European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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our informer developed a sort of friendship with the Germans.
our informer developed a sort of friendship with the Germans.
andavano a prendere il caffè si creava una certa... una certa amicizia nel senso. -
And sometimes the Germans would even talk about the orders they were receiving.
And sometimes the Germans would even talk about the orders they were receiving.
E lì aveva captato che un cifrato di quelli che i tedeschi stavano, che poi dicevano di cosa si trattava per certe cose, -
Our informer found out about an order sent from the central headquarters in Berlin.
Our informer found out about an order sent from the central headquarters in Berlin.
i tedeschi avevano ricevuto l’ordine dal comando centrale di Berlino di recuperare -
They were to take away Reggio Emilia’s theatre curtain. It had been crafted by the great painter Chierici.
They were to take away Reggio Emilia’s theatre curtain. It had been crafted by the great painter Chierici.
il sipario di Reggio Emilia del grande pittore Chierici e di portarlo a Bologna -
They should take it to Bologna, then to Berlin. It was a specific order, to be carried out urgently.
They should take it to Bologna, then to Berlin. It was a specific order, to be carried out urgently.
che poi veniva trasferito a Berlino. Ordine preciso, al più presto. -
Our informer came to my house. He knew I was involved in the Resistance, and told me about this:
Our informer came to my house. He knew I was involved in the Resistance, and told me about this:
E questo qui veniva a casa mia perché sapeva che io lavorava eccetera e dice: -
“I’m telling you they received an official order to take away Reggio Emilia’s curtain,
“I’m telling you they received an official order to take away Reggio Emilia’s curtain,
“Guarda che ho saputo che vogliono prendere il sipario di Reggio Emilia e portarlo a Bologna -
take it to Bologna and then send it to Berlin”.
take it to Bologna and then send it to Berlin”.
che poi lo portano in Germania a Berlino, c’è l’ordine – -
Fiorello and I decided we had to do something about it.
Fiorello and I decided we had to do something about it.
e dice – io ve l’ho detto”. E io e Fiorello diciamo: “E allora bisogna fare qualcosa”. -
We got together and devised our plan. We had to carry the curtain away.
We got together and devised our plan. We had to carry the curtain away.
Ci siamo riuniti e abbiamo preparato il piano. C’era da portarlo fuori. -
It was more than 20 meters long, so we couldn’t transport it with a car or a small truck.
It was more than 20 meters long, so we couldn’t transport it with a car or a small truck.
Tramite informazioni, il sipario era più di 20 metri, con una macchina non si porta via, con un camioncino nemmeno -
We had to find a suitable vehicle.
We had to find a suitable vehicle.
c’era da studiare di trovare un automezzo da poterlo asportare. -
One of us found a truck in Rubiera, where he also came from, I think.
One of us found a truck in Rubiera, where he also came from, I think.
E poi lì abbiamo trovato uno, infatti ha portato un camion lungo, a Rubiera -
We had to wrap the curtain somehow once we had rolled it, to be able to hide it.
We had to wrap the curtain somehow once we had rolled it, to be able to hide it.
che poi credo che fosse di Rubiera anche lui ma non... Però si pensava anche questo sipario arrotolarlo e dove portarlo -
We thought about putting the curtain into one of those large pipes that where used for water.
We thought about putting the curtain into one of those large pipes that where used for water.
e anche a nasconderlo bisognava metterlo in un involucro, qualcosa... e pensando se noi prendessimo un tubo e lo ce lo infiliamo dentro, quei tubi grossi che usano a fare gli acquedotti per la bonifica... C’era uno che la sapeva lunga da quel lato lì si vedeva che ci lavorava dentro, -
One of us found a large copper pipe.
One of us found a large copper pipe.
e ha trovato un tubo di rame, grosso. -
We had to lower the curtain, since half of it was still hanging.
We had to lower the curtain, since half of it was still hanging.
E c’era il problema di calare, perché metà era arrotolato e metà era ancora su il sipario -
Five of us went inside, together with two other blindfolded men,
Five of us went inside, together with two other blindfolded men,
Infatti siamo entrati in cinque dentro più quei due che erano bendati, -
one of whom we doubted being a theatre employee.
one of whom we doubted being a theatre employee.
uno mi sembrava, abbiamo dubitato, che era uno del teatro, perché a muovere quelle carrucole lì allora erano carrucole di legno -
We had to use the wooden pulleys. They now use automatic ones.
We had to use the wooden pulleys. They now use automatic ones.
e infatti si vedono ancora, adesso usano i mezzi automatici però le carrucole lì... le hanno lasciate come museo del teatro.