European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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"Now we have to set up a really safe guard because the Germans are everywhere.
"Now we have to set up a really safe guard because the Germans are everywhere.
“Ragazzi allora adesso dobbiamo fare una guardia proprio sicura perché abbiamo i tedeschi da tutte le parti -
You can see them, so keep your eyes open and be careful
You can see them, so keep your eyes open and be careful
e li vedete e quindi state con gli occhi aperti -
because if we happen to do something
because if we happen to do something
perché se ci capita di fare qualcosa -
or to kill a German they're going to burn down the entire village".
or to kill a German they're going to burn down the entire village".
o di uccidere qualche tedesco dopo bruciano il paese.” -
So at 3 a.m. we were ordered to move
So at 3 a.m. we were ordered to move
Allora verso le tre di notte diamo l'ordine di spostarci e ci vengono a dire di cominciare a muoversi -
because by that time there were no partisans around,
because by that time there were no partisans around,
perché ormai di partigiani in giro non ce ne sono più -
so we were the last lines moving and could be calm.
so we were the last lines moving and could be calm.
e quindi noi siamo la retroguardia e quindi andiamo via tranquilli; -
The "staffette" told us that the streets were clear, so we started walking.
The "staffette" told us that the streets were clear, so we started walking.
arrivano le staffette che erano andate fuori, hanno detto che la strada era libera allora via, ci siamo incamminati -
We were looking left and right, there was only fog.
We were looking left and right, there was only fog.
fino alla casa cantoniera, abbiamo guardato tanto da una parte che dall'altra, visto che non c'era niente, la nebbia era sempre fitta però quel tratto lì... -
So we went into the Enza river
So we went into the Enza river
Allora abbiamo attraversato e siamo andati dentro all'Enza: -
and there was not even a small stick where we could have hidden
and there was not even a small stick where we could have hidden
non c'era un bastoncino dove poterci nascondere, era tutta un lago di acqua -
if the fog lifted.
if the fog lifted.
e non c'era niente da potersi nascondere se andava via la nebbia -
"Mirco" had a partisan in his team, a big man that lived in this area,
"Mirco" had a partisan in his team, a big man that lived in this area,
e allora Mirko aveva nella sua squadra un partigiano in quella zona lì e mi fa, era un omone, gli davano anche un nome da persona grossa -
and he asked to give him a person that could go with him to his place
and he asked to give him a person that could go with him to his place
adesso non mi ricordo com'era, e allora mi fa “Dammi uno che venga con me che vado a casa mia -
to get a rope for crossing the river because the water was high.
to get a rope for crossing the river because the water was high.
a prendere una fune e poi con la fune” (perché la piena era alta). -
So they came back with the rope
So they came back with the rope
Arrivano con la fune, avevamo un cavallino bianco: -
and we tied one end to the big rocks on one shore
and we tied one end to the big rocks on one shore
con la corda la leghiamo vicino a quei gabbioni di sassi che tengono le rive del fiume. -
and the other end to the saddle of a little white horse that we had.
and the other end to the saddle of a little white horse that we had.
Da una parte la lega e noi la distendiamo e la legano vicino alla sella del cavallo, un cavallino bianco -
The horse was very skinny and was standing just because it had four legs.
The horse was very skinny and was standing just because it had four legs.
che poverino bisognava metterci un cavalletto sotto alla pancia dal gran che era magro, che stava in piedi perché aveva quattro piedi. -
We crossed the river walking in the water and holding the rope.
We crossed the river walking in the water and holding the rope.
Arriva con la corda tesa e ci fa segno di passare “Via via via!” e c'era ancora un po' di spazio dal cavallo a là, però eravamo già...