c’era mio papà che faceva il contadino, l’agricoltore. -
We grew up working the land with him, until we were called into the army when we were around twenty.
We grew up working the land with him, until we were called into the army when we were around twenty.
Noi eravamo i figli che siamo cresciuti lavorando con lui. Poi a venti anni siamo stati chiamati alle armi... eh... a quei tempi. -
I spent three years in Turin with the Engineer Corps
I spent three years in Turin with the Engineer Corps
Abbiamo fatto tre anni, io ho fatto tre anni nel Genio a Torino, -
and then we were transferred to Bardonecchia where we stayed another three years.
and then we were transferred to Bardonecchia where we stayed another three years.
poi ci siamo trasferiti, ci hanno trasferiti a Bardonecchia e siamo rimasti lì per tre anni. -
On the 8th of September 1943,
On the 8th of September 1943,
L’8 settembre siamo stati... eh diciamo... -
General Vercellino ordered us to mine the Frejus tunnel,
General Vercellino ordered us to mine the Frejus tunnel,
prima di partire c’era arrivato l’ordine dal generale Vercellino di minare la galleria del Frejus -
since the Germans were coming through with tanks and army crews loaded on freight trains.
since the Germans were coming through with tanks and army crews loaded on freight trains.
perché i tedeschi venivano dentro con i carriarmati e... il treno merci con tutto l’equipaggio. -
We carried 14 hundred kilograms of explosives inside the tunnel and blew it up.
We carried 14 hundred kilograms of explosives inside the tunnel and blew it up.
Abbiamo portato dentro, allora dicevano 14 quintali di esplosivo da far saltare la galleria del Frejus. Infatti è stata fatta saltare. -
But the Germans kept coming along the road across the mountains and were shooting at us.
But the Germans kept coming along the road across the mountains and were shooting at us.
Ma loro entravano dalla strada varcando le montagne e sparando. -
We were ordered to withdraw towards Turin. We reached the city walking in the countryside for 100 km.
We were ordered to withdraw towards Turin. We reached the city walking in the countryside for 100 km.
Di lì è arrivato l’ordine di scappare verso Torino e siamo andati, cento chilometri e siamo arrivati a Torino, a piedi, attraverso le campagne. -
In Turin, we were already surrounded by the Germans. They had followed the road on motor vehicles.
In Turin, we were already surrounded by the Germans. They had followed the road on motor vehicles.
Ma però a Torino eravamo circondati dai tedeschi perché loro erano entrati dalla strada e avevano già camminati con gli automezzi ed erano arrivati a Torino. -
Many of us were captured there.
Many of us were captured there.
E di lì la buona parte ci hanno fatto prigionieri -
Then we were put on freight trains, around seventy of us in each box car.
Then we were put on freight trains, around seventy of us in each box car.
e ci hanno fatto salire sul treno merci e ci mettevano una settantina ogni carro merce,