European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I was friends with the family of Jones Bertolini
I was friends with the family of Jones Bertolini
Io frequentavo molto la famiglia di Iones Bertolini -
who was a really passionate partisan, he got the silver medal,
who was a really passionate partisan, he got the silver medal,
che è stato un partigiano medaglia d’argento, -
that was when I became a communist. His mother was an anti-fascist,
that was when I became a communist. His mother was an anti-fascist,
uno sfegatato e lì ero diventato comunista perché la madre era antifascista, -
the father had to emigrate to France,
the father had to emigrate to France,
il papà era dovuto emigrare in Francia, -
they were really poor. I'd seen him only once
they were really poor. I'd seen him only once
non avevano niente poveretti: lo vidi una volta sola -
when he came back to Montecchio to meet his parents.
when he came back to Montecchio to meet his parents.
che venne a Montecchio a trovare i suoi, -
I remember I saw him killing a chicken with a sling
I remember I saw him killing a chicken with a sling
e lo vidi anche tirare con un tirasassi una gallina -
and then taking it home to eat it.
and then taking it home to eat it.
che poi portò a casa e se la mangiò. -
A really terrible poverty. That was when I ...
A really terrible poverty. That was when I ...
Una miseria terribile guardi. Insomma lì ho cominciato a… -
I didn't fancy that lady, she was good and kind
I didn't fancy that lady, she was good and kind
Non mi piaceva molto quella signora, era buona e gentile -
but she swore so much against that stubborn (Mussolini) who sent people to die ...
but she swore so much against that stubborn (Mussolini) who sent people to die ...
ma tante di quelle bestemmie contro quel testone che fa morir la gente… -
I wished she was a little bit more gentle but she was right in many ways.
I wished she was a little bit more gentle but she was right in many ways.
Avrei desiderato che fosse stata un po’ più tenera e invece aveva ragione e molte ragioni. -
After the war
After the war
Dopo la guerra -
That day, I think it was May 3rd, we made the parade and then we went to the square.
That day, I think it was May 3rd, we made the parade and then we went to the square.
Quel giorno lì, penso che sia stato il 3 di maggio, abbiamo fatto la sfilata poi siamo andati in piazza. -
We had to turn over our weapons but, I tell you the truth, this was kind of hard for me.
We had to turn over our weapons but, I tell you the truth, this was kind of hard for me.
Ci hanno detto che c’era da consegnare le armi però dico la verità, a malincuore l’ho consegnata: -
It was a nice Stan, shiny and clean, I had taken care for it like a brother
It was a nice Stan, shiny and clean, I had taken care for it like a brother
era un bello Sten, lucido, pulito, lo tenevo come un fratello perché -
because by doing so, you were said everything, no need to talk much.
because by doing so, you were said everything, no need to talk much.
con quello lì dicevi tutto, non c’era bisogno di tenerla tanto lunga. -
But I gave it back gladly, also because I wanted to forget that period.
But I gave it back gladly, also because I wanted to forget that period.
L’ho dato volentieri anche perché volevo dimenticare quel periodo lì: -
It was a spontaneous initiative to send the Fascists away,
It was a spontaneous initiative to send the Fascists away,
era un periodo che ho fatto per iniziativa, una cosa spontanea, per mandare via i fascisti -
rather than the Germans, but that was finished now.
rather than the Germans, but that was finished now.
più che i tedeschi però basta, buttata via l’arma non ne parliamo più.